Windows Server end of support
Still running a server in the office? Security updates are ending.
If your business still relies on a Windows Server for files, logins, email or an accounts or practice system, here's what's changing, what it means, and how to move on safely.
What it means for you
- No more security fixes. New weaknesses found after the deadline stay open, and an internet-facing server (remote access, in-house email) is a common target.
- Cyber Essentials and insurance. Unsupported software usually fails Cyber Essentials, and insurers and customers increasingly ask about it.
- Software vendors move on. Accounts and practice systems often stop supporting old servers too.
- It isn't an emergency switch-off. The server keeps running. The risk grows over time, so it's worth planning now rather than after a problem.
Do you have a server? Quick check
- Do staff log in to their PCs with a work username and password managed in-house?
- Do you use a "remote desktop" or VPN to work from home?
- Does your accounts, practice or case management software run "on the server"?
- Is your email hosted in-house (Exchange) rather than Microsoft 365 or Google?
If you answered yes to any of these and aren't sure which version you run, the free check below will tell you.
Your options
We decide per workload, not "everything to the cloud":
- Move: files to SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams; logins to Microsoft 365; email to Exchange Online.
- Replace: move your accounts or practice software to the vendor's cloud version where one exists.
- Keep: where a server genuinely makes sense (big design files, poor internet), upgrade it to a supported version and back it up properly.
- Switch off: anything nobody uses any more.
How we help
Free 30-minute server check
No obligation
A short call (screen share if you like) to see what you run, which versions, what depends on it, and your realistic options and timescales.
Cloud Readiness Assessment
From £795, credited against your migration
An inventory of every server, app and file share, a decision for each, a 3-year cost comparison and a fixed-price plan. Migrations to Microsoft 365 start from £2,450, done in safe stages with your old server kept as a safety net for 60 days.
Or WhatsApp or call 07938 461702, email hello@techvice.co.uk, or use the contact form on our home page.
Common questions
Will my server stop working on the deadline?
No. It keeps running, but it stops receiving security fixes, so the risk grows the longer it stays in use, especially if it's reachable from the internet.
Can't I just pay for more updates?
For 2012 / 2012 R2, the paid Extended Security Updates end on 13 October 2026 and there's no further option. For 2016, check Microsoft's current offer, but it's usually a costly stop-gap rather than a plan.
How long does a move take?
For a typical office of 5–25 people, 4–8 weeks from the assessment to switching the old server off, with a pilot group first and the switch done out of hours.
What if our software has to run on a server?
We'll check with your software supplier. Many now accept a cloud server (Azure, UK data centres) or have a cloud version. Where it really must stay in the office, we'll make sure it's on a supported, backed-up server.
Dates from Microsoft's published lifecycle information, checked September 2026. Prices exclude licences, hardware and software vendors' own fees, which we quote up front.