SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2 Receive Life Support

• Organizations can use Extended Security Updates to run SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 through July 2022.
• The benefit is limited, as most newer versions of SQL Server include compatibility modes that support applications requiring SQL Server 2008 or 2008 R2.

Customers will be able to purchase Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 server products that are leaving Extended support in July 2019. The updates could keep some environments viable through July 2022, when the program ends. However, customers may need to upgrade the underlying Windows Server OS and upgrade other components that could also be reaching end of life.

Extended Security Updates

Extended support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 ends on July 9, 2019. After that date, Microsoft normally will not supply any fixes for security vulnerabilities or other problems in SQL Server 2008 or 2008 R2. However, ESUs will offer some level of security updates through July 2022 for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 and they will make it possible to keep some SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 systems working longer. For example, they will be useful if an organization has a mission-critical application that requires significant migration effort.