- May 7, 2019
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- 3 min
On January 24th, 2020, Windows Server 2008 (and 2008 R2) will officially end its lifecycle and new security updates to the operating system will cease.
A secure, efficient, network infrastructure is critical to business operations. It’s important to upgrade to a supported version of Windows and you have options – and making the right choice planning upgrades plays a major role in performance and reliability.
Keep Using Windows Server 2008
While Microsoft will no longer offer support after January 24th, 2020, the operating system will continue to function – but it will no longer receive any security updates. The discontinuation of security updates means that it’s not a matter of if something will happen, but when.
Remaining on Windows Server 2008 past end-of-life is not a good option and one that our team will not recommend. If you have a very specific need to run 2008, Microsoft will offer extended support at a cost, and we strongly recommend planning upgrades or considering a migration to the Cloud.
If this is the option you choose, keep in mind that there will be no future updates to the operating system, so if a new exploit is released and Windows Server 2008 is vulnerable there will be no vendor-issued solution and your systems will be at risk. Systems that are at risk can lead to a complete halt of business operations, legal issues, and damage to your business’s reputation.
Ignoring a problem now and dealing with it when business stops is not a solution. It isn’t even a band-aid.
Always keep in mind that a reactive approach to addressing important upgrades is often much costlier than formulating an upgrade strategy that can be fully tested and implemented ahead of time.
Upgrade to Windows Server 2016
Performing upgrades to Windows Server 2016, Microsoft’s current version of the server operating system, will enable you to receive both security updates and feature enhancements until 2027.
Planning an upgrade also presents the opportunity to review your server hardware. If you are running a server that is over 5 years old, incorporating hardware upgrades will allow you to take advantages of newer technologies and introduce a boost in overall performance.
Depending on the design of your network, this may be the ideal choice for you – particularly if you run applications that are complex or workloads that require on-premise hardware to function properly. If your needs are simple, a move to the Cloud may be the best option.
Migrate to The Cloud
There’s been a push to move resources to the Cloud over the past several years, and for good reason. Servers that are virtualized and hosted in Cloud-based services such as Microsoft Azure remove the need to perform maintenance on hardware, reduce capital expenses, and allow your technology to grow with your business.
See how the Cloud can be leveraged to help your business. A predictable spend is something accounting departments like, and the agility provides tech departments with new ways to accommodate business needs.
A Cloud-based solution comes with many benefits. Less on-premise hardware means less time spent on maintenance and more time supporting business goals. Data storage that is Cloud-based is more fault-tolerant than local storage and can form the beginning of a business continuity plan, improving the overall resilience of your business. The Cloud also brings added agility to your infrastructure, allowing you to adjust resources to where they are needed since you aren’t tied to a physical server until the next hardware refresh.
A proper review of your business’s technology and requirements will be critical, no matter which path you choose to take. Valiant’s team of experts can help you evaluate each option and its impact on business operations, formulate an upgrade plan, and implement a solution that is stable, secure, and able to support your needs in to the future.
Are you looking to upgrade your servers? Get in touch, we can help.
