The Hoboken, N.J-based IT consulting firm eMazzanti Technologies recently posted a countdown clock and tips to help businesses migrate from Windows Server 2003 to its website, as all support for the product, including patches and security updates, will soon be ending.
After the July 14, 2015, Microsoft will no longer support Windows Server 2003, which creates potential security problems and immediate compliance issues for businesses.
While there is no precise answer on the total number of installed products, estimates range from eight to 22 million, including virtualized installations of Windows 2003 servers that are currently in use.
The deadline could potentially pose a security issue, as cyberattacks frequently take advantage of opportunities to plant malware-laced email attachments and compromise websites. In March, the Moscow-based security firm Kaspersky Lab revealed a cybercriminal gang raided up to 100 financial institutions internationally for an estimated $1 billion. Hackers took advantage of unpatched systems, even though updates existed, to access administrators' computers and video surveillance systems.
The new eMazzanti website page also includes simple steps IT managers can follow and a Microsoft video that presents the advantages of upgrading to a newer operating system.
“Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 requires the right planning and expertise to minimize the business disruption,” Carl Mazzanti, CEO for eMazzanti Technologies, stated. “With the right approach, a company can also reduce ongoing IT maintenance costs, potentially saving more than the cost of the migration.”
The website includes helpful advice from Microsoft on how to proceed with a Windows Server 2003 migration, including:
- Discover the workloads running on Windows Server 2003
- Assess which workloads need to be migrated
- Select the migration targets
- Carry out the migration
Many organizations are uncertain about which applications to migrate to new servers or the cloud, according to eMazzanti.
Other considerations can make for a complicated migration. For example:
- Older hardware, particularly machines based on 32 bit technology, may not be compatible with Windows Server 2012 R2.
- Organizations may be able to consolidate existing applications on fewer servers by incorporating cloud services and virtualization.
- Microsoft, third-party and custom programs need individual consideration.
Users are encouraged to consider the relationships between their current applications and services, which servers and services can be retired, and to prioritize the remaining applications for migration.
Microsoft recommends that businesses start by assessing their current Windows Server 2003 deployments.
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Roy Urrico
Roy W. Urrico specializes in articles about financial technology and services for Credit Union Times, as well as ghostwriting, copywriting, and case studies. Also: writer/editor of a semi-annual newsletter for Association for Financial Technology since 1997 and history projects funded by the U.S Interior Department, National Park Service and Warren County (N.Y.).
