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What Does the Microsoft Announcement Mean
Microsoft has announced it is ending support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on Oct. 10, 2023. Servers running Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 will no longer be supported or receive security updates after this date, leaving them vulnerable to hackers, malware, and viruses.
Why Windows Server 2012 End-of-Life Matters
Your server will still work with an unsupported operating system – but you’ll be on borrowed time. You probably won’t notice a difference unless an attack compromises your server or you experience some other technical issue.
There will come a point where you’ll need to make a change, and it’s 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 its supported software. They stand behind their products and are dedicated to maintaining the security of those products. So when an exploit is discovered 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.
Dartmouth Information Security Policy requires system owners & operators to keep all IT systems updated with vendor-supplied security patches. So to be in alignment with Dartmouth College expectations, operating systems that no longer have security updates are considered in violation of these requirements.
Begin Preparing Now!
What are my options?
- If your server supports a third-party application, talk to your vendor to see if a hosted solution is available and begin a migration as soon as possible.
- If you no longer require your server, you may simply submit a server decommission request to have it disposed of.
- If you have determined you will continue to need a server for your application, you may request a new server to be built
- Server Request
- If you have determined you will need to keep your server start reviewing the use cases for your Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 and reach out to third-party application vendors to determine compatibility with current operating systems.
- After determining the best approach for your application, move quickly to implement your plan to install your application on the new server and migrate your data.
Are you still unsure what to do?
Submit a request to schedule a consultation with an Infrastructure Services Engineer to help guide you through this process.
General Infrastructure Request