There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction – John F. Kennedy
The end-of-life for support of applications is an opportunity to look toward the future and create a modernization plan for existing tech stacks. When this happens (as it often does in our technologically advanced world), it becomes necessary to migrate to a newer version or a completely different platform altogether – one that is supported by the product manufacturer.
This is what’s happening to customers on SQL Server 2012. Starting in October, Microsoft will no longer support SQL Server 2012 unless they make some changes. If you’re a business running on SQL Server, you’re not going to want to miss this.
What Will Happen & Should I Be Concerned?
October 2023 is rapidly approaching. SQL Server 2012 end-of-life means there will be no more maintenance services or critical security patches installed once this date has passed. However, if you wish to continue receiving updates, you can extend Microsoft’s support and keep your SQL Server secure by migrating to Azure before this date. SQL Server 2012 end-of-life will then become a non-issue for you.
With the cost of cybercrime predicted to hit $8 trillion in 2023 and growing to $10.5 trillion by 2025, vulnerability management and security resilience are non-negotiable and continue to be a high priority for 96% of executives today. As you’re likely aware, without manufacturer-provider security updates, you’re leaving your business extremely vulnerable to threats, and limiting, or totally restricting, your ability to upgrade to the latest and greatest features. Being able to quickly harness and invest in the latest technology changes is what differentiates you from your competitors and creates an unbeatable advantage.
Failing to plan is planning to fail. We are currently in “extended support”, which is the final passage of Microsoft support for SQL Server 2012. As soon as Microsoft stops support, rollouts of security patches will cease, and your organization will be at a great security risk.
Moving to Microsoft Azure
About 44% of traditional small businesses use cloud infrastructure or hosting services. That’s compared to 66% of small tech companies and 74% of enterprises. We highly recommend acting now to upgrade or move to the Azure cloud to ensure your environment is safe and so you can continue to receive the necessary software updates that protect your systems, customers, and staff.
Ideally, you move to Azure and also update your servers. However, if you can’t update your server then Azure is your only option to keep running it the way it is while also staying secure. Our Managed IT Services team can help you with this by providing technical advice and seamless support during this transition. If you’re looking for scalability, simplified operations, optimized cloud costs, and maintaining compliance, migrating to Azure is an obvious move to explore.
Other Things to Consider
There are other points to consider before making a final decision. The smart way to cloud is to make sure whatever you have running on the server will actually function in the Azure cloud. This is not something you need to worry about, however. This is something for your cloud partner to figure out (if you’ve hired one). For example, you may have a legacy system that doesn’t fit in Azure. Although this is unlikely because most do, it is a possibility that can’t be ruled out until a thorough assessment of your current setup is done.
Deciding to migrate to Microsoft Azure & avoiding SQL Server 2012 end-of-life so you can continue securely working is a big step, but it doesn’t end there. You also need to decide if you want a cloud partner to help support your migration. You need to figure out your specific migration approach. Then finally, you need to plan the environment so that it’s the right setup for your business.
Not sure where to start? That’s okay. Our Managed Services experts have helped a large number of companies migrate to Azure and can help personalize and streamline your process and ensure security protection so you can keep your business running safely on SQL Server 2012 in the years to come.
