Windows 2012 end of life
Windows 2012 and 2012r2 went end of life in October 2023. This means that Microsoft will no longer release updates, including critical security updates. Antivirus vendors may also stop releasing virus definitions for it. Businesses who still have servers on 2012 need to act to avoid risk of attacks.
If you’ve searched and found this article then you are already aware that Windows Server 2012 went out of extended support on the 10th October 2023, and you don’t need me to bore you with the risks of running it now this date has passed – although I will mention them at the end of the article in case you need to brow beat your decision makers. It is also the case that Windows 2012 r2 end of life was on the same date.
This article is aimed mainly at small businesses who have an on-site server to keep their data and documents; in particular, those companies with desktop based “client/server” software applications. Unlike web-based apps, desktop apps still need a server of some sort to enable multiple people to work on the same data. The list is not exhaustive, but popular applications include Sage 50c Accounts, Sage Payroll, Clik Service, BrightPay, Digita Suite, IRIS Accounting, Eclipse Recruiting, Microsoft Access databases, Sage 200, Moneysoft Payroll, Tempaid, CCH, TaxCalc, Itris, QuickBooks, Filemaker Pro, Encore, Virtual Cabinet, and of course Microsoft Office.
If you are running any of these applications, or any other desktop software and the data/databases are held on a Windows 2012 end of life Server then keep reading.
Is Windows Server 2012 still supported?
No, Microsoft will no longer provide any support for Windows 2012 or Windows 2012 r2. More importantly they will no longer provide security updates or patches, leaving 2012 servers at risk. Over time antivirus vendors will stop producing definitions for new viruses affecting 2012, adding to the risk
Should I replace Windows Server 2012 with a new Server running Windows Server 2022
This seems the obvious option. Go out and buy a new server, upgrade everything to run on it, buy new Windows licences and CALs, move your data and carry on as before.
But really, is this the best option? We’re in a new world where everything is in the cloud, our email, our television channels, our bank accounts, our smartphone apps, everything is online. Buying new hardware and running it locally just seems a little bit last year.
Should I replace my local Windows 2012 Server with a server in Azure or AWS?
Sure, this is an option and there will be many SMEs who will go down this route. However, for the type of businesses and applications we’re talking about isn’t this just more of the same?
– Currently you have a server in your building for these legacy applications, you paid IT Support to build this infrastructure and you keep paying them for support. But, all those cloud-based apps need none of this, you don’t need your IT guy to help you run Quickbooks online, or Zero, or Zoho, or SalesForce. This is the model you want for your applications. A fixed, known, subscription cost and everything taken care of.
– Running a server in Azure is very much the same as running it on-premise, you pay IT Support to setup the environment, configure everything, move the applications and data, and then support it for the duration. Just the same as a local server just that it’s somewhere else.
Should I replace my desktop apps with cloud-based apps when Windows Server 2012 goes out of support?
The vendors of the cloud-based apps will suggest this is the best approach, however, I disagree. You’ve invested a lot into these desktop apps, you and your colleagues know how they work, they’re quick and responsive and feature rich. You may have had them bespoke written, or certainly customised and you are really not keen on compromising by having to change your business processes to fit in with a different application that may or may not do quite what you need.
Yes, these cloud-based apps make life much easier, for support, for remote working, for budgeting, but the good old desktop apps are around for a very good reason, they are just better at what they do for your business, so read on for better alternatives than replacing your aplications.
What’s the best way of running my business applications now Windows Server 2012 or Windows 2012 r2 end of support has arrived?
There is a solution that gives you all the flexibility and scalability of Azure and AWS plus all the benefits of cloud-based apps, and that is to move your applications to a hosted remote desktop service, sometimes called hosted desktops, or Desktop As A Service (DaaS).
A hosted remote desktop fulfils two roles, it replicates the Windows 2012 Server in that it is a server housing the documents, data and databases used by your business software, but it also houses the user’s desktop, the software normally running on the user’s PCs is now installed on the remote desktop server allowing the user to connect to it over the internet and run the applications on a remote desktop just as if they were on their local PC.
The hosted desktop is a fully managed service where the provider looks after all the techy side of things, just in the same way the cloud-based app providers do.
This means:
• No local hardware to replace
• No IT Support costs
• No upfront capex purchases for licences, making things much more flexible
• Your applications work in exactly the same way as they always have
• No having to worry about this again in 10 years’ time
Plus, there are a bunch of extra benefits you don’t get by replacing your Windows 2012 Server:
• Remote working is easy, essentially everyone is remote even if in the office.
• Scalability and Flexibility, just like Azure, hosted desktop servers can be scaled to cope with any changes in your business up or down.
• Surety of costs, you pay the same amount each month, just like you would with any other subscription. If you have more users you pay more, but if you need fewer users you pay less.
• No additional costs for server antivirus or cloud backup as these are included
• You can even run your applications on non-Windows devices as you can connect to a hosted desktop using Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android tablets and phones, and Google Chromebooks
• You can integrate business apps on the remote desktop, as well as apps like Microsoft Office.
Why should I replace my Windows 2012 server?
I did promise to explain this as it is important to understand the implications of not upgrading, as some companies may risk delaying.
Remember back in 2017? Companies and individuals across the world were hit by the WannaCry virus, millions of servers and PCs were hit, even the NHS in the UK was seriously compromised. Why? Because they were running older, unsupported operating systems. Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows Server 2012. Any vulnerabilities discovered will not be patched, meaning as time goes by these servers will be at greater and greater risk of being attacked. Something that many people don’t realise is that if you have an old unsupported server on your network, and that gets hit by malware, that malware could then potentially spread to newer servers because the malware now has access to your network.
The incredible thing is people continue to run unsupported operating systems. I wrote this originallt in July 2023 and at the time a potential customer was having an issue connecting to our demo server, it turns out it was because they were running Windows 7, which went out of support 8 years ago.
So, if you don’t already have plans to replace your Windows 2012 Server my advice is to act as soon as you can.
How do I replace my Windows Server 2012 with a hosted desktop now its gone end of life?
This is the easiest bit, simply get in touch either using the form below, or emailing sales@yourofficeanywhere.co.uk or calling 01282 500318. Our friendly sales consultants can talk in layman’s terms about your options and offer the right solution to meet your specific needs.
Get in touch today, I don’t know what the data will be when you read this but the clock is definitely ticking.