Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will end on October 10, 2023. This means that after this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.

Additionally, on January 14th, 2020, Microsoft ended extended support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. If your business is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you're at risk of your applications and servers no longer fulfilling their business objective.

Don't worry...you have options! 

Assess Your Options for 2012 workloads

Move to Azure

Move apps and workloads to Windows Server and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines

• Run securely with free Extended Security Updates for three more years after the deadline for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2012 .
• Save with Azure Hybrid Benefit.

Modernize when ready

• Modernize to PaaS with Azure services such as App Service, and Azure SQL Managed Instance. Never have to patch or upgrade again

~ OR ~ 

Upgrade On-Premises

Upgrade to the latest version 

• Windows Server 2022
• SQL Server 2019

Can’t meet the deadline? Protect server workloads

• Buy Extended Security Updates to get 3 more years of security updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2012.

3 reasons to Move Your Applications to Azure

💡 Use cloud innovation to retire technical debt

• Azure IaaS
• Azure SQL Database
• Azure App Service

💲 Realize significant cost savings vs. on-premises

• Azure Hybrid Benefit and reservations
• Free extended security updates
• Infrastructure optimization

🔒 Improve security and compliance

• Secure cloud foundation
• Built-in, multi-layered security controls
• 90+ compliance certifications, more than any other provider

Azure is the Most Cost-Effective Cloud for Windows Server and SQL Server

Save with Azure Hybrid Benefit, an Azure-only benefit for customers with active Software Assurance or subscription licenses

• Use existing licenses and pay only the “base rate” on Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS)
• Run Datacenter Edition on-premises and save on up to 2 VMs and up to 16 cores in Azure
• Move Standard Edition licenses and save on up to 2 VMs and up to 16 cores in Azure
• Significantly reduce the costs of migrating to the cloud

Modernize when ready

💡 Never have to patch or upgrade again

• Refactor application to Azure PaaS service
• Pay for the compute resources you use
• Azure App Service
• Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Azure SQL Database

📈4x revenue growth for data-driven companies

• Modernize on the way to digital transformation
• Companies who embrace a data-driven culture experience a 4X improvement in revenue performance and better customer satisfaction.

🔒Improve security and compliance

• Secure cloud foundation
• Built-in, multi-layered security controls
• 90+ compliance certifications, more than any other provider

Source: How to lead a data-driven digital transformation by Harvard Business Review

Not Ready to Move?

Upgrade to Windows Server 2022

• Hybrid capabilities with Azure
• Advanced multi-layer security
• Flexible application platform
• Unbeatable offers

Upgrade to SQL Server 2019

• Intelligence over any data
• Choice of platform, language and container
• Industry-leading performance and availability
• Most secure over the last 9 years¹
• Insights in minutes on any device

Get started

🔎Assess

Inventory Windows Server 2012/R2 and SQL Server 2012 workloads in your environment and determine migration path.

⏩Migrate

Upgrade to Windows Server 2022 or SQL Server 2019, or migrate to Azure with guidance, resources and tools.

✅ Optimize

Use Azure hybrid management services to manage cost and resources, and strengthen security and compliance across your hybrid cloud workloads.

Learn more about the end of support at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/windows-server-2012-r2-end-of-support 

Want to know what the best path is for your organization?