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Microsoft to Offer Three More Years of Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates

Key Takeaways:

Microsoft has announced that administrators will receive an extra three years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows Server 2012.

Customers still on Windows Server 2012 can opt for ESUs until October 13, 2026, providing businesses with an extended timeframe to secure their systems.

Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2022 or migrating databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines (VMs).

Microsoft has announced that it would provide three additional years of Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates (ESUs). This move is aimed at granting IT administrators extra time to upgrade or transition their workloads to Azure.

Microsoft officially ended mainstream support for Windows Server 2012 in October 2018. The company offered extended support for all editions of Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 until October 10, 2023. Consequently, customers are no longer eligible to receive security updates and bug fixes for their Windows Server machines.

Starting this week, businesses have the option to pay Microsoft to receive Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates until October 13, 2026. It should help to mitigate security risks for organizations requiring additional time to migrate their databases and applications to supported versions of Windows Server.

“If you’ve already moved to Azure to protect your Windows Server 2012 and R2 workloads, you might be enjoying free Extended Security Updates. If your organization is unable to migrate, you can purchase and seamlessly deploy Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates enabled by Azure Arc on premises and in hosted environments without keys, directly from the Azure portal,” Microsoft explained in a blog post.

Microsoft to Offer Three More Years of Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates — Requirements for applying ESUs

Windows Server 2012 ESUs available through Volume Licensing programs

According to Microsoft, Extended Security Updates (ESUs) will be available for customers using Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 through specific Microsoft Volume Licensing programs. It’s possible to purchase ESUs for up to three consecutive 12-month increments.

If you’re still running Windows Server 2012, it might be a good time for on-premises customers to consider upgrading to Windows Server 2022. Microsoft notes that administrators also have the option to migrate their databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines (VMs). You can find more details about Extended Security Updates on this frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.