Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2003 will no longer be supported after July 14th 2015. Windows Server 2003 forms the core of Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 along with Exchange 2003 which was retired on 8th April 2014.
What does this mean for you?
If you and your organisation are using a more recent products then you don't need to read any further. If you are using Windows Server 2003 you need to understand that:
- It will continue to work.
- Running the systems is a risk to EVERYTHING on that network not just the unsupported product.
- Microsoft will no longer release any security or bug fixes.
- Microsoft will no longer act as a 2nd line support for Transcendit or other Microsoft partners.
- It is likely that 3rd parties will stop developing and supporting applications that currently run on or use this technology. This includes anti-virus providers, which compounds the security issue.
- Transcendit will continue to provide support but it is very possible that some issues will not be solveable and can only be resolved by replacing the server.
With these things in mind, what actions should you take?
- Determine how many Windows Server 2003 or SBS 2003 Servers are used in your organisation.
- Identify any third party applications that rely on Windows Server 2003 and contact the provider to determine whether they will continue to provide support and/or what the upgrade path is for the product.
Hopefully, supported versions of all required products exist in which case all systems and software can be upgraded or replaced as appropriate. If you have applications that can only work with Windows Server 2003 and there is NO upgrade path then you need to look at different ways of isolating that system so that it is only used for those applications and new replacement applications found and trialled as quickly as possible.
If you would like to discuss the above further or require any assistance with planning and migrating your systems please don't hesitate to contact the team on 0191 482 0444.
