End of Support for Windows Server 2012
Photo by Lubo Minar on Unsplash
At this point, you should be finished upgrading all your Windows 7 computers with Windows 10 (Windows 7 end of support was January 14, 2020). And if you haven’t, you’re in for a fun year as you probably have a project ahead of you that will make the Windows 7 replacement seem like it was easy.
On October 10, 2023, Microsoft will end support for the Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems.
What Does It Mean?
Windows Server 2012 (W2012) and Windows Server 2012 R2 (W2012 r2) will not suddenly stop working on 10/10/2023. Basically, there are two phases to the support lifecycle of a Microsoft operating system: First, End of Mainstream Support and then End of Extended Support. Mainstream support for Windows Server 2012 actually ended in 2018. Meaning, that’s when Microsoft stopped selling and developing new stuff specifically for W2012 and W2012 R2. But in 2023, all support ends for those legacy server operating systems. This means no more security updates, bug fixes, patches and the tools that manage the operating systems will no longer be supported. In other words, running W2012 or W2012 R2 will become a business risk.
Putting it in Perspective
You may be thinking, “Why is Microsoft doing this to me?” Well, let’s step back for a moment. Microsoft released Windows Server 2012 10 years ago on October 30, 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 was released 9 years ago on November 25, 2013. That’s an eternity in the IT world! The way we worked, server hardware, and the challenges/opportunities in 2012 were completely different than what we face now. The IT security challenges for businesses were very different compared to what they are now.
This isn't just a move that Microsoft is making for marketing purposes; even the US Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team will issue alerts to migrate off of unsupported Operating Systems. The core issue here is the potential vulnerability and your future in-ability to protect yourself. End of support is inevitable. It happens with every product.
Now it is time to make the move to a newer version of Windows Server. The question is what will you upgrade to?
Upgrade Options
Install a newer Server Operating System on your existing server
Pros:
Investment - Minimal cost & fairly easy
Supported - Support & security updates available
Cons:
Poorer productivity - Aged server running resource intensive OS could seriously impact business
Hardware risk – Older servers have increased hardware failure rates - especially with the added load of a new OS
Reinstall problems – Every rebuild comes with a risk of failure and extensive internal resource usage
Upgrade to a new server running the latest Server Operating System
Pros:
Future proof - Support & security updates available until 2031
Cons:
Investment – Potentially large CAPEX investment for new hardware
Maintenance – Server hardware requires warranty/support, power, cooling, etc.
Migrate some (or all) server functions to the Azure cloud
Pros:
Working Remote- Access server, applications, documents, etc. via a web browser from any device (PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone).
Move CAPEX to OPEX. When your network is in the cloud, all you pay is a monthly fee for the computing power you use, just like a utility.
Greater flexibility. If you need more users, space or features, you add them. If you need to dial it back, you can do that too.
Less Downtime. Systems in the cloud run on a powerful and reliable infrastructure that include layers of redundancy, giving greater reliability.
Cons:
Mindset change – Moving business infrastructure operations to the cloud may require operational changes.
So what should you do?
Unfortunately a migration is not trivial and now is the time to start planning for Windows Server 2012 end of support. What you need to do is:
Assess your current environment
Create your upgrade/ migration plan
Execute!
Yes, we’re probably biased… but we do recommend asking for help. As Microsoft Silver Partners, Hoop5 is here to assist our customers with determining their IT strategy and help them implement the solutions that make the most sense for their unique needs.
Call us today, for a free no obligation server migration consultation! 619-259-5549 or info@hoop5.net.