[German]On January 10, 2023, Windows 8.1 and the operating systems Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2, which have been in the Extended Security Update Program (ESU) for three years, will receive security updates for the last time. Then support for these operating systems will end – at least a little bit – but it is not quite over yet. Windows Server 2012 R2 will still get security updates until October 2023, but the Edge browser will no longer be supported. The following is an overview of what you should know.
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Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 EOL?
Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are officially out of support since January 2020, but companies have been able to get security updates for the last three years via the paid Extended Security Update Program (ESU). I had reported in the blog post Wow! Windows 7 get extended support until January 2023 about it and gave annually also hints on the ESU extension
But these ESU licenses were only available for certain business variants of the operating systems. But now these extended security updates are over, Microsoft is pulling the ripcord as planned and will no longer provide security updates for Windows 7 SP1 clients. However, Windows 7 SP1 clients will continue to work after January 10, 2023.
In addition, no one has to worry that Windows 7 SP1 machines will be as insecure as a barn door after that. ACROS Security has announced that it will secure both Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 by January 2025. The operating systems will receive micropatches via the 0patch agent that will make known vulnerabilities harmless at runtime. I had reported on this in the blog post Wow! Windows 7 get extended support until January 2023 about it and gave annually also hints to the ESU extension.
Incidentally, Microsoft is providing a fourth year of ESU support for Windows Server 2008 R2. All systems with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 for Embedded Systems and Windows Server 2008 SP2 for Embedded Systems will receive a fourth year of security updates, provided they run on Microsoft Azure. This support period will then expire on January 9, 2024.
Windows 8.1 is EOL
Windows 8.1 clients were not so widespread anymore and on Microsoft Patchday, January 10, 2023, this operating system will get security updates (rollup or security only) for the last time. From this date, the operating system is considered "End-of-Life" (EOL), as you can read here. The operating system can still be used, but already in February 2023, no more known vulnerabilities would be closed. Users have already received corresponding notices about this event for the last 6 months (see Windows 8.1 now shows warnings "end of support in January 2023").
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I'm not aware of anything about there being an ESU program for Windows 8.1 – although there was a brief flicker of hope in 2022 (see Will Microsoft provide ESU support for Windows 7/8.1 and Server beyond January 2023?). There is still a little hope for Windows 8.1 users that this could somehow be provided with updates until October 2023. The background is that Windows Server 2012 R2, which uses the same kernel, has so far received the same updates as Windows 8.1. So, if Microsoft doesn't include OS detection in the future security updates for Windows Server 2012 R2, they could get installed on the Windows 8.1 clients as well. We'll see.
Windows Server 2012 /R2 EOL
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will still have security updates until October 10, 2022. Jeff Woolsy, Principal Program Manager, Azure Stack HCI/Windows Server/Hybrid Cloud, tweeted the following days about the end of support.
Will be an ESU program there? Here I refer to my blog post SQL- and Windows Server 2012 get Extended Support (ESU). But for administrators of this operating system, a different problem arises from February 2023. Support for Google Chrome and thus for the Microsoft Edge browser will end for Windows 7/8.1 with version 109 – i.e. the browser will no longer be updated on these platforms. However, this means that Windows Server 2012 /R2 will also not get new browser versions of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
I had already coverd this in the blog post 0patch secures Microsoft Edge for Windows 7/Server 2008/2012/R2 until Jan. 2025. ACROS Security is providing micropatches for Microsoft Edge 109 through January 2025 via its 0patch agent. With this solution, the browser can therefore be operated securely under Windows Server 2012 /R2.
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