Why to update server operating systems and How much is it? TADetails

Whether all users of server operating systems (OS) are obliged to upgrade to new versions?

No, are, of course, not obliged. You can continue to use once installed operating system even if from the moment of its exit there passed 10-20 years. However thus you put at risks the information systems which work on such servers. Not to allow security concerns, performance and growth of costs for support, it is recommended to update versions.

When it is necessary to migrate on the new operating system?

You can select migration time independently, however the crucial moment is the termination of support from the supplier of the operating system. It is that day after which cease to be released update for the operating system. In this case the user remains in private with threats of information security.

I have Microsoft Windows Server 2003. To migrate Do you need from this operating system?

Yes, for Windows Server 2003 R2 support was stopped on July 14, 2015. It means that since then updates are not released, patches for security systems are not created. According to Microsoft, the architecture of Windows Server 2003 R2 does not correspond to realities of today any more, and even use of external means of protecting cannot make this system really safe in connection with its technical obsolenscence.

What costs should be incured in connection with updating of server OS?

Microsoft offers different schemes of licensing, and for owners of a number of corporate licenses with the option Software Assurance, updating will be free. In other cases the operating system will need to be bought again.

According to the open license program the cost of the new version of Windows Server Standard 2012 R2 is 36 thousand rubles. Besides it will be necessary to update licenses of client access (CAL) which cost is 1200 rubles. If to buy Windows as a shrink-wrapped software product, the version of Windows Server 2012 Standard will make 70 thousand rubles, and licenses of access will cost about 50 thousand rubles on 20 jobs (price information of TAdviser was provided in RedSys company).

Considerable part of costs at migration for the new version of OS will fall on transfer of the used applications in the new operating system and also hardware upgrade if it is not suitable for work with new OS.

Update server operating systems it is crucial for preserving of the high level of security and performance of IT infrastructure

It is important to check relevance of business applications, to update them to the latests version which are ready to work with new OS. If it is impossible, to provide start of virtual machines with these applications.

The actual cost of updating of the operating system can be very different, depending on scales of infrastructure which will demand completions and upgrade. When updating the server in accounting of the small company it will be required to upgrade to the latest version of an accounting system (for example, 1C) and, perhaps small amount of the application software. As a result the price of migration will be limited to the cost of licenses for updating of products.

In a case with more difficult IT environments migration can cost tens of millions of rubles. For example, "The center of monitoring of safe operation of highways of Federal Road Agency" in September held the tender for upgrade of the information system in connection with transition to new Windows Server with the price of 40 million rubles^[1].

Whether everything the companies update server OS in time?

No, not all. The research of TAdviser conducted in the summer of 2015 among 500 corporate clients - users of server OS - showed that 33% from them still use Windows Server 2003. More than a third are ready to migrate from these operating systems on more modern software within a year. Declared 17% of respondents determination to start such projects in a year. The majority (64%) was not defined yet or did not approve the plan of migration.

Do you need to update open operating systems?

The need for updating and transition to new versions is equally applicable both to the open source software, and to commercial. Updates happen for the same reason – for elimination of security concerns and errors of the code and also adding of support of external devices and additional interfaces. Ready distribution kits of open code systems also have the date of termination of support by their developers, so are subject to technical obsolenscence just as also commercial server OS.

What systems are more subject to vulnerabilities – free or commercial?

The list of vulnerabilities to which new versions of operating systems are subject is regularly published in bulletins of security. As note in RedSys, with high probability the same vulnerabilities will be applicable also for older versions. It is fair both for open code systems, and for the commercial systems. At the same time for any operating systems cease to be released update after the termination of term of their support. Therefore "expired" versions of operating systems – both commercial, and free are equally subject to vulnerabilities.

Whom to ask for the help?

If you use and are going to update server OS of the Windows family, then you need to address the certified partner of Microsoft. It is also possible to use the special scheduler of migration^[2]. If you are a user of open source operating systems - you will be able to be helped by the system integrators having examination in such solutions. A number of the Russian IT companies, for example, RedSys, accumulates competences both of that, and of other sphere.

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