You’ve probably read enough dire warnings about the terrible things that will affect your business if you keep using Windows Server 2003 past Microsoft’s announced End of Support deadline in July. It’s springtime, so let’s put aside the negatives and focus on the good things in store when you migrate to a new and better server platform. Read on for our top four benefits to making the move to Windows Server 2012 R2.
1. You’ll enjoy an instant boost in performance and productivity – This alone is worth the effort, especially as data demands are accelerating at a staggering pace from more users and more devices. Servers based on the Intel® Xeon® processor E5 v3 product family running Windows Server 2012 R2 deliver up to 6x faster performance than comparable previous-generation systems. And if your existing servers are four or more years old, the performance bump will be all the more dramatic. The benefits of a data center refresh extend to storage media as well: new Intel® solid-state drives are up to 1,300 times faster than four-year-old hard drives.
2. You’ll save money by reducing data center cost and complexity – A single new Intel-based server can do the work of three older servers, which means fewer servers occupying less space; what’s more, intelligent built-in power capabilities are designed to reduce energy consumption. And remote management features reduce the number of costly desk-side visits, freeing IT staff from time-consuming maintenance issues to concentrate on high-level initiatives.
3. You’re well-positioned for the cloud – A data center refresh with the built-in virtualization capabilities of the Intel Xeon processor E5 product family enables you to tap the full advantages of a cloud-based environment that can make you much more competitive. These capabilities are fully complemented by the advanced features of Windows Server 2012 R2.
4. You’ll have your security bases covered – The combined security capabilities of the Intel Xeon processor E5 product family and Windows Server 2012 R2 help enable your customers to continue doing business with you, maintaining compliance with HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, PCI and other regulatory standards. Intel-based servers are designed with foundational, hardware-assisted security capabilities that safeguard data through encryption and protect against malware and other attacks. And you’ll continue to receive ongoing support through Microsoft, Intel, and Connection
Yes, you need to migrate your data center away from Windows Server 2003, and soon. But the good news – and there’s lots of it – is that you’ll be glad you did.
With the end of support date for Windows Server 2003 fast approaching, there’s never been a better time to plan your data center transformation. Our experts have designed this helpful tool to get you started on the right upgrade path for your unique environment, applications, and workloads.
