Still running Windows Server 2008 after end of support?

[Willa]

Microsoft^® stopped supporting Windows Server^® 2008 and 2008 R2 on January 14, 2020. If you’re still running one of these operating systems (OSs), there are three major issues you’re likely to encounter. Upgrading to Windows Server 2019 with HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers can help you avoid them while getting better security, efficiency, and innovation.

Security vulnerabilities

Older, legacy hardware and software simply aren’t built for modern cyber-security threats. Add to this the fact that when Microsoft stops supporting an OS, they no longer provide security (or any other) updates. That combination leaves your business wide open to cyber threats.

Upgrading to Windows Server 2019 gives you several new security features that work together with HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers to keep your data safe—helping you prevent, detect, and recover from attacks. Windows Server 2019 helps protect administrator credentials to prevent breaches, locks down devices against malware attacks, and protects virtual workloads from unauthorized access. At the same time, security is built into HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers, starting with our secure supply chain and silicon root of trust. We also provide exclusive runtime attack detection and automatic recovery.

Rising costs

You may have already noticed that the cost of supporting an outdated OS on legacy infrastructure is higher—if you can even get it. Together, modern HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers and Windows Server 2019 simplify management and lower support costs. Plus, HPE OEM Windows Server 2019 licenses are affordable, customized, and optimized for HPE ProLiant servers. They also include 90 days of free HPE OS installation support. Adding to the simplicity, HPE is your single point of purchase, contact, and accountability for hardware and software support when purchasing HPE OEM Windows Server licenses along with a new HPE ProLiant Gen10 server.

Stuck in the past

It’s been several months since Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 went end of support (EOS), and many applications are no longer supported. Once you’ve upgraded to HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers with Windows Server 2019, it’s fairly simple to migrate supported applications by following the software vendor’s guidance. If you’re still running an older OS because you’ve got legacy or homegrown applications that don’t support Windows Server 2019, you can migrate these applications onto the new server inside a virtual machine that’s running the older OS thanks to Downgrade and Down-Edition rights available in Windows Server 2019.

If hybrid cloud—including cloud-based applications—is in your future, only Microsoft offers consistent hybrid services, including a common identity platform with Active Directory, a common data platform built on SQL Server technologies, and hybrid management and security. Once again, HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers complement Windows Server 2019 with features that bridge on-premises environments with Microsoft Azure Services for seamless hybrid cloud.

Finally, HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers with Windows Server 2019 give you the ability to adopt containers, an innovative technology that lets you run more applications on the same number of servers.

Start planning your transition

You need your OS and servers to work together to provide a secure, efficient, and innovative foundation for success. That’s why we recommend pairing Windows Server 2019 with HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers.

HPE suggests the following transition paths to Windows Server 2019:
-  Windows Server 2008 Foundation migrate to Windows Server 2019 Essentials
-  Windows Server 2011 Essential Business Server or Small Business Server migrate to Windows Server 2019 Standard 
    (includes remote sessions)
-  Windows Server 2008 Enterprise migrate to Windows Server 2019 Standard

Don’t put off your migration any longer. Contact HPE or your authorized Partner representative to start your migration planning, today!