What does the date July 14, 2015 mean to you?

Are you having trouble thinking of anything? Don’t panic. You did not forget your Great Aunt Ethel’s birthday, or your 9-and-three-quarter-year anniversary (but take this as a reminder to mark your calendar for those things).

So what does that date mean, then? Drumroll, please: It was the official end of life date of one of our all time favorites, the Windows 2003 operating system.

In other words, on July 14, 2015 Microsoft deemed Windows Server 2003 obsolete and will no longer issue critical updates for the platform. This was 13 years ago, and given the fast-paced nature of the world that we know as modern technology, that amount of time is long enough to make it an archaic artifact, we heard a rumor Windows Server 2003 is actually in the running to be named the Eighth Wonder of the World 😉 The problem for many companies is that… it is not exactly obsolete, or ancient history, yet. They still use 2k3 (or, they did until recently). But now they will have to transition. If you are a part of that demographic, then congratulations, you stuck it out. You made it to the end. You know how to commit, and that is truly commendable.

But you still need to turn elsewhere now, if you have not already. We can help you do that. Get in touch with Cloudnexa today and we can work together on an game plan to update from 2k3. In the meantime, here are some details about Windows Server 2003 end of support.

What does end of life, or end of support mean?

It is the end of 2k3’s lifecycle. If you’re operating on that platform, it will still work, but without any further critical updates. The most threatening issue will be security. Without further security updates, your PCs will be exposed to cyber security threats, and could result in malicious attacks and lost or stolen data. Compatibility will pose another issue. As the software and hardware you use is updated, it will likely no longer be compatible with Windows 2003.

What’s Replacing Windows 2003 Server?

The cloud is, largely. According to a recent survey by technology market research firm Vanson Bourne, approximately 75% of companies using 2k3 shifted their servers over to the cloud when Windows ended support. We recommend doing the same and we will assist you with the transition. For one, it’s your most cost-effective option. You only pay for what you use in the cloud, as opposed to the on premise model, where you will pay for a fixed amount of storage space (a significant portion of which you will likely never use). The transition is also easy, thanks to companies like us that make switching as seamless as possible.

In conclusion

It’s been seven months since the Windows Server 2003 end of life announcement, and if you haven’t made the transition yet, the urgency for you to do so is increasing exponentially every day. It may seem overwhelming, but this is not something to put off. As you continue to put it off, you are only putting yourself more and more at risk of security breaches, and inability to update necessary hardware and software. Get in touch with us if you need to transition and we will be glad to help!