End of Support for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2

SQL Server 2012 reached end of support on July 12, 2022, and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reaches end of support on October 10, 2023. Learn about your options and how to stay protected and compliant with Microsoft.

Read about what end of support means and your options to secure your SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012/R2 and 2008/R2 workloads. Learn more

Why modernize with Microsoft

While the latest releases of Windows Server and SQL Server bring more innovations, support to older versions along with security updates eventually ends. Fortunately, you can stay secure and modernize your IT estate with Microsoft on your terms.

Migrate and innovate

Get access to unparalleled innovation for SQL Server and Windows Server workloads on Azure, including Azure SQL Managed Instance, a fully managed PaaS service for SQL Server databases. You can also upgrade to SQL Server 2022 or Windows Server 2022.

Extend security updates

Stay covered with three additional years of Extended Security Updates. The Extended Security Updates offer is free of charge only in Azure and can be purchased for on-premises deployments.

Maintain technical support

Use existing Microsoft support agreements, such as Software Assurance, Unified Support, or Premier Support to get technical support for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 with Extended Security Updates.

Get assistance

Microsoft has unique resources to help you migrate and modernize with confidence. Azure Migration and Modernization Program provides expert help with assistance from Microsoft and qualified partners. Microsoft also has free tools to help you start faster, including Azure Migrate for discovery, assessment, and migration.

Migration and Modernization Options

Learn about your options and how to save on continued support for your SQL Server and Windows Server 2012 workloads.

Move to Azure Upgrade on-premises Delay your move

Move to Azure

Get free Extended Security Updates for three years after end of support in Azure, which includes destinations such as Azure Stack HCI and Azure VMware Solution to migrate on your own terms. Combine this with Azure Hybrid Benefit to save big on Azure by using existing on-premises SQL Server and Windows Server licenses.

Learn more Get help

Upgrade on-premises

There are two options to upgrade on premises: Get the advantages of Azure innovation without migrating with Azure Arc-enabled servers. Or, get increased flexibility and security by upgrading to Windows Server 2022 or SQL Server 2022.

Azure Arc SQLServer2022 Windows Server 2022

Two people looking at a laptop in a server room.

Delay your move

If you have Software Assurance or subscription licenses you can buy Extended Security Updates to get three more years of security updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. Reach out to your Microsoft Seller for more information.

Learn more

Begin today

Azure Migrate

Ready to start now? Discover, assess, and migrate your on-premises datacenter.

Use Azure Migrate

Azure Migration and Modernization Program

Get the right mix of expert help you need to set up your cloud environment and move forward with confidence.

Get help from Microsoft

Learn from customers who have upgraded and migrated successfully

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Itaú Unibanco boosts service availability and data processing with Microsoft SQL Server 2019 and Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Learn how Itaú Unibanco used its long experience with SQL Server and a side-by-side deployment to simplify and streamline an upgrade to SQL Server 2019.

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