Microsoft announced it will officially end support for Windows Server 2012 on October 10, 2023. If your business runs on Windows Server 2012, it’s best to plan and prepare now. Although October 2023 seems far away, now is the time to plan your move from Windows Server 2012 as the upgrade can take up to a year. With the current supply shortages of hardware, price changes, and other factors, it’s best to prepare now and figure out your technology plan.
What does End of Support mean?
After October 10, 2023, any business still using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 will no longer receive critical security updates and regular patches. Since Microsoft will stop providing security updates and support, it will increase security risk and raise compliance concerns if businesses do not upgrade. We highly recommend that any business running Windows Server 2012 upgrade and make the move, since the process can take months.
What happens after support ends?
No security updates, no compliance, and no tech support.
Microsoft is always alert and attentive when it comes to security updates. When a new exploit is discovered, Microsoft patches it quickly. On October 10, 2023, those security updates and support will end for Windows Server 2012. When support ends, you will no longer receive critical security updates. It will increase your risk for cyberattacks and cause noncompliance concerns.
Your network and your data will be unprotected. If your business has compliance requirements, such as CMMC, you will fail to meet compliance if you are running on an unsupported system.
Along with security risks, your business functionality will be affected. Your business relies on the server to run applications and manage data every day. If you do not upgrade, it will cause issues with performance and productivity. In addition, if your IT team needs to get support from Microsoft for any Windows Server 2012 issues, support will not be available.
What should you upgrade to?
Microsoft recommends upgrading to the latest version of Windows Server 2019.
What are the next steps?
While it seems like there is plenty of time to upgrade, it’s best to start planning and thinking about upgrading as soon as possible. The deadline to upgrade will be here sooner than you think. Depending on your IT environment, the upgrade process can take several months.
Talk to your IT team about your options and get started.
Now is the time to plan your move. October 2023 seems like a lot of time, but with the right planning and coordination, it will be here before you know it. There is a lot involved with an upgrade that will take time, such as the time it takes for the IT team to design and scope the project to the coordination, implementation, and other factors involved.
As an IT company, we want to help ensure your technology runs efficiently and securely. If you need help preparing and executing your plan, please contact us and our team would be happy to help.