Firms urged to prepare for Windows changes

DJH Tech Partners is urging firms to prepare for a major change to Windows servers which is set to come into effect early next year.

Businesses are being encouraged to find out whether they are still running Windows Server 2016, ahead of Microsoft ending extended support for the product on 12 January.

After that date, standard security updates and support for Windows Server 2016 will no longer be provided.

Servers will not stop working, but relying on an unsupported operating system brings security and business risks that organisations need to understand and manage.

DJH Tech Partners says many businesses will not have a clear picture of where older servers sit or what depends on them.

Jon Woliter, managing director at DJH Tech Partners, said: “The sensible time to start is well before 12 January.

“Many businesses will find a server doing a job nobody has looked at for years.

“The right answer might be an upgrade, a move to the cloud or retiring the system altogether. Extra security updates can buy breathing space, but they shouldn’t replace a plan.”