The end of support for Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 is rapidly approaching with the cut-off date scheduled for January 14, 2020. Windows Server 2008 accounts for roughly 45% of server operating systems, according to a survey done by Spiceworks. With about 5 months left before IT organizations lose their support lifecycle, viable options must be reviewed, and action taken.
Microsoft is pushing for organizations to migrate their workloads into its Azure cloud platform or utilize a hybrid model for on-prem workloads. Regardless of the path your IT department decides to take, the potential for disruption is high. Migrating your workloads to Azure will initially cause some unrest among your end users as Windows Server is deeply ingrained in the daily operations of many enterprises, often handling a variety of functions. Upgrading to a newer Windows OS, will not be much smoother. If the decision is made to upgrade to Windows Server 2016 or 2019, then you must first upgrade to Windows Server 2012 then on to the OS of your choice. Remaining on Server 2012 for security support will see you with a loss of updates come October 2023.
The average lifespan of a server is 3 – 5 years. Gartner released a study highlighting that the average server age in 2017 was 7.3 years with relative performance dropping a staggering 59% in year seven.
If you have suffered from lack of motivation to upgrade your server OS, then now is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your server. With the end of support for Windows Server 2008, comes the end of compliance and new security issues that will need to be addressed.
Speak with us today to find out how BMG can help you navigate this challenge with Dell’s catalog of solutions and our managed service options.
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