2015 is going to be a year of change for the better. I mean this quite literally if your business is running Windows Server 2003 because Microsoft has solidified an end date for the older server operating system; July 14, 2015.
As the reader, you might be thinking; who cares, that’s months away, but the truth is upgrading older server software usually means also upgrading the older specialty software that relies on Windows Server 2003 – this could be anything from estimating software to database software that requires SQL. As such, it is important to sit down with your current IT support provider – or, if you are looking for a new one, Sea to Sky Network Solutions – and begin the process of creating an upgrade plan this month. Microsoft reports that from the date of approval to the go-live date it takes, on average, 150-200 days to plan, test, migrate and upgrade a server-based solution. That means your organization should be thinking about this now – right now!
This news should not come as a surprise to most, in fact, mainstream support for Windows Server 2003 formally ended in 2010. The past 5 years of ‘Extended Support’ was really meant to provide businesses with ample time to upgrade in a controlled and cost-effective manner while maintaining access to critical security patches meant specifically for Windows Server 2003. In 2013 there were 37 critical updates released for Windows Server 2003/R2 and 2014 was similar in numbers. We are talking about updates meant to counter threats and vulnerabilities from hackers who know that servers usually house extremely sensitive data.
Furthermore, if your business is required to be PCI compliant, remaining on Windows Server 2003 may void your agreement to hold sensitive data for companies like Visa and MasterCard. While not every firm has this compliance requirement, the fact that larger firms are actively reminding their partners to upgrade should be heeded by all business with a Windows Server 2003 instance.
So what can you do? It is simple; plan your upgrade now. Work with a Microsoft Partner to build out a plan to move to one of three options:
1. A new onsite solution running Windows server 2012 – This is a good option with the opportunity to utilize virtualization
2. A new hosted solution in the Cloud – This is the ‘pay for what you need’ subscription model
3. A new hybrid solution – Take some of your services to the cloud (i.e. email in Office 365) and keep your third-party solution onsite (i.e. third-party software)
So that is it; you are now aware of the pending deadline (July 2015), the time it will take to complete the migration (~150 days) and a phone number to call for help (604.628.6970), stop reading and call our client success team for a no-obligation meeting to discuss your specific situation in more detail. If you would like to send an email we can be reached at info@seatosky.com
Here is a great PSA video from Microsoft outlining the Windows Server 2003 news:
Windows Server 2003 EOS Awareness video
– Sea to Sky Team
