SQL Server 2014 ESUs Are Confirmed

• SQL Server 2014 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are confirmed for 2024 and available for purchase now.
• The early availability allows customers to make firm budgets and project plans for SQL Server 2014 deployments in 2024.
• ESUs have become a profitable offering for Microsoft and will likely be offered for subsequent versions of SQL Server.

SQL Server 2014 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are on Microsoft’s price list 10 months before the end of Extended support and in time for customers to plan for next year. ESUs allow organizations to remain on a supported version longer, which could be a requirement for regulated industries and to meet internal policy for many customers. The illustration shows SQL Server versions and the three phases of SQL Server support: Mainstream, Extended, and ESUs. The ESUs for SQL Server 2012 and 2014 are announced and available for purchase. The ESUs for later versions are a Directions on Microsoft prediction.

Previously, Microsoft gave short notice of ESU availability or waited three months before end of support to put them on the price list, which was insufficient time for customers to properly develop and approve project plans. The early addition to the price list suggests that previous ESUs (for SQL Server 2008 and 2012) were popular with customers and profitable for Microsoft. It seems likely that Microsoft will offer ESUs for subsequent SQL Server versions when they leave Extended support. However, other than SQL Server 2014 ESUs, the company has not announced such plans.