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Windows 10 is no longer supported; we have until June 2025 to act
With Microsoft dropping Windows 10 support in June 2025, we at alltasksIT have to work with our customers to migrate them so our customers stay secure and adopt all that is available to them from a modern operating system. Over the coming months, we’ll reach out to each of you to navigate this change together.
The Microsoft Windows Server world is changing, too.
It’s the same story for your servers. Sticking with older server versions like 2012, 2016, or even 2019 isn’t cutting it. With the upcoming release of Windows Server 2025 and the retirement of Server 2012, 2016, and 2019, we have a prime opportunity to modernise and rationalise your existing technology footprint, modernise you, and further secure your business.
Windows Server 2025: Time to Upgrade and Secure Your Infrastructure
With Sever 2025 now released, it’s becoming clear that sticking with older server versions like 2012, 2016, or even 2019 isn’t putting your organisation at risk. The world of IT has changed a lot, as have the daily threats. Security should always be front and centre, and that’s precisely what Windows Server 2025 brings to the table.
We are breaking up with old operating systems.
We’re phasing out support for server versions older than 2022. This might seem abrupt, but there’s a good reason for it. Older servers can’t keep up with the modern security landscape. They’re more vulnerable to attacks, and that’s a risk we can’t afford to take—not for us and our clients.
Security First, Always
Let’s face it: security threats aren’t going away. They’re getting more sophisticated. Windows Server 2025 offers significant improvements in security features that older servers don’t have. By upgrading, we’re not just keeping up with the times but staying ahead of potential threats.
So, what’s so great about Windows Server 2025? Here’s a quick rundown:
Improved domain management with larger database page sizes, meaning better performance, scalability, and, most importantly, security.
This provides extra layers of protection against credential theft, which is a big deal nowadays.
Enhanced encryption and signing for file sharing, making data transmission more secure.
If you’re using cloud services, this makes everything smoother and more connected.
Isolating sensitive workloads to protect against attacks—a must for industries with strict compliance rules.
Let’s discuss Credential Guard, a key security feature in Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11. Essentially, Credential Guard uses virtualisation-based security to isolate and protect your login credentials. It creates a secure area within your system’s memory where sensitive information like usernames and passwords are stored, making it much harder for malware or hackers to access them.
Imagine your computer is like an office building. Without Credential Guard, essential documents (your login details) might be left out on a desk. If someone unauthorised gets in, they can quickly grab them. Credential Guard acts like a locked safe within that building. Even if someone sneaks in, they can’t get to what’s inside the safe
For business owners, this is crucial. Credential theft is one of the most common ways cybercriminals breach systems. If an attacker obtains an employee’s login details, they can access sensitive company data, customer information, and critical systems. This can lead to data breaches, financial losses, and a damaged reputation.
Without the upgrade to Windows 11 and Server 2022 (at least), a simple mistake like an employee clicking on a malicious email could compromise your entire network. Malware could steal their login details stored in the system, allowing attackers to infiltrate your business operations. It’s a domino effect that starts with one compromised credential.
By enabling Credential Guard, you add a robust layer of defines. Malware can’t access the stored credentials even if malware gets onto a device. This helps prevent unauthorised access and keeps your business’s critical information secure. In today’s environment, where cyber threats are constantly evolving, features like Credential Guard are essential tools for protecting your company’s assets.
We’re not just suggesting this change for you but also reevaluating our setups. With Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware leading to price hikes and other challenges, we’re considering alternatives like Microsoft Hyper-V on Windows Server 2025. It’s not just about following trends but finding the most efficient and secure solutions for everyone involved.
If you’re worried about performance, costs and security (and who isn’t?), Hyper-V on Windows Server 2025 offers:
It’s essential to grasp how Microsoft’s support lifecycle affects your business so that you can make informed decisions about your IT infrastructure. Microsoft products typically undergo two main support phases: Mainstream Support and Extended Support.
Mainstream Support
During Mainstream Support, products receive regular updates, including new features, security updates, and non-security fixes. This phase usually lasts for five years from the product’s release date. It’s the period when the product is actively developed and enhanced.
Extended Support
After Mainstream Support ends, products enter the Extended Support phase. In this stage, Microsoft continues to provide security updates and critical fixes but no longer adds new features or accepts requests for design changes. Extended Support also typically lasts for five years.
Why This Matters
While security updates continue during Extended Support, the lack of new features means that products won’t benefit from the latest advancements in technology and security—like Credential Guard. This might be acceptable for some, but we want to ensure our customers are ahead of the security curve, not just keeping pace with it.
Understanding these dates helps you plan upgrades before support ends, ensuring your systems remain secure and efficient.
After these Extended Support end dates, security updates and support will cease entirely, leaving systems exposed to vulnerabilities without official patches. Even during Extended Support, while you still receive critical security updates, you miss out on new features and enhancements that could benefit your business.
For instance, features like Credential Guard are not added to older systems during Extended Support. Staying on outdated software means missing out on crucial security advancements that protect against modern threats.
Credential Guard is a built-in security feature available in newer versions of Windows (like Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025) that helps keep your passwords and other login details safe. Think of it like a locked vault inside your computer’s memory—one that hackers and malware have a more challenging time breaking into. Even if cybercriminals sneak into your system, they can’t just grab your login information and roam freely through your network.
That’s just one example of a security feature you won’t have without an upgrade. We see this as an unacceptable risk for a modern organisation, and this is reflected in the recently updated Australian Government’s Cyber Security Governance Principles, which increase legal obligations on company owners in this space.
We understand that some businesses might find the extended support phase sufficient for their needs. However, we aim to help our customers stay proactive in their security measures, not just reactive. Upgrading ensures you’re not just on the security curve but ahead of it, taking advantage of the latest technologies to protect and streamline your operations.
We’re here to assist you in navigating these changes. By planning upgrades ahead of these support deadlines, we can ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your business. Let’s work together to keep your systems up-to-date, secure, and efficient.
Senior Account Manager
As a Senior Account Manager at alltasksIT, Kevin brings over 20 years of diverse IT experience and deep expertise in cloud solutions.
With his extensive technical background, coupled with his experience in cloud product management and forward-thinking mindset, Kevin Carne is a valuable asset to alltasksIT.