We are thankful for the consider our shoppers have positioned in Windows Server 2012/R2 as part of their organizations for the previous decade. With this liberate of Windows Server having introduced 10 years in the past, it reaches finish of assist on October tenth, 2023, according to our 10-year lifecycle coverage. After this date, not more safety patches shall be launched for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. To keep secure and compliant, we would have liked to stipulate 3 choices for purchasers from Azure.

Modernize with PaaS or improve to a more recent model in Azure

Modernization supplies organizations with a extra future-proof resolution by way of the usage of a cloud-first way or updating to a more recent model. One modernization possibility is shifting to platform-as-a-service (PaaS) answers similar to Azure SQL Managed Instance or Azure App Service. By modernizing workloads to a PaaS resolution, shoppers can totally offload control and patching duties within the cloud. This is helping groups keep up-to-date, steer clear of destiny end-of-support dates, and concentrate on handing over cutting edge apps and studies for his or her companies.

Alternatively, shoppers can migrate and improve their Windows Server 2012/R2 with Azure Migrate, our unfastened device for discovery, evaluate, and migration of workloads to Azure. With this option, organizations can now elect to transport their legacy programs and databases to an absolutely supported, appropriate, and compliant running device. This contains our newest liberate in Windows Server 2022, which supplies organizations with complicated multi-layer safety, hybrid functions with Azure, and a versatile platform to modernize programs. Learn extra about this option of Azure Migrate.

Migrate to Azure without spending a dime Extended Security Updates

If organizations don’t seem to be in a position to modernize Windows Server 2012/R2 in time, they may be able to use Extended Security Updates (ESUs), which give safety patches for as much as 3 years previous the top of assist date.

When organizations migrate end-of-support workloads to Azure, they get unfastened Extended Security Updates. This contains choices similar to Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Dedicated Host, Azure VMware Solution, and Azure Stack HCI. Combining this with Azure Hybrid Benefit and intake fashions similar to reserved cases or financial savings plan for compute lets in much more financial savings in Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server.  

Organizations can get in-depth assets to lend a hand them get started their cloud adventure on Azure with Azure Migrate and Modernize & Azure Innovate—our new choices that offer end-to-end assist from migration and modernization to infusing the newest innovation in analytics and AI. 

Stay secure in hybrid and multicloud environments with ESUs enabled by way of Azure Arc

For organizations who aren’t in a position to modernize or migrate previous to the Windows Server 2012/R2 finish of assist date this October, they may be able to give protection to their hybrid and multicloud workloads with ESUs enabled by way of Azure Arc. Here are the important thing advantages:

• Monthly pay-as-you-go: Activate and sign up from Azure to pay for safety updates on a per thirty days foundation, giving organizations extra flexibility emigrate and modernize to Azure on their phrases.  
• Seamless supply: The enrollment of Extended Security Updates on Azure Arc-enabled machines does now not require the purchase or activation of keys. Moreover, shoppers have the versatility to make use of Azure Update Manager or any other patching resolution in their option to obtain the true patches.
• Organize and stock your property: Gain visibility and reporting throughout servers spanning your hybrid, multicloud, and edge infrastructure. 
• Security and compliance: Extend Azure safety and governance products and services similar to Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel to additional protected their infrastructure from cloud to edge and keep compliant with supported tool. ESUs enabled by way of Azure Arc additionally provides unfastened get entry to to Azure Update Manager, Machine Configuration, and Change Tracking and Inventory for additional automation and more uncomplicated supply of patches.

Connect to Azure Arc lately to get began with ESUs enabled by way of Azure Arc or be informed extra right here.

Prepare for different finish of assist dates

As organizations frequently modernize their property, there are a number of different finish of assist dates to remember for Windows Server and SQL Server shoppers:

• Upgrade Windows Server 2008 digital machines (VMs) in Azure. If you’re working Windows Server 2008 digital machines in Azure, the fourth and ultimate yr of ESUs finish on Jan 9^th, 2024. After this date, not more safety patches shall be supplied to digital machines working this model. Organizations will have to plan to improve to the newest model to run those workloads securely and compliantly. Learn extra about find out how to carry out in-place upgrades for Windows Server.

• Prepare for SQL Server 2014 finish of assist. Many Windows Server shoppers continuously run SQL Server for his or her databases, which additionally has some finish of assist dates to pay attention to. SQL Server 2012 reached finish of assist on July 12^th, 2022, and the approaching finish of assist time limit is for SQL Server 2014, which reaches finish of assist on July 9^th, 2024. Organizations have the similar 3 choices defined above to offer protection to SQL Server 2014 workloads.

See the lifecycle of goods supported with Extended Security Updates right here.

Start modernizing for finish of assist

Here are a couple of key assets to be told extra so you’ll be ready for present and destiny finish of assist eventualities: 

• Learn extra about your choices for Windows Server and SQL Server finish of assist. 
• Learn extra about Extended Security Updates on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page and the documentation.
• Learn extra about working Windows Server on Azure.
• Watch our newest webinar to be told extra about how you’ll protected your IT basis to be AI-ready.
• Protect past Extended Security Updates by way of improving safety with Microsoft Defender for Cloud—a complete and unified cloud-native safety resolution to offer protection to hybrid and multicloud environments from code to cloud.