Expertise for End of Life: Extend Your Microsoft Solution Value With Insight

Preparing for end of life can be challenging for many organizations, leading many to seek support before modernization. In this video, experts discuss options for extending the value of your Microsoft investments. Insight is a comprehensive solutions integrator that helps organizations transform technology, operations, and service delivery to meet challenges and future-proof the business. With a client-focused approach, they recommend appropriate solutions for digital transformation and modernization.

Understanding Microsoft Product Lifecycles

Microsoft products, like SQL Server and Windows Server operating systems, typically have a 10-year lifespan. This includes five years of mainstream support and five years of extended support. After this, some clients might not be ready to modernize their older assets, such as those from 2012 R2. These assets might still be working well and providing value, having been reliable for a long time.

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft products have a 10-year lifespan: 5 years mainstream, 5 years extended support.

• Older assets might still be useful even after their official support ends.

• There are options to extend the life of these assets.

Options for Extending Microsoft Solution Value

Insight, in partnership with Microsoft, offers several ways to extend the life of your Microsoft investments. These options help keep your systems secure and functional, even if you're not ready for a full modernization.

1. Using PaaS Services in Azure

One option is to move your systems to Platform as a Service (PaaS) in Azure. For example, with SQL Managed Instance, you can bring your technology forward and get another two to three years of extended security and updates. This also offloads a lot of the platform management to Azure. The same can be done for server-side operations, moving to more platform compute services.

2. Azure Arc for Hybrid Management

Azure Arc extends hybrid management into your data center. If you have 2012 Windows Server and SQL Server assets, Azure Arc can provide hybrid management. This gives you an additional two to three years of Extended Update Security (EUS) updates. This is a good choice if you need to keep your assets on-premises but still want extended support.

3. Migrating Virtual Machines to Azure

Another option is to move your virtual machines directly into Azure. When you do this, you also get those extended security updates. This is a straightforward way to get continued support and security for your existing virtual machines.

Insight's Approach to Modernization

Insight has strong frameworks and methods for dealing with older systems, like those from 2012. They use a unique top-down and bottom-up approach through their app modernization framework. This helps clients decide what to do with their 2012 assets and other older technology in their data center. They help find the right solution based on factors like cost, security, how important the workload is to your business, business continuity, and your willingness to take risks with unsupported assets.

Insight works with each customer to provide these options, helping them stay modernized and safe. They make sure your systems continue to work well and are protected, even as they age.