Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2 Migration Options

• Organizations should already have plans to migrate from Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, which will reach the end of Extended support in Jan. 2020.
• A new option, Extended Security Updates, can delay the requirement to migrate for up to three years but could be expensive.
• Rather than simply upgrade, organizations should carefully assess their current environment and future needs before selecting migration options.
• Assessment and migration tools could help ease change and reduce disruption.

Running Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will be increasingly risky or incur additional costs after the end of Extended support on Jan. 14, 2020. Organizations should already be planning to mitigate risks in the near term and eventually migrate. Plans will depend heavily on what role each system plays in the organization, but prioritizing systems, selecting the right target OS version and hardware, and considering licensing and administrative requirements could help drive a migration strategy.