Two commonly used server products, SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2, are about to reach their End of Support (EOS) dates. On July 9, 2019, support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end. In less than one year, on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end all support for Windows Server 2008 R2. This means that users no longer receive updates or support from Microsoft. While you may not immediately think that this is a big deal, you need to trust us when we say: this is a big deal.

End of Support means that automatic fixes, updates, and online technical support will no longer be provided for these products. These updates include vital security patches that keep your organization’s data safe and secure. Without support and security, your company is left completely vulnerable to attacks that could result in data breaches, data loss, and compromised customer information. Consumers rely on you to keep their data secure and a loss of trust can mean a loss of revenue.

“End of support means the end of regular security updates,” said Microsoft exec Takeshi Numoto in a blog post. “With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, running apps and data on unsupported versions can create significant security and compliance risks. The 2008 family of products was great for its time, but we highly recommend upgrading to the most current versions for better performance, efficiency, and regular security updates.”

Now that you know that updating is a no-brainer, it’s time to think about implementation. It is recommended that you allow around six months for installation and complete migration. Because you’ll probably need a bit of time to consider your options and decide on a plan, you should tack on another month. In short, it’s time to get the ball rolling.

Microsoft offers a few of their own upgrade options, keeping current customers in their ecosystem. However, the upside to these major End of Support dates is that you have the opportunity to explore all of your choices and to choose an upgrade plan that will benefit your organization for years to come.

Sifting through the options is time-consuming and complex, but SingularisIT already has a handle on all the details. We can work with you to create a customized IT infrastructure plan that suits your business’ unique requirements. Contact us to get started.