The end of support for legacy Microsoft products can pose a challenge for businesses still reliant on these systems. Fortunately, there’s a last resort in the form of the Extended Security Update (ESU) program. BeSharp Experts, your independent license specialist, is ready to assist clients with license advice and guidance in understanding the ESU program.
What is the Extended Security Update (ESU) program?
The Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a final option for customers who need to continue using specific outdated Microsoft products after the end of support. The program provides critical and/or important security updates for a maximum period of three years after the extended support end date of the product.
It’s important to note that ESUs do not include new features, non-security updates requested by customers, or design change requests. They are specifically aimed at maintaining the security of the system.
Which products are included?
The ESU program applies to various products, including Windows 7, Windows Server 2008/R2, SQL Server, Dynamics AX, and more.
Here is an overview of ESU availability and end dates for various products:
Availability and end dates of ESU
ESU end dates vary depending on the product. For Windows Server and SQL Server 2008/R2, an additional year of ESU is available on Azure. It’s also noteworthy that Microsoft’s product terms now explicitly state that Extended Security Updates can be used with subscription licenses for servers licensed with Server Subscriptions for Azure, both for cloud and on-premises use.
What does this mean for Windows Server and SQL Server licenses?
This applies to Server Subscription licenses for both Windows Server and SQL Server. When a customer licenses Windows Server, deploys it in their own data center, and uses these subscription licenses, they have the same rights as if the customer were using ‘regular’ licenses with active Software Assurance.
In summary, this means that customers with Server Subscription licenses can expect the same protection and updates as with traditional licenses with active Software Assurance.
The Extended Security Update program offers companies the opportunity to continue using their outdated systems securely, even after the end of official support.
BeSharp Experts is ready to guide you in understanding the ESU program, ensuring your organization stays secure and compliant. For more information, feel free to contact us.
Source and more information: Product Lifecycle FAQ – Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Learn