Microsoft has announced that it will no longer offer support for Windows Server 2003. This means there will be no more security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft for the platform.<\/p>\n
Windows Server 2003 helped to computerise core business operations such as email and data servers for companies over the last decade.<\/p>\n
However, new business trends such as mobility, cloud computing, the Internet of things, and big data analytics have reshaped the business environment to a point beyond Windows Server 2003\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWindows Server 2003 was not designed for the business requirements of the mobile-first, cloud-first world,\u201d said Microsoft SA.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompanies still using Windows Server 2003 need to implement additional workarounds to run components in the cloud.”<\/p>\n
Many organisations will no longer meet industry-wide compliance standards and regulations after support ends, said Microsoft SA.<\/p>\n
Running unsupported software also carries security risks, since companies will no longer receive notifications of vulnerabilities that may affect their servers.<\/p>\n