30-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 to Windows Server 2025 is recommended to maintain full support and security posture, ensuring timely access to non-security updates and new features.

The Impact

Server administrators are affected, facing increased security risk from unsupported features and potential vulnerabilities if upgrades are not planned.

• Server administrators: Risk of unsupported features and non-security bugs.
• Security teams: Increased attack surface if OS is not current.
• Compliance officers: Potential non-compliance with patching policies.
• IT operations: Operational overhead for managing end-of-life systems.

The Action

1. Review current Windows Server 2022 deployments and identify upgrade candidates.
2. Download and evaluate Windows Server 2025 from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
3. Develop an upgrade plan, including testing and rollback procedures.
4. Schedule and execute the upgrade to Windows Server 2025 before October 2026.
5. For Azure Edition, review Hotpatch support extension and plan accordingly.

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