Microsoft will officially end its support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 on 14th January 2020.   Although 2020 seems a long way away at the moment, updating IT infrastructure is a large task.  Therefore,  you should start putting plans in place for a smooth transition now.  You will want to make sure your company is seamlessly protected during this changeover and your infrastructure remains secure.

Microsoft manages the support for its products through its well established Life Cycle Policy.  Generally, a product has Mainstream Support for 5 years after release.  It then moves to Extended Support for a further 5 years.  Normally, all support ends 10 years after the release date.

Windows Server 2008 End of Support

When Windows Server 2008 reaches the end of the extended support period,  Microsoft will no longer offer any type of support for the operating system which means:

• No security files are released.  So, security gaps in your system, will no longer be plugged by software updates. This leaves your system vulnerable to security threats.  Therefore, it will put your business data and networks at risk.

• No new features will be released.  You will eventually start to miss out on new features which will impact on the productivity of your business. The new virtualisation features introduced in Hyper-V on the updated Winders Server 2012 and R2 systems alone may warrant an upgrade.

• You could also find that you are no longer complying with regulatory standards which require all IT products to be supported.

What do you need to do?

You should speak to your IT Support company now.  They will help you to establish a migration strategy for your Windows Server 2008 decommissioning. Many Windows 2008 users will need to replace servers by the deadline.  It is worth noting that this task requires a great deal of investigation and planning to ensure zero downtime during the process. You should act now to give your company time to organise this change and not leave it until a last minute rush.   We will be guiding all of our IT Support customers across Glasgow, Edinburgh and central Scotland through this process over the coming months.  Why don’t you contact us today for a chat about how we can help your company plan a well-managed and timely transition?

RedMosquito provide outsourced IT Support services to SMEs in Glasgow, Edinburgh and throughout central Scotland.