Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, along with other Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 editions, reached end of support on January 14, 2020. This means Microsoft no longer provides the following for these products:
- Free security updates on-premises
- Non-security updates
- Free support options
- Online technical content updates
Customers still using Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard should migrate to Microsoft Azure to receive three additional years of critical and important security updates at no extra charge. For environments other than Azure, Microsoft recommends upgrading to the latest version of Windows Server before the end of support deadline.
If customers cannot meet the end of support deadline, they may purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) to keep server workloads protected until they can upgrade, though some restrictions apply.
Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
Microsoft initially offered four years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard and other affected products. The first three years of ESU were available for on-premises environments, while the fourth year was only available for Azure deployments.
The third year of ESU for Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard ended on January 10, 2023. The final fourth year of ESU, available only in Azure, will reach end of support on January 9, 2024. After this date, Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard will be completely unsupported.
Risks of Running Unsupported Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
Continuing to run Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard after end of support poses significant security risks. Without access to security updates, any vulnerabilities discovered in the operating system will remain unpatched, leaving the server open to potential attacks.
Data gathered by Lansweeper shows that only 6.72% of Windows Server installations are unsupported, but the lack of security updates for legacy products can create dangerous security holes in a network. The longer an unsupported product remains in use, the more security issues will arise without a way to fix them.
Ultimately, any unsupported product in a network becomes an open door for security breaches, making it critical to upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard to a supported version as soon as possible.
Upgrading from Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
Microsoft provides detailed instructions for upgrading from Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard to newer, supported versions in their Windows Server Upgrades overview. Customers should plan their migrations in advance to ensure a smooth transition before the end of support deadline.
For organizations that need more time, it is possible to purchase an additional three years of extended security updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, which will reach end of support on October 10, 2023. However, the ESU program is considered a last resort, only including critical and important security updates with no new features or non-security updates.