All technology eventually reaches its expiration date. You can nurse your favorite software along a bit longer than hardware because you can install patches and updates, but eventually support ends. Alas, that day has come around for the popular Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2, and businesses will need to get ready to deal with it.
Are You On Top of Your Business Software?
Shocking as it may be, not everybody routinely updates their software and reassesses their IT infrastructure. Many organizations don’t invest in the updates and patches, as not everyone has IT support to implement them. This means that they frequently get ambushed by these outdated software issues.
Let’s look at exactly what End of Support means, what other software is reaching its End of Support date soon, and what you should do about it.
What Does “End of Life” Mean?
End of Life, or End of Support, means that the software solution will not receive any patches or security updates after a certain date. Some Microsoft products offer an Extended Security Update for up to three years, but it really makes more sense to upgrade. The next generation will be more dynamic and efficient, and maintaining the old solutions will end up costing you more in the long run.
What You Should Do ASAP
Think about your liability if you fail to implement security patches and updates. A major security breach could be financially crippling, and then you’ll have to upgrade anyway.
Think about the future of your infrastructure. What will you need to plan for next to manage, maintain, and upgrade your business’ technology?
Right now, consult this list of upcoming End of Support dates and plan to start upgrading away from them before it’s too late.
Quikteks Can Help!
You have enough going on without worrying about upgrading your business IT infrastructure. Working with a managed service provider can make it more affordable and accessible, leaving your organization with much more time to accomplish its goals.
Quikteks can help keep track of your business’ technology, including any potential upcoming End of Support events. To learn more, reach out to us at (973) 882-4644.