ESUs for the Microsoft operating system for on-premises systems will end on Jan. 10, 2023, and only systems migrating to the cloud (Microsoft Azure) will receive the Extended Security Updates for another year (Jan. 10, 2024)

Due to the large and promising attack surface of widely used mainstream products such as Windows Server / SQL Server, they have been of particular interest to criminals in the past.

We strongly recommend migrating Windows Server 2008(R2) and SQL Server 2008 to a supported platform or service in the cloud or on-premises and shutting down old systems. If this cannot be done in a timely manner, the risk can be reduced by further protecting the soon-to-be vulnerable systems such as hardening the software, isolating the system, virtual patching, etc

If you have any questions on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us at

RIMOC - We will be happy to help you

TIP: Consider Windows Server 2012(R2) / SQL Server 2012 now, not when it is too late

In most cases, it is highly recommended to save the cost of an expensive ESU for Windows Server 2012. Migrate to a supported platform or service in the cloud or on-premises before October 10, 2023!

SQL Server 2012 extended support ended on July 12, 2022 - if you cannot patch or migrate to a supported version, ESU's may be a solution.