Microsoft Server 2012/R2 Support End Notification

Microsoft has given a reminder ring to all its customers that the extended support for all editions of Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will end on October 10^th, 2023.

As bleeping computer states, though it reached the mainstream support end date in October 2018, Microsoft pushed back the end date for extended support five years to allow customers to migrate to newer, under-support Windows Server versions.

Once the extended support timeline is reached, Microsoft will not provide any technical support and bug fixes for newly discovered issues for the servers running on those two OS versions.

The current reminder is the third one that comes after earlier warnings issued since July 2021 that this Windows version will reach its retirement date later this year.

Microsoft advises admins who want to keep their on-premises Windows Server 2012 servers running and receiving bug fixes and security updates to upgrade to Windows Server 2022 or purchase Extended Security Updates (ESUs) that will provide up to three more years of security updates, renewable every year until October 13, 2026.

The other option is to migrate their databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines, which will also provide them with free ESUs for three years after the end of support.

Windows Server 2008/R2 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) officially reach its end of support in another 4 days’ time i.e., on January 10, 2023.