CERT-In Advisory
CIAD-2019-0028
End of Life for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2
Original Issue Date: August 16, 2019
Systems Affected
- Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V
- Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
- Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V
- Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
- Windows Server 2008 Foundation
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
- Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
- Windows Server 2008 Standard
- Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V
Description
Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 are approaching the end of their support lifecycle on 14 January 2020.
On that date, Microsoft will no longer offer any type of support for the operating system. This will leave the operating system open and exposed to outside infiltration because future security gaps will no longer be plugged by software updates. Vulnerabilities in the operating system that are discovered after this date will not be fixed by Microsoft. Further, over time, a significant number of third application providers may no longer develop nor support applications for these OSes.
To avoid any security risks post the end of support, users and organizations are advised to upgrade to the latest software or an alternative operating system.
For those organizations that intended to keep using these OSes beyond its cut-off date, there is the option to purchase Extended Security Updates from Microsoft or a licensing partner from March 1, 2019 on. Microsoft has also charted an overall path for on- premise upgrades of Server 2008 and 2008 R2, which involve updating to Server 2012 first and then to Server 2016 and Server 2019.
Vendor Information
Microsoft
https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/4456235/end-of-support-for-windows-server-2008-and-windows-server-2008-r2
References
Microsoft
https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/4456235/end-of-support-for-windows-server-2008-and-windows-server-2008-r2
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/modernize-windows-server-2008
TechTarget
https://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/feature/Server-2008-R2-end-of-life-hitting-home-for-many-in-IT
RedmondMag
https://redmondmag.com/articles/2018/07/12/extended-security-updates-for-2008-windows-servers.aspx
Disclaimer
The information provided herein is on "as is" basis, without warranty of any kind.
Contact Information
Email: info@cert-in.org.in Phone: +91-11-24368572
Postal address
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Government of India
Electronics Niketan
6, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110 003
India
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