Nothing lasts forever, and we generally accept that with physical things. Knives go blunt, tyres wear out and clothes start to fade in the wash. Technology in particular can see like it has a short lifespan. We all know the feeling of our phone battery not lasting very long anymore, or your favourite gadget playing up.

And software goes through the same process.

As technology evolves, vendors need to add features to their software to support new and emerging technologies. Sometimes features can be bolted into software, but over time, this makes it bloated, unwieldy, slow and, eventually, unreliable.

Security is also a concern. Vulnerabilities are frequently found inside software, and patches are developed to plug those holes. However, these have the same impact of causing bloating, so patching forever is never practical. Sometimes, the only way to fix a flaw in a building is to knock it down and rebuild.

And that is exactly what Microsoft are doing with Windows Server 2012.

Windows Server 2012 end of life: Ceasing support

However, over 10 years on from the initial launch, Windows Server 2012 is no longer at the cutting-edge of technology. It’s now outdated.

The solution is to rewrite the software with those new features and patches embedded from the ground up, working efficiently so as not to adversely affect the end product. Software, just like everything else, has a lifespan. On the 10th of October 2023, it will cease to be supported by Microsoft.

This means after that date, Microsoft will no longer be releasing security patches or updates for the operating system. Once the deadline has passed, servers running these versions of Windows will represent security gaps for all organisations still using them. They will also represent a target for cyber criminals, armed with the knowledge that any newly discovered vulnerabilities will provide them with easy pickings within organisations that have failed to keep up to date.

Other software vendors will also stop supporting their solutions if they run on these servers or prevent their software from working on them altogether.

The impact on your business

If you’re using these operating systems, they need to be replaced. But with what? Updating the operating systems to a later version comes with a lot of capital expenditure for no real gains. Firstly, the server hardware will likely need to be replaced. Secondly, there would be a need to purchase expensive licenses. And thirdly, you’re left with an environment that hasn’t actually moved that far forward. Old fashioned and inefficient working practices will remain. The actual migration to new servers would also come at a relatively high cost and amount of disruption. Then, in 5 years time, you’ll have to do it all over again.

The alternative: cloud migration

The superior option is to use the Windows Server 2012’s end of life as an opportunity to start migrating into the cloud and removing servers from your environment. Do that once, and you’ll never have to do it again.

Taking data and applications to the cloud is easier than ever before. Plus, it can make your business more flexible, reliable and secure by utilising tools within the Microsoft 365 stack.

In many cases, the licenses you already own could entitle you to all the tools you would need to run your business in the cloud, meaning that a cloud migration may even be more cost-effective.

If you are looking for a change from your legacy or end of life servers, including Windows Server 2012, we can help. Our team of IT experts have worked with countless businesses, of various shapes and sizes, to move from on-premises servers to the cloud with ease.

We can work with you to find the ideal solution for your business needs and help you step into the modern age of computing.

Speak to us today to discuss your next steps.