What do I need to do to prepare my business for the end of Windows Server 2003 support?
If your business is still running Windows Server 2003, then you will need to start planning to upgrade or migrate to a new operating system. In most cases, customers are running Windows Server 2003 on very old hardware which is no longer supported by the OEM who built the server. Therefore, purchasing a new server is generally required.
While it may have made perfect sense to purchase new server hardware a few years ago, I suggest that you to consider other options. The alternatives to running a server on-premises have exploded in the past few years. Instead of buying new server hardware, you can migrate your old Windows Server 2003 server to an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud provider.
Why Should a Small Business Consider Moving their server to an IaaS cloud?
There are a number of reasons why running a server on a cloud platform is a better solution for a small business:
1) High availability
Most large cloud providers have multiple layers of redundancy within a data center as well as backup data centers in the event of a major failure. Every part of the infrastructure from hardware, network, power, fire suppression, and cooling have multiple layers of redundancy. This means that the risk of downtime is much lower when running your server in the cloud vs. leaving it in a closet or server room in your office.
2) Lower Cost
There is no large upfront cost to start using the cloud. You simply pay for the amount of resources you consume such as CPU, memory, storage, and network bandwidth on monthly basis. Most small companies can start using the cloud for a few hundred dollars per month. All of this cost is an operating expense (opex). By contrast, buying a server can cost thousands of dollars to purchase the server. This purchase is a capital expense (capex). Then you have to pay for maintenance and support from the vendor which is opex on top of the capex purchase.
3) Increased security
Cloud providers such as Amazon and Microsoft run some of the most frequently attacked environments in the world. They have billions of dollars to invest in making sure their customers are secure. This allows them to provide far better security than any one company could offer individually. Cloud providers have security controls at every layer including physical, network, host, application, and data. They scan the environment for vulnerabilities and pay 3rd parties to audit and try to breach their security. They provide 24x7x365 monitoring for any intrustions into the environment. As a result, cloud providers have some of the most secure environments in the world to store customer data.
4) Enable flexible working
Migrating your server to the cloud is a safe and secure way to provide your employees with the ability to work remotely. Perhaps one of yoru employees is a new mother who needs to work from home to raise a newborn. Perhaps you have telecommuters who are not able to come into the office every day. Perhaps there is bad weather and your whole team needs to work from home for safety reasons. When the server is in the cloud, it means that everyone in your company can remain productive whether they are in the office or out in the field.
What are some examples of IaaS platforms available to small businesses?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure and the two most popular IaaS platforms on the market today. But there are many other options for cloud providers that are looking to challenge their dominance in the market. For a full analysis of IaaS providers, I recommend the Gartner Magic Quadrant:
http://www.gartner.com/technology/reprints.do?id=1-1UKQQA6&ct=140528&st=sb
What about the compatibility of my software to run on a new operating system and cloud provider?
Some programs which used to run on Windows Server 2003 will work on a later version of Windows Server. Other programs will need to be upgraded to a newer version in order to work properly. Please consult your software vendor for specific instructions as each vendor will different. The good news is that Windows Server 2012 R2 has been on the market for over a year now. So the likelihood of finding a compatible version of your software is very high. The one major exception is if the software vendor is no longer in business or no longer providing updates for a program you are using on Windows Server 2003. In that case, you may need to find an alternative piece of software which is compatible with a modern version of Windows Server. You should also research whether the software is available as a service (SaaS) offering. If so, you could migrate your application to SaaS which would completedly eliminate the need to run the server. For example, H Tech Solutions has helped many companies migrate from Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync to Office 365. Office 365 is a SaaS offering which means that those business no longer have to worry about running a server or upgrading software. This is one of the many benefits of the OWL service:
https://htechsolutions.biz/owl
I see the benefits of using the cloud to run my server. But my business does not have the technical expertise or the experience. Where can I get help?
H Tech Solutions has an offering called Blue Cloud designed specifically for small businesses in this scenaio.
https://htechsolutions.biz/bluecloud
Blue Cloud offers a free assessment of your current server environment. At the end of the assessment, H Tech Solutions will provide you with a list of options to migrate away from Windows Server 2003. If you would like to have H Tech Solutions migrate the server to a IaaS cloud platform and manage it, Blue Cloud offers this service for a low monthly fee. H Tech Solutions will waive all migration costs if you sign up to Blue Cloud for a minimum of 12 months.
If you would like advice and guidance on what the options are available for migrating off of Windows Server 2003 before the end of life date in July, please contact H Tech Solutions using the URL below for a free consultation.
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