Windows Server 2012 End-of-Life: What Does it Mean for You?

Bottom line: after a decade of service, Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 operating system will reach its end-of-life on October 10, 2023.

This means that if any of your business systems run on Windows Server 2012, you have a decision to make soon. With hardware shortages, price volatility, and increasing lead times, now’s the time to start planning, budgeting, and figuring out what to do next. If you are a Gant Systems client, your account manager either has or will be reaching out to discuss options and next steps. 

In an effort to provide you as much clarity on this issue as possible, in this article, we will cover:

• What is Happening to Windows Server 2012
• Why Windows Server 2012 End-of-Life Matters
• Options for Moving Away from Windows Server 2012
• Plan Now to Avoid Missing the Deadline

What's Happening to Windows Server 2012

Microsoft (and other software manufacturers) set Fixed Lifecycle Policies to define the end-of-support date for versions of their software.

In terms of the lifecycle for Windows Server 2012, it is important to understand that Mainstream Support for Windows Server 2012 has already ended. That stopped on October 9, 2019. This means that Windows Server 2012 is currently in its Extended Support phase.

"During Extended Support, Microsoft continues to provide security updates, reliability updates, and bug fixes. However, they do not provide non-security updates without a paid support agreement."

On October 10, 2023, Microsoft will end this Extended Support. Essentially, it is at the end of its lifecycle. 

There will be Extended Security Update options, but this might not be the right choice for your business. More on this later.

Why Windows Server 2012 End-Of-Life Matters

Your server will still work with an unsupported operating system—but you will be on borrowed time. You will not notice a difference unless an attack compromises your server, or you experience some other technical issue.

There will, however, come a point where you will need to make a change, and it is better to plan that change in advance instead of waiting until you have no other choice.

No More Security Updates

Microsoft is vigilant about security updates for their supported software. They stand behind their products and are dedicated to maintaining the security of those products. So, when an exploit comes out for a supported product, they patch it as quickly as possible.

October 10, 2023, marks the end of security updates and patches provided by Microsoft. This will expose any business still running this operating system to significant security risks.

Once Microsoft stops supporting a product, exploits can easily be found and downloaded from the internet by an attacker almost immediately. The lifespan of this operating system is well-publicized, which means cyber criminals are aware of it, too.

No More Microsoft Support

When an operating system reaches end-of-life, Microsoft no longer offers technical support for that product. Of course, your internal or outsourced IT team can still troubleshoot when issues arise, but you will be out of luck if something requires Microsoft’s intervention.

The older an operating system gets, the more issues it will have. It is inevitable that one of those issues will be in its final demise since there is no more manufacturer support.

You Will Be Out Of Compliance

If your business must meet regulatory compliance standards, such as CMMC or HIPAA, running an unsupported operating system means you will fail compliance checks. The minute an operating system is out of support, you are out of compliance and can experience substantial fines.

Furthermore, your cyber insurance policy might also stipulate that you must be running supported software to qualify for coverage. If a cyber incident happens and you need to file a claim, it is possible that it will be denied.

Your Technology Will Not Be Able To Advance

If you are running Windows Server, it is the foundation of your business’s infrastructure. This means that whatever other tools are running on it must be compatible with the operating system.

For example, suppose you have a Sage database on your server. The version of Sage must be compatible with the version of Windows Server it is running on.

Now, let us say you are at a conference and learn about an exciting new feature set that will make your inventory scanning process go so much faster. If you are running an outdated version of Windows Server, they are going to say, “I am sorry—you cannot install it because it does not work on Windows 2012. It only works on the latest version.”

Software manufacturers stop writing new features for older operating systems. Technology is a puzzle, and all the pieces must fit together. When one piece needs to be upgraded, but it is incompatible with another piece, everything is held back.

Options For Moving Away From Windows Server 2012

Microsoft will offer the option to purchase Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012. But this is only a short-term solution and may not be the right choice for your business. Most businesses will recognize that they need to move away from Windows Server 2012.

The good news is that many companies will not need to buy new server hardware. Due to the power of virtualization, the software refresh can be separate from a hardware refresh, and they are not usually directly tied to each other.

Your options for migrating to the latest operating system include:

1. Spinning up a new virtual server using existing server hardware
2. Buying new server hardware
3. Moving to the cloud
   

Option 1: Spin Up a New Virtual Server

Moving from Windows Server 2012 to the latest available operating system is a software-level change. So, assuming your server hardware has enough resources, you can spin up a new virtual server on the latest operating system, install the latest compatible versions of your applications, migrate your data, and you are off and running.

If you are running Windows Server, it is the foundation of your business’s infrastructure. This means that whatever other tools are running on it must be compatible with the operating system.

Option 2: Buy a New Server

If your server hardware is more than 5 years old, it may need to be replaced due to capacity and age.

The recommended lifecycle for physical servers is 5 years, and with Windows Server 2012 reaching the ripe old age of 10, it is possible that your server may be approaching the end of its recommended lifecycle (or it has already passed).

Newer operating systems are more robust than their predecessors, requiring more processing power and space on your server. With older hardware, you will inevitably experience frustrating performance issues.

Option 3: Move to the Cloud

The cloud is becoming more viable for a wider range of businesses. If you are interested in getting out of the hardware refresh cycle, you have better options today than you have ever had before.

Whether the cloud is the right decision for your business depends on your applications and goals.

For businesses with multiple sites, 24/7 operations, or hybrid employees, moving to the cloud is a terrific way to ensure your infrastructure is always online, no matter what.

Financially, Azure is an excellent option, and many organizations are already going in this direction. Azure is reliable, quick to expand, highly scalable, and every user in every office gets the same wonderful experience. If those are important to your organization, the cloud's benefits are unmatched.

Some small businesses may not need a server. The Microsoft 365 platform has allowed smaller organizations with minimal server needs to go server-less. 

With Azure Active Directory (AD) domain services and SharePoint, you will have the security features you need to restrict access to just what each employee needs and give employees a familiar file-sharing experience without having a traditional domain controller in the building. Plus, instead of a significant capital expense every 5 years, you can have a Microsoft 365 subscription at a defined tier, and it unlocks these functions.

Plan Now to Avoid Missing the Deadline

A server migration takes time. With the planning, coordination, and testing involved, the deadline is right around the corner.

Depending on the complexity of your environment, the scope of your project, hardware availability, and vendor schedules, this process can take 3-6 months end-to-end.

There can be a lot of pieces involved, and they all take time:

• Your IT team designing and scoping the project
• Working with the application vendor(s) to scope their portion
• Hardware procurement if needed (it can take 1-3 months for hardware to come in these days with inventory shortages and supply chain issues)
• Coordinating schedules of all vendors involved
• Installing the latest version of Windows Server
• Implementing all other applications
• Extensive testing
• Rollout and training

Talk To Your IT Team About Your Server Migration Today

Now’s the time to start planning with your IT team if your business is running Windows Server 2012.

Getting started today will help ease your mind, keep you secure and in compliance, lock in pricing, and avoid any rush fees you might otherwise incur as the deadline draws near. You will not regret getting ahead.

If you need any help planning, scoping, or implementing your Windows Server 2012 migration, contact us. We would be happy to help you figure out the best next steps for your organization and accomplish your IT goals.