Microsoft made the significant announcement in May of 2023: Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will both reach End of Life and End of Support later this year, on October 10, 2023.
For businesses with on-premises servers that weren’t bought and configured in the last few years, this announcement means that change is coming.
We’re here to help businesses minimize the disruptions that will come with Server 2012 riding off into the sunset. If you’re in that camp, this article is for you.
1. Exactly what this announcement is.
2. The implications of a product like this reaching End-of-Life.
3. The risks to your business if you don’t take action.
4. What your options are.
“Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will end on October 10, 2023. After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.”
It’s as simple as that: Microsoft isn’t exactly pulling the plug on Windows Server 2012, but it’s reallocating every person who is currently working on the product. After October 10, 2023, that means no more support, updates, or anything.
Technically, there’s one exception or loophole: for customers who cannot upgrade—more on this later—Microsoft does offer something called Extended Security Updates. However, these cost extra, aren’t as good as full support, and essentially mean you’d be throwing money at a dead product. If you suspect you’re one of those edge cases where they might make sense, we’re happy to chat with you individually and either confirm those suspicions or help you map out a better course forward.
Hopefully after the last section we’ve convinced you that Server 2012 EOL is a big deal, but let’s talk about the risks your business faces if you don’t move away from Server 2012.
Since change is coming, let’s talk about your options for moving your business forward.
The first, simplest option is just upgrading to Server 2022. Unfortunately, many of the servers running Server 2012 are just too old to do so.
Another option is upgrading those old servers. When you replace a 2010-era server with its modern equivalent, the new one will come preloaded with Server 2022. It’s just a matter of moving items over, and you’re back in business.
Last: you could take this opportunity to move to a fully cloud environment and get rid of that on-premises server entirely. This is the most invasive option, but also the one that delivers the most value to your business.
With any of these options, you’ll gain the benefits of a newer operating system. With options 2 and 3, you’ll gain more processing power and storage capabilities, too.
These are the most common solutions for businesses still running Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2, but we know every case has its own unique considerations.