Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 end of life: October 2023. What should you do?

Introduction

As per Microsoft, “Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will end on October 10, 2023. After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.” This situation can leave your server infrastructure vulnerable to security threats and other issues.

So what course of action to take as a System Administrator?. Here we have a list of steps to safeguard your infrastructure:

1. Upgrade to a newer version: Depending on your specific requirements, you might want to consider upgrading to Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, or the latest available version if there is a more recent release
2. Assess application compatibility: Before upgrading, ensure that your critical applications and services are compatible with the new Windows Server version. Check with the software vendors or use Microsoft’s assessment tools to verify compatibility
3. Backup data and configurations: Make sure to create comprehensive backups of all your important data and configurations before beginning the upgrade process
4. Plan the upgrade carefully: Create a detailed plan for the upgrade process, taking into account factors such as downtime, potential risks, and rollback strategies
5. Test the upgrade in a controlled environment: Before implementing the upgrade in your production environment, test it in a controlled environment to identify and address any issues that may arise
6. Consider using Microsoft’s migration tools: Microsoft often provides tools and guidance for migrating from one Windows Server version to another. These tools can streamline the migration process and help minimize potential issues
7. Consider alternative solutions: If an immediate upgrade is not possible, consider other options like purchasing Extended Security Updates from Microsoft. This can provide a temporary extension for security updates while you work on upgrading to a newer version

It’s crucial to take action before the end-of-support date to ensure the security and stability of your server infrastructure. Upgrading to a newer version of Windows Server will provide you with the latest security updates, features, and improvements, and will help you stay protected against potential security threats.

But what about your user data and application data that reside on your server ?.

When upgrading to a new version of Windows Server, it is crucial to consider the safety and integrity of the data stored on the server. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:

Backup your Data: Before initiating any upgrade process, ensure that you have a comprehensive and up-to-date backup of all your critical data. This backup should be stored in a secure location, preferably offsite, to protect against any potential data loss or corruption during the upgrade process.

Compatibility of Applications: Verify that all the applications and services running on the current Windows Server version are compatible with the newer version. Some applications may not be compatible with the new operating system, which could lead to data loss or functionality issues.

Review Hardware Requirements: Ensure that the hardware of the server meets the requirements of the new Windows Server version. Insufficient hardware could lead to performance issues or data loss during or after the upgrade process.

Plan for Downtime: Prepare for potential downtime during the upgrade process. Inform all relevant parties, including employees and clients, about the expected downtime and make arrangements to minimize any potential disruption to business operations.

Test in a Sandbox Environment: It is advisable to perform a test upgrade in a sandbox or test environment before upgrading the production server. This will allow you to identify any potential issues and address them before upgrading the live server.

Review Security Settings: Ensure that the security settings and configurations on the new Windows Server version align with your organization’s security policies. Any misconfigurations could potentially compromise the security of the data on the server.

Check for Compatibility with Backup Solutions: If you use specific backup solutions, make sure that they are compatible with the new Windows Server version. Ensure that your backup processes will continue to work seamlessly after the upgrade.

Train Staff: If there are significant changes in the user interface or functionality between the two versions, provide adequate training to your IT staff to ensure they are familiar with the new environment. This will help to avoid any accidental data loss or mismanagement.

Rollback Plan: Develop a comprehensive rollback plan in case the upgrade process encounters critical issues that cannot be resolved easily. This plan should include steps for reverting to the previous version of the operating system without losing any data.

Compliance and Regulations: Consider any regulatory compliance requirements that your organization needs to adhere to, especially if your data includes sensitive or confidential information. Ensure that the new version of Windows Server meets all necessary compliance standards.

By taking these considerations into account, you can minimize the risk of data loss or corruption during the upgrade process and ensure a smooth transition to the new version of Windows Server.

Is the Windows Server running on a Hypervisor as a VM or a physical server ?

In both cases, I would recommend taking backup of your user data and application data before migration. Since you are moving to a new Winows version ie before moving to the latest version of Windows Server, it is crucial to ensure that your data is adequately backed up. Data loss can be disastrous for any organization, and having a comprehensive backup strategy is essential to mitigate the risks associated with such a transition.

For Windows Server Image Backup

BDRSuite is a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution that caters to the data protection needs of diverse IT environments. Vembu offers a range of products, including BDRSuite, which provides a complete backup and disaster recovery solution for Windows servers.

BDRSuite supports image-based backups for Windows servers, which allows you to take complete backups of the server’s operating system, applications, and data. By using image-based backups, you can ensure the entire system’s state is captured, enabling full system recovery in case of data loss or system failures.

Some key features of BDRSuite for Windows servers include:

• Image-based backups: BDRSuite allows you to take complete snapshots of Windows servers, ensuring that the entire system state is captured, including the operating system, applications, and data
• Incremental backups: BDRSuite offers incremental backup capabilities, enabling you to backup only the changes made since the last backup, reducing storage space and backup time
• Recovery options: BDRSuite provides various recovery options, including full system recovery, file-level recovery, and application-level recovery, ensuring you can restore your data and applications quickly in case of a disaster
• Centralized management: BDRSuite provides a centralized management interface that allows you to manage backups, monitor the backup status, and perform recovery operations across multiple Windows servers from a single console
• Disaster recovery: BDRSuite facilitates disaster recovery by allowing you to replicate backups to offsite locations or the cloud, ensuring that your data is protected and accessible even in the event of a site-wide disaster

For Windows Server VM Backup:

BDRSuite is a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution for virtual, physical, and cloud environments. It supports backup for various virtual environments, including VMware, Hyper-V, and Windows Server running as a virtual machine. To backup a Windows Server running as a VM using BDRSuite, you can follow these general steps:

1. Install BDRSuite: Download BDRSuite from the official website and install it on a suitable system
2. Configure Backup Storage: Set up the backup storage location, which can be a local disk, network storage, or cloud storage, depending on your preferences and requirements
3. Configure Backup Schedule: Define the backup schedule based on your recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO). Decide how frequently you want to back up the Windows Server VM
4. Add the Windows Server VM for Backup: Use the BDRSuite console to add the Windows Server VM to the backup job. You will need to provide the necessary credentials for accessing the VM
5. Select Backup Type and Options: Choose the backup type based on your requirements. BDRSuite usually offers options such as full backup, and incremental backup. Configure other backup options, such as encryption, compression, and retention policies, as per your organization’s data protection needs
6. Initiate the Backup Job: Once the backup settings are configured, you can start the backup job manually or wait for the scheduled time, depending on your configuration
7. Monitor and Manage Backups: Regularly monitor the backup jobs to ensure they are running successfully and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. Also, manage the backup storage to avoid running out of space
8. Perform Test Restores: Periodically perform test restores to verify the integrity of the backup data and ensure that you can recover the Windows Server VM successfully in case of a disaster
9. Update the Backup Solution: Keep the BDRSuite updated to the latest version to benefit from the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches
10. Regularly Review and Revise Backup Policies: Review your backup policies regularly to ensure they align with your organization’s changing data protection requirements and compliance standards

By following these steps, you can use BDRSuite to back up your Windows Server running as a virtual machine and ensure the safety and recoverability of your critical data in case of any data loss or system failure. Using the above procedure you can easily update your Windows operating system to the latest version and can restore the user data and application data easily.

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