Today’s writing discusses “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2” i.e., Windows Server 2008 R2 end of support, and you will learn the following:
- What is Meant by the End of Support?
- End of Support or Life for Windows Server 2008 and its Release 2.
- Extended Support for Windows Server 2008 and its Release 2.
- Should You Upgrade Windows Server 2008 and its Release 2?
What is Meant by the End of Support?
When a software or operating system reaches the end of support, no further updates will be available, which means no help from the system manufacturers or the development community. The end of support for any product dramatically increases the security risk, which often, ultimately, leads to disasters.
End of Support or Life for “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”
The end of support for “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2” means that Microsoft there shall be no more security updates, bug fixes or provide technical support for these operating systems. This can pose a significant risk to businesses and organizations as unsupported operating systems can be vulnerable to newer security threats, malware attacks, and other cyber-attacks.
Note: The “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2” support from Microsoft ended on “January 14th, 2020”.
Extended Support for “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”
Microsoft facilitates the users of its operating system before terminating the support in the form of “Extended Support”. Every OS from Microsoft comes with a minimum of ten years of mainstream updates, and users can also enjoy five years of extended support.
However, “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2” have also reached the end of Extended Security Update (ESU) on “January 10, 2023”, which means you must update to the latest versions.
However, if users still want to use “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”, they can pay Microsoft for extended security updates for up to three years. For the users migrating to “Azure Virtual Machine”, Microsoft adds three years of extended security updates even after the EOL without any cost.
Should You Upgrade “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”?
Yes, you should waste no time and upgrade. It is recommended that you upgrade to a newer and supported operating system to ensure the security and reliability of your IT infrastructure. Several alternative server options are available that are newer, more secure, and provide additional features and capabilities.
Windows Server 2019
This is the newest version of the Windows operating system designed for servers, developed and managed by Microsoft. It is loaded with innovative features, enhanced performance, improved scalability, security, and protection against the latest threats through regular updates.
Cloud-based Solutions
Cloud-based solutions, such as “Microsoft Azure” and “Amazon Web Services”, offer a range of options for hosting and managing servers, applications, and data. These solutions provide a flexible and scalable platform tailored to meet your requirements.
Conclusion
In 2020, Microsoft ended the support life for both “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”, leaving them vulnerable to the current security threats on “January 14th, 2020”. For the extended support, the last date was January 10, 2023, which means you must update to the latest versions, such as “Windows Server 2019”, or consider migrating to cloud-based solutions like “Microsoft Azure” or “Amazon Web Services”. This guide informed the users about the end of support or end of life for “Windows Server 2008” and its “Release 2”.
