90-Day Reminder: Windows Server 2022 will reach end of mainstream support on October 13, 2026
🚨 The Signal: Windows Server 2022 mainstream support ends October 2026, transitioning to extended support. Upgrade planning to Windows Server 2025 is critical to maintain full support and security posture, avoiding unsupported configurations.
The Impact
Server administrators are affected; failure to upgrade poses a significant security risk due to reduced support and potential for unpatched vulnerabilities.
- Server Administrators: Increased workload for upgrade planning and execution.
- Security Teams: Risk of unpatched vulnerabilities if servers are not upgraded.
- Compliance Officers: Non-compliance with patching policies and security frameworks.
- Organisational Leadership: Potential for increased attack surface and operational risk.
The Action
- Identify all Windows Server 2022 instances within the environment.
- Review the Fixed Lifecycle Policy for Windows Server 2022 and 2025.
- Download and evaluate Windows Server 2025 using the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
- Develop an upgrade plan to migrate Windows Server 2022 instances to Windows Server 2025.
- Begin deployment testing for Windows Server 2025 upgrades to ensure a smooth transition.
Domain: Other · Impact: high · Workload: Other · Essential Eight: Patch Operating Systems · ISM: ISM-1407, ISM-1501, ISM-1621, ISM-1622, ISM-1623, ISM-1654, ISM-1655, ISM-1694, ISM-1695, ISM-1696, ISM-1701, ISM-1702, ISM-1877, ISM-1889, ISM-1902