Windows Server 2012 and earlier versions have reached the end of Extended Life Support (ELS) and no longer receive software updates or security patches. To maintain the security of your systems, we recommend you promptly assess the risks to your Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances and take appropriate action.
Windows Server lifecycle overview
Alibaba Cloud's Windows Server Public Images are sourced from Microsoft's official releases and jointly supported by both companies. The support lifecycle for different Windows Server versions is as follows. For more information, see Fixed Lifecycle Policy.
Version | Release date | End of Mainstream Support | End of ELS | End of Extended Security Updates (ESU) |
Windows Server 2025 | 2024-11-01 | 2029-10-09 | 2034-10-10 | - |
Windows Server 2022 | 2021-08-18 | 2026-10-13 | 2031-10-14 | - |
Windows Server 2019 | 2018-11-13 | 2024-01-09 | 2029-01-09 | - |
Windows Server 2016 | 2016-10-15 | 2022-01-11 | 2027-01-12 | - |
Windows Server 2012 | 2012-10-30 | 2018-10-09 | 2023-10-10 | 2026-10-13 |
Windows Server 2008 | 2008-05-06 | 2015-01-13 | 2020-01-14 | 2023-01-10 |
Windows Server 2003 | 2003-05-28 | 2010-07-13 | 2015-07-14 | - |
Impact of Windows Server EOL
According to Microsoft's support policy for Windows Server operating system (OS):
After January 14, 2020, Windows Server 2008 no longer receives any software maintenance or support, including bug fixes and feature updates.
After October 10, 2023, Windows Server 2012 no longer receives any software maintenance or support, including bug fixes and feature updates.
This end-of-life (EOL) policy also affects Alibaba Cloud Public Images and ECS services:
Existing ECS instances running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 will continue to operate without interruption.
Our support for the Windows Server OS aligns with Microsoft's official lifecycle dates.
Recommended solutions for EOL
For new business
We recommend creating new instances with a Windows Server version in its Mainstream Support phase. Avoid using EOL OS images to mitigate security risks from the start.
For existing business
As a short-term solution, if you use Windows Server 2012, you can subscribe to the ESU service to continue receiving security updates and bug fixes.
For long-term business stability, we recommend upgrading to a newer version as soon as possible.
Upgrade to a newer version
A Windows Server in-place upgrade is the officially recommended method for upgrading an OS. It lets you transition to a newer version while preserving your existing applications, data, and settings. This ensures you continue to receive security updates and technical support. For detailed steps, see OS migration.
Source OS | Destination OS |
Windows Server 2008 | Windows Server 2016 |
Windows Server 2012 | Windows Server 2016 |
Windows Server 2012 R2 | Windows Server 2016 |
Windows Server 2019 |
Subscribe to the ESU service
As a temporary solution, you can subscribe to Microsoft's ESU service if you cannot immediately upgrade. This program provides up to three additional years of critical security updates after the end-of-support date. ESU for Windows Server 2008 ended on January 10, 2023. Windows Server 2012 reached the end of ELS on October 10, 2023 and the ESU is available until October 13, 2026. For more information, see Extended Security Updates.
References
For more information about the OS lifecycle, its phases, and solutions for EOL or ELS stages, see Overview of the OS lifecycle.