Along with Windows 7 operating system, Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2 will reach end of support with Microsoft on January 14, 2020. Servers are a big investment – typically $10,000+ with an average lifespan of 5-6 years. Ensure you’re making the right decision by thinking about these things first.
1. Are your business applications compatible with newer operating systems?
Consider that Server 2012, 2016 and 2019 are all still available operating systems for your server. Your business applications may only support up to Server 2016, especially with Server 2019 being fairly new.
You will want to confirm this ahead of time with each of your software vendors so that your IT company can downgrade the licensing when installing, if needed, as Microsoft only sells the latest version of licensing.
2. Get a good backup of your current server
Ask your IT company to confirm when the server was last backed up, in the event of failure during the transition. Many times, companies have a backup solution in place but have no idea when the last time they had a successful backup. If no one is monitoring it, it could have been months ago.
3. Size for tomorrow, not today
Look at the growth of your business, change in business applications, and data over the last 5 years.
Is it going to continue an upward trend? If so, don’t replace the server with one of the same size. Upgrade to one a little more powerful so that you have room to grow for at least another 5+ years.
Have you moved most of your data to a cloud solution, or have business applications moved from your server to a cloud platform? If so, you may be able to downsize your server and save some money!
4. Is your business a candidate for moving to a cloud server, like Microsoft Azure, instead of having a server in-house?
Depending on the amount and type of data, business applications used, internet availability and many other factors, your company may benefit from having your server in the cloud instead of on-premise; or a hybrid of both!
5. Find a technology partner.
Attempting to tackle this yourself could be a disaster. Call on a qualified technology partner like Gulf South Technology Solutions that can discuss server options with you, help you decide which route best fits your needs, and to ensure a smooth transition from your current server.
Have some questions about upgrading? We’re hosting a free live webinar on October 8th where we’ll be talking about everything you need to know about getting your operating systems upgraded and protected before January 14, 2020. We’ll also be taking live questions. Registration details below: