used with permission from Microsoft
On July 14, 2015, Microsoft will end support for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2. Organizations that fail to migrate from Windows Server 2003/R2 before this date will be out of compliance with certain existing business standards and possibly expose themselves to vulnerabilities.
Fortunately, migrating to a supported server operating system can help you mitigate these risks and deliver valuable benefits and efficiencies that are not available in Windows Server 2003/R2. To take advantage of this opportunity, your organization will need a clear understanding of the different on-premises and cloud migration options available.
Why now?
End of support for Windows Server 2003/R2 is coming. Transforming your network infrastructure presents an opportunity to stay in compliance with current standards and help you maintain security levels. It is also a chance to innovate not just your server, but the applications that are critical to your business success.
What end of support means
On July 14, 2015, Microsoft will completely end support for Windows Server 2003/R2. The list below explains what end of support means for customers.
- No Compliance: Lack of compliance with various standards and regulations can be devastating. This may include various regulatory and industry standards for which compliance can no longer be achieved. For example, lack of compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards could mean that companies such as Visa and MasterCard will no longer do business with your organization. Or, the new cost of doing business will include paying catastrophic penalties and astronomically high transaction fees.
- No Updates: 37 critical updates were released in 2013 for Windows Server 2003/R2 under extended support. No updates will be developed or released after end of support. Imagine what impact zero updates will have on your infrastructure.
- No Safe Haven: All servers running Windows Server 2003/R2 are affected. Both virtualized and physical instances of Windows Server 2003/R2 are vulnerable and would not pass a compliance audit. Many applications will also cease to be supported, once the operating system they are running on is unsupported. This includes all Microsoft applications.
- No Savings: Staying put will cost more in the end. For example, a Custom Support Agreement (CSA) requires an application and has a high minimum entry cost. The cost doubles each year. Maintenance costs for aging hardware will also increase, and customers will face added costs for intrusion detection systems, more advanced firewalls, network segmentation, and other security measures—all simply to isolate Windows Server 2003/R2 servers.
The Bottom Line?
Upgrading your aging servers and operating systems helps mitigate compliance risks, reduce costs, and provide significant benefits that can outweigh the costs of upgrading.
We can help. Contact us today at 503-222-3086. We can talk to you about the steps for a successful migration and upgrade from Server 2003/R2!