You might have spotted some news saying that Microsoft Windows 8 and Server 2012 are soon to reach their End of Life date… in fact, you probably heard it from us. However, not everyone may really know what this means, and how it can impact their organizations. In light of this, we wanted to give some context as to what a software title or operating system’s “End of Life” is, and what needs to happen in preparation for it.

Let’s start with the basics: what “End of Life” actually means.

In Short, Windows 8 and Server 2012 are Being Retired

The term “End of Life” (or, alternatively, “End of Support”) are industry terms that are used when a given program has reached the end of its practical usefulness and the developers of the software have moved on to supporting the next iteration. Basically, when Microsoft says that these titles are EOL, they are telling us that they will no longer provide any updates for them.

Critically, this includes any security updates.

Cybersecurity is an Arms Race Between Software Developers and Hackers

Modern cybersecurity works as a feedback loop: software developers create programs and patches that feature protections against a certain attack vector or methodology, and cybercriminals respond in kind by creating new attacks and finding vulnerabilities to target these programs and patches. This back-and-forth continues ad infinitum, until something changes.

While this is all going on, software developers are also working on new programs that are better than the old ones, both in terms of security and in the features that users are offered. Once these new programs are developed, older ones are slowly phased out so that more focus can be put towards securing the newer option. It is this phasing out process that ends with the End of Life… the point where the developer has abandoned the software or OS entirely, and no more effort will be put toward improving—or again, securing—it.

Once this date passes, it becomes open season on the EOL software or OS, with hackers and cybercriminals left unopposed to develop attacks targeting it or to locate vulnerabilities in the software. As a result, it becomes patently unsafe to use that software, as a user will effectively be completely exposed to whatever threats are developed from that date on.

Let’s Consider a Hypothetical Example

Let’s say that your business uses a particular application each and every day. That software’s developer might have released a few new versions of that software since you’ve started, and ultimately decides to retire the one you use. They set an EOL date and announce it, giving you ample time to decide what to do and act accordingly. You decide to continue using the software, despite its EOL date coming and going.

Meanwhile, the cybercriminals who perked up when the EOL date was announced start to attack any instance of the software they happen to find with a new vulnerability that the developers never found. Since the EOL date has passed and the original developer is no longer maintaining the software, this vulnerability (and any new exploits that make use of it) will be active from that point on.

As a result, you (as you continue to use the software) are completely vulnerable to any threats created after that date, simply because no effort is being put into eliminating these vulnerabilities.

So, Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 and 2012 R2 now have what are effectively expiration dates. The only question left is what it is you plan to do about it.

Technically, Windows 8 has been out of support for over 5 years, and Windows 8.1’s extended end date is January 10th, 2023, although mainstream support for it ended back in 2019. Technically, your business is overdue to upgrade if you still use it.

Windows Server 2012 has been in play for almost a decade now, and will reach end of life on October 10th, 2023. 

That may sound like a ways off, but server migrations and upgrades are complex and need to be carefully planned out. You don’t want to wait until the last minute.

We’re Here to Help You Shift to Supported Versions

While it may seem as though you have plenty of time to act before these EOL dates come, they’ll be here before you know it… and you’ll want plenty of time to get your ducks in a row before implementing a companywide update.

We’re here to help. Our technicians can handle the entire process for you, saving you time, stress, and energy. If your business is currently using Windows 8.1 or either version of Server 2012, reach out to us for assistance at (410) 531-6727.