Microsoft: 'significant risks' in staying on Server 2003

With the end of support looming for the server system, channel players feel some could get caught out

With less than six months left until support for Windows Server 2003 ends, Microsoft has urged customers to migrate to newer versions.

In a post on the Official Microsoft Blog on Tuesday, Microsoft reminded customers that support, including patches, updates and security fixes, for Windows Server 2003 is set to end on 14 July, but said: "We believe the end is an exciting new beginning for our customers."

The post added: "Upgrading servers is not just a maintenance task. It provides an opportunity to deliver significant business value."

Microsoft noted examples of customers upgrading to newer versions of Windows servers, enjoying benefits to their businesses.

"These customers are seeing real benefits, including improved performance, higher reliability, and increased flexibility in responding to business needs. If you are still running Windows Server 2003, I want to remind you that now is the time to migrate," the post stated.

In December, a report by Spiceworks claimed that enterprises in EMEA are not completing the migration as quickly as other regions, with 68 per cent of firms still running at least one instance of the server. This compares with 65 per cent in Asia-Pacific and 62 per cent in the US.

And Microsoft has warned of the dangers of not migrating before the support ends.

"Running unsupported software carries significant security risks and may result in costly compliance violations. As you evaluate security risks, keep in mind that even a single unpatched server can be a point of vulnerability for your entire infrastructure," the blog said.

Is the channel ready?
Tim Wallis, chief executive of software consultancy firm Content and Code, said he felt that on the whole the channel was prepared for the switch, but that some businesses could still get caught out by the migration.

"The channel, certainly from a partner side, is ready for the move and most of the customers don't seem to be panicking about it, they seem to be taking it in their stride.

"But a lot of them may be thinking that July is a long way off and maybe if we check back in in June there may be a lot more panic going on," he said.

Joey Hemingbrough, Microsoft partner AAG's director of sales, technology and innovation, also felt many customers will be caught out by the move.

"There are a lot of resellers who have clients who are reluctant to make the move because they are used to the stability of the 2003 platform. We know 2012 is a stable platform, but it's a fear of the unknown with a lot of clients, and there is nervousness around it. I think a lot of clients might get caught out by it," she said.

Rob Horan, managing director at Microsoft partner Westwood Associates, said he felt prepared for the move.

"We have been installing later versions for the past three or four years now, and personally we don't have many customers left on 2003," he said.

He claimed that Office 365, one of the migration options, was "starting to take hold now".

Windows Server 2003 is not the first major migration of recent times, with support for Windows XP stopping last April.

Last year, the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) said the migration from Windows Server 2003 will see rapid uptake of cloud adoption.