Support Ends for Windows Server 2012, Exchange 2010, Office 2010, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008

End of support means the end of regular security updates, feature enhancements and compatibility. With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, running apps and data on unsupported versions can create significant security and compliance risks. The 2008/2010 family of products was great for its time, but now you must upgrade to the most current versions for better performance, efficiency, and regular security updates.

Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 - End of Life

On October 10, 2023, the support period for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 ends and thus also becomes a so-called "Outdated Component". This also applies to SQL Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 R2, for which support will even end on July 12, 2022.

Also affected is the period of extended support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008, which ended on January 14, 2020. Since then, this version has represented a significant security risk for all companies.

Security Risks Due to the End of Life of IT Components

If IT components whose end of life has been reached continue to be operated, this results in a risk to the security of the systems: Corresponding security patches are no longer provided by the manufacturer for unsupported versions. In particular, already known vulnerabilities cause security incidents: for example, in about 99% of all cases, companies already know about risk more than 12 months before they become the target of cyberattacks.

Microsoft Office 2010 - End of Life

Office 2010 has entered the final months of its 10-year lifecycle with support being discontinued on October 13, 2020. Microsoft is encouraging customers to migrate to its newer subscription-based Office 365 Business bundle as quickly as possible. Office 2010 will no longer be compatible with newer Microsoft desktop and server products which can potentially disrupt your business.

Microsoft is heavily encouraging all customers to make the switch to Office 365 Business which employs a per-user subscription model. While customers can still choose to upgrade to the on-premise Office 2019 for a one-time purchase it is important to note that the Office 365 Business subscription is regularly updated with new features while Office 2019 will not benefit from new features since its initial release in October 2018. Microsoft Office perpetual licenses are no longer part of the Home Use Program.

New features, more devices

Office 365 Business includes full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, plus Publisher and Access (for PCs) and Skype for Business. Additionally, Office 365 Business allows users to install Office on up to five devices including PC, Macs and mobile devices.

Jared Spataro, Microsoft's VP of Microsoft 365, explained the benefits to upgrading to Office 365 Business in detail, saying: "Upgrade to Office 365 Business, a product built for today’s challenges and literally getting better all the time, as we continue innovating across - and investing in - the experience. Consider just a few benefits: AI and machine learning to advance creativity and innovation, real-time collaboration across apps, and Microsoft Teams as the hub for teamwork. With built-in, cloud-powered security to protect your data, Office 365 ProPlus also provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business will not only be productive, but safe."

Microsoft Exchange 2010 - End of Life

On January 14, 2020, Exchange Server 2010 will reach end of support. If you haven’t already started your migration from Exchange 2010 to Office 365 or Exchange 2019, now is the the time to start moving.

What does end of support mean?

Exchange Server, like almost all Microsoft products, has a support lifecycle during which we provide new features, bug fixes, security fixes, and so on. This lifecycle typically lasts 10 years from the date of the product’s initial release, and the end of this lifecycle is known as the product’s end of support. When Exchange 2013 reached its end of support on April 14, 2023, Microsoft will no longer provide:

• Technical support for problems that may occur
• Exchange mailbox archiving and backups will no longer be supported
• Bug fixes for issues that are discovered and that may impact the stability and usability of the server
• Security fixes for vulnerabilities that are discovered and that may make the server vulnerable to security breaches
• Time zone updates
• Installations of Exchange 2013 will continue to run after this date. However, because of the changes listed above, we strongly recommend that you migrate from Exchange 2013 as soon as possible.

In other words, upgrading to Windows 11/Server 2022 is a necessity. The clock is ticking - get in touch with us today and start your seamless migration to a safer OS.