Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 and SBS 2011 – Support Is Coming To An End. Are You Prepared?

The support lifecycle for Windows Server 2008, Server 2008 R2 and Small Business Server 2011 is fast approaching and it ends on January 14th 2020, which is not far away. Here at PSD Net, we are asking the question – are you prepared?

A Server Without Support Is A Big Deal

This is a lot more complicated than when support ended for the desktop operating system Windows XP and just another word of warning, mainstream support will also end for Windows 7 in January next year. Planning for lack of support for a Server is certainly a big project and can take months in order to minimise downtime and disruptions to your business.

End Of Lifecycle Support – Key Facts

So what does this actually mean? Microsoft support says there will be no additional:

  • Free security updates on-premises
  • Non-security updates
  • Free support options
  • Online technical content update

Your Business Will Be More Vulnerable To Security Threats

All in all, this could leave your servers vulnerable to security breaches. We understand that for many businesses, it is a case of time, budget and technical constraints which means that they you will not be ready in January, leaving your business open to the end of security updates and more vulnerable to security threats.

Problems You May Experience

  • New hardware and software may not work
  • Google does not support Google Chrome on systems before Windows 7
  • Antivirus suppliers are reluctant to support older operating systems
  • Sage does not support systems older than Windows 7
  • You may not be GDPR compliant

Upgrade Your Servers

The obvious solution is to migrate to a newer platform and here we do recommend that you upgrade your servers and workstations before the deadline. However, if you do leave some portions of your workloads running on Windows Server 2008, you will need to make sure that you have the right protection in place to detect and stop any cyber attacks.

Migrate To Microsoft Azure

Windows suggests that those using these services migrate to Microsoft Azure to take advantage of 3 additional years of Critical and Important security updates which is offered at no additional charge with the option of updating and modernising when you and your company are ready.

What To Do Next

If you are not sure if your servers are affected by this deadline, why not get in touch with PSD Net, the experts in server and email migrations. We know that efficient computer systems are essential for your business and we spot potential issues and fix them before they cause server downtime. Please call PSD Net on 01622 870293 or email info@psd-net.co.uk for a without obligation chat.


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