The End of Windows 2012 Server

Earlier in the month, support for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 came to an end. This means there are no more security updates, no more improvements to features and it’s the end of support for the product.

If you’ve not already migrated away from this now-defunct product, you should be planning and implementing this over the coming weeks.

With Windows 2012 Server no longer supported, the product does not stop working. What you do have, is an insecure device on your computer network, which potentially exposes your business and is quite simply a high-risk device to continue running.

There are many options to migrate away from Windows 2012 Server, with the path your business goes down varying based on your own business needs.

Some examples of migrations are:

• Migrating all services to Office 365
• Deploying a new server, just to run software which needs a server, such as Sage Accounts for example
• Migrating some services to Office 365, and having your files stored on a NAS device

We like to make use of Office 365 as much as possible and have user account control, file sharing and email all in the Office 365 family of products. Using this type of solution completely removes the dependency on local hardware, and therefore eliminates the cost of maintaining server hardware for example.

There are occasional exceptions to this, such as high data volumes or having to run in-house software which might be Sage Accounts or SQL Server/Microsoft Access Database – but we’d recommend you explore alternatives first, before committing to any new server hardware.

Overall, if you’re still using Windows 2012 Server, you need to move on, and you need to move on quickly now that it is no longer supported.

On a final note, for those of you looking to obtain Cyber Essentials Accreditation, you simply won’t pass if you’re using out-of-date software.

Gavin Moorhouse is the owner of Lucid Computer Solutions, based in Redditch they provide Business IT Support and Cloud Solutions. He remembers the days of Windows NT Server and Windows 3.1

Call us on 01527 908646

Email us at hello@lucidcomputersolutions.co.uk