It’s almost time to say goodbye to the three Windows Server 2008 R2 editions – Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter. These systems are set to go End of Life (EOL) on January 14, 2020, at which time extended support will officially stop.
When new software replaces old, it makes sense for a company to end support for older software. So now is a good time to start planning a strategy for your migration and ensuring your infrastructure stays secure.
What are the Risks of Staying on EOL Software
While EOL products don’t stop working immediately, the company will no longer provide support for them. That means if anything breaks, there won’t be a fix available.
However, the biggest risk of continuing to use end of life products is that they will no longer receive patches or security updates. This leaves you vulnerable to cyber attacks with a potential loss of data, because it’s virtually impossible to prevent attacks from hackers if a product contains security vulnerabilities that aren’t being fixed.
Hackers exist to prey on vulnerabilities, and end of life software provides them with ample opportunities.
Other Products Going EOL
Windows Server 2008 isn’t the only product that’s getting the final axe in the near future. The following three other products are also reaching their EOL:
- Exchange Server 2010
- Windows 7
- SQL Server 2008 R2
You can also continue to use these three products safely until their end of life dates, but at that point in time migration will be necessary in order to keep data secure and stay in compliance with industry standards.
Planning for Migration
When software inevitably becomes obsolete, it can create a challenge for businesses. But keep in mind extended support for these products doesn’t officially end until January 14, 2020 (and July 9, 2019 for SQL Server). You do have some time to formulate a migration plan, so there’s no need to panic. However, 2020 will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to handle a move of this magnitude.
Just taking into consideration the number of computers running Windows 7, estimated at 48% of all business workstations right now, the line for upgrade assistance will start getting very long as we get closer to these dates. The time to start planning is now.
How We Can Help?
If you are already a client of Itech Support, we will be contacting you to discuss the next steps.
If you are not already a client of Itech Support, get in touch with us and we can assist you in preparing for migration. We can go through the best solution that meets your needs to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information or advice about your IT requirements, give Itech Support a call on 01923 674091 or email support@itechsupport.net
