Though there are just 30 days left of Microsoft's support for Windows Server 2003, there are still many enterprises out there who have not yet thought of a migration plan. While you are thinking you still have time to evaluate a migration, you are in fact putting at risk your enterprise’s critical assets.
Here is an excerpt from Ascentius consulting whitepaper on ‘Coming End of Support of Windows Server 2003,’ which talks about why you should be gearing up to migrate from Windows Server 2003 at the earliest.
Post July 14th, 2015, the expiration date for support of Windows Server 2003, malware content players will stop supporting Windows Server 2003 since operation in case of looming hazards post end of support for Windows Server 2003.
Once the server operating system goes out of support, no content and malware security vendor will have the wherewithal to contain threats. In the post expiry regime, the tap to contain new vulnerabilities will be closed. Since third party content and malware security vendor do not have access to Windows Server code, there is no mechanism to plug the open vulnerabilities.
Different estimates exist but it is reasonable to assume that cyber attackers will crack new vulnerabilities within 3 – 6 months. Given that they will these vulnerabilities will have no cure, neither from Microsoft nor from any of the content or malware security solution players, enterprises will inadvertently stand a chance to gain an exposure to these risks.
The industries which would be most impacted due to not upgrading from Windows Server 2003 would be Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) sector on the one hand and the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) on the other hand.
The single most important reason why SOE & BFSI Enterprises have been lingering over the shift to higher supported versions of Windows Server is the condition ISV’s have imposed to simultaneously upgrade application ecosystem.
With close to 50 critical applications in banks, for example, upgrading both Server OS as well as the entire Applications portfolio simultaneously is a gargantuan task. As our report argues, enterprises can opt to migrate applications selectively to higher version of Windows Server without actually having to upgrade the entire application portfolio. Which is to say in other words that not all applications need upgradation before migration.
As to which applications necessitate upgradation immediately and which can be upgraded over a course of 5-10 years, can easily tested. And this actionable insight does offer a huge respite as the deadline for end of support of Windows Server 2003 inches near.
With just 30 days left of Windows Server 2003 support, it has become a critical business need for enterprises – which have not already migrated – to upgrade from Windows Server 2003.
The prevailing notion in most enterprises, if not all, is that changing Windows Server with all its hardware and application dependencies supporting every-day business is analogous to changing component of a fighter aircraft engine as it is on its way to a combat mission.
But this is not true. Following certain best practices for migration and upgradation from Windows Server 2003 can make this seemingly tedious process a simple one.
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