Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 twelve years ago and is shortly going to be stopping support. It’s been said that all endings are really beginnings, and technology is no exception. As the speed of technology innovation increases, the more our products needs to evolve to keep pace. To put this in perspective, back in 2003, smartphones and mobile applications were marginally adopted. Today, they are prolific and driving real-time business on the go. Now, current mobile phones exceed the original Windows Server 2003 memory and processor requirements! If you put the standards of 2003 next to the scale and scope of applications today, there just isn’t any comparison.

Many of our customers have already upgraded to newer versions of Windows Server or Microsoft Azure. These customers are seeing real benefits, including improved performance, higher reliability, and increased flexibility in responding to business needs. If you are still running Windows Server 2003, we want to remind you that now is the time to migrate. Support for Windows Server 2003 will end on July 14, 2015.

Windows Server 2003 Migration Strategy

A good migration strategy should include several key elements. You need to identify any remaining instances of Windows Server 2003, and choose the right migration path. Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft Azure, and Office 365 are all great options for migration, depending on your specific requirements.

Windows Server 2003 instances will, of course, continue to run after end of support. However, running unsupported software carries significant security risks and may result in costly compliance violations. As you evaluate security risks, keep in mind that even a single old server can be a point of vulnerability for your entire infrastructure.

Migration Can Deliver Significant Business Value

Upgrading servers is not just a maintenance task. It provides an opportunity to deliver significant business value. Business users expect mobile connected applications that were barely on the horizon with Windows Server 2003. Additionally, technology capabilities have also evolved dramatically in the last decade, with the emergence of cloud and new standards for manageability and security.

Migration options include:

  • Consolidate physical servers or paid virtualization platforms to Hyper-V and save money.
  • Migrate workloads like Exchange to Office 365 to get the latest productivity innovations and reduce your management burden.
  • Upgrade from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2014 to achieve mission-critical performance and faster insights on any data.
  • Migrate Web applications to Microsoft Azure or our Cloud OS Network, for the improved reach, scale and cost efficiency.
  • Update custom or line of business applications to support the needs of today’s globally connected mobile workforce.

Call us now to plan your Windows Server 2003 end of life strategy. 0330 010 0201