Prepare for Windows Server 2008 End of Support with Transition to Azure​​

Prepare for Windows Server 2008 End of Support with Transition to Azure

Support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 is coming to an end and that means the end of regular security updates. With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and frequent, running apps and data on unsupported versions can create significant security and compliance risks.​

 

End of support is quickly approaching for these popular 2008 releases:

  • ​Extended Support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end on July 9, 2019
  • Extended Support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end on January 14, 2020

 

New options are available to help companies upgrade and adopt the innovative technologies necessary to carry an organization into the future. We recommend upgrading to Windows 2019, SQL Server 2017 and the Azure cloud for better performance, efficiency, and regular security updates. We also recommend other cloud options such as Azure SQL, and Azure Cosmos DB.

Migration to Microsoft Azure with free security updates:

  • ​Transition Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 workloads to Azure
  • Get three years of extended security updates at no additional charge, and upgrade current version when ready
  • Use existing licenses and save up to 80 percent on Azure Virtual Machines with Azure Hybrid Benefit and Reserved Instances (requires valid Microsoft Software Assurance.)

These options provide more time to plan, including upgrading to newer versions and utilizing the rich set of platform and data services available in Azure. SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 deployments can also be moved with no application code change and near zero downtime to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance. It is a fully-managed database-as-a-service solution with industry leading SLAs and does not require future upgrades. Every good migration project begins with a good plan. We can help you start by identifying applications that are being supported by 2008 and 2008 R2 versions of SQL Server and Windows Server, inventory workloads, and provide feedback on the right migration and/or upgrade path for each one. If you have questions or want further information, contact www.rmsource.com or email our account team today.