Microsoft announced that Extended Support for SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 will end on July 9, 2019 and Extended Support for Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 will end on January 14, 2020.
Customers that remain on these versions beyond the deadline will no longer receive patches or security updates and would be limited to Self-help Online Support. Self-help Online Support is usually available for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of Extended Support and is limited to resolving common issues through public knowledge base articles, FAQ, troubleshooting tools, and other resources.
Options
Customers that need additional time or prefer the flexibility of choosing when to upgrade their workloads have two options:
- Rehost to Azure Virtual Machine or move to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
- Upgrade on-premise environments
Azure
Customers have the option to rehost their SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 workloads on Azure Virtual Machine (VM). With this option, Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates with no additional charge over the standard Azure VM pricing. This option is available to customers with Software Assurance coverage for the servers that require Extended Security Support.
Customers also have the option to move their SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 workloads to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance. The Azure SQL Database Managed Instance is a managed database-as-a-service that will be available in the fourth quarter of 2018. Customers moving to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance do not need Extended Security Updates since this is a fully managed solution.
On-Premise
Customers who wish to remain on-premise and need additional time to upgrade to the latest SQL Server and Window Server versions can purchase up to three years of Extended Security Updates. This option is available to customers with Software Assurance or Subscription licenses under an Enterprise Agreement enrollment and can be purchased annually to cover only the servers that require Extended Security Support. The pricing for this option is 75% of the full license cost annually.
Conclusion
Organizations should identify every application running on SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 and choose the right migration and/or upgrade path for each application before the deadline goes into effect to avoid security and compliance risks. Please contact your trusted Miro Analyst or Miro Account Manager for questions or assistance with End of Support options for SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 to ensure a fully secure and compliant environment.