Why You Need to Upgrade Your Server Operating System

Despite the rise of cloud usage, several organizations still utilize on-premises servers — whether out of preference or necessity — to manage operations.

And just like your computer, a server requires an operating system (OS) upgrade once it has reached its end-of-life date.

Upgrading your server’s OS is crucial for security and stability, even more so than upgrading an individual’s computer, as a server is used by many people.

Delaying these upgrades could leave your organization exposed to avoidable risks.

Reduce Risk of Security Incidents

Due to the critical nature of the data managed by servers and the significant impact on business operations if they fail, server upgrades prioritize security.

Utilizing an outdated server OS means you are no longer receiving vital security updates that fix known vulnerabilities. Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities to steal sensitive information or shut down an organization’s servers.

If an attacker infiltrates your server, they have access to all workstations, as well as the sensitive data and applications stored on it.

However, if an attacker manages to infiltrate a single workstation, we have a much better chance of isolating that workstation before the attacker can spread to other workstations and do damage to the rest of the network. Furthermore, depending on the access level of that workstation, the potential impact of the attack could be quite limited.

Improve Performance and Stability

With each updated version of a server operating system, the vendor improves them to make better use of hardware resources, like CPU, memory and storage. These optimizations allow your server to handle more requests efficiently.

Additionally, newer server versions are patched with the latest bug fixes that may have plagued older versions. These updates can help prevent crashes and unexpected downtime, limiting losses in revenue and customer trust.

As your business grows, older systems struggle to keep up with today’s data and processing demands.

Server OS End-of-life Dates

Microsoft has a good track record for actively supporting every OS they release for at least 10 years.

In 2023, Microsoft ended support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, and we outlined some options for any organization still using those server operating systems.

Those options included:

• Isolating your server from your network and the internet
• Move everything to the cloud
• Upgrade your server operating system

At this point, we are more than a year removed from Server 2012’s and Server 2012 R2’s end-of-life date. If you still haven’t taken steps to upgrade or at least isolate your server from your network and the internet, you should still do it as soon as possible.

If your server is more than 5 years old, then you might have to replace the hardware and the operating system. But if it’s less than 5 years old, you’ll probably just want to upgrade the operating system. Of course, every organization’s circumstances are different based on what the server is used for.

Five to 10 years ago, cybersecurity was a different landscape and failing to stay on top of server operating system upgrades was a little more excusable for small businesses.

However, attackers today are much better at taking advantage of vulnerabilities, which is why it’s crucial to stay up to date.

Don’t Wait to Upgrade Your Server OS

Overwhelmed by the process of upgrading your server’s operating system? Don’t panic!

Contact us so we can discuss your server options to keep your business running smoothly while increasing productivity, security and profitability.

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