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Microsoft extends support for Windows Server 2012 until October 2026, allowing administrators more time to upgrade or move to Azure.
Windows Server 2012 had its end date extended, and the company provided five more years of support to help customers transition to supported versions of the software. This happened even though its mainstream support ended in October 2018.
Starting from October 2023, Redmond has stopped supporting this operating system. This means they will no longer provide technical assistance or bug fixes for issues that may affect system stability or usability.
Microsoft announced that users can now receive three extra years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows Server 2012, Windows Server R2, or Windows Embedded Server 2012 R2 on Azure if they require more time for upgrades and modernization.
Microsoft’s Poornima Priyadarshini mentioned that if you have migrated your Windows Server 2012 and R2 workloads to Azure, you might be benefiting from free Extended Security Updates.
“If your organization cannot migrate, you can purchase and deploy Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates through Azure Arc without keys, directly from the Azure portal.”
Microsoft provided detailed info on extending protection for additional 12-month periods and also explained ESU online and proxy activation scenarios.
Admins can upgrade their on-premises Windows Server 2012 servers to Windows Server 2022 to keep them running and receive security updates and bug fixes.
You can also move databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines. This will give you free extended security updates for three years after the support ends.
Azure Arc allows customers to deploy ESUs (Extended Security Updates) on-premises automatically. Additionally, it enables customers to extend Azure security and governance to their environment. This information is explained by Microsoft.
Administrators who want to maintain their on-premises Windows Server 2012 servers and receive security updates and bug fixes can upgrade to Windows Server 2022.
Another option is to migrate databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines, which will provide them with free extended security updates for three years after the end of support.
Microsoft explains that customers can use Azure Arc to automatically deploy ESUs they purchased on-premises. Azure Arc also allows customers to extend Azure security and governance to their environment.
