Goodbye Microsoft Windows Server 2003

John D. Browning
Cahaba Valley Computer Services, LLC

As you may have heard, Microsoft ended support for all editions of Windows Server 2003 on July 14, 2015. Server 2003 was a great product and a very stable operating system, but as of this week, all support from Microsoft is gone. What does this mean to you? Essentially it means that Microsoft will no longer supply security updates and patches or provide any type of system support for this product. Does this mean that Server 2003 will stop working? No, but it does mean that it is now extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, malware and other threats. It also means that your network is no longer compliant under HIPAA and FINRA regulations.

Another problem facing companies who are still running Server 2003 is the fact that many software manufacturers will no longer support their product running under Server 2003. In some cases, current versions of many applications cannot even be installed on a Windows 2003 server. Server 2003 provided its users with many years of great service, but it is now time to move on. If you are currently running any version of Server 2003, please consider making the move to Server 2012. Your application software will run properly and you can rest easy knowing that your server’s operating system is still current and receiving the latest security updates and patches.