Microsoft SQL Server 2005 reaches end-of-life

On 12th April 2016 Microsoft SQL Server 2005 reaches end-of-life. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, leaving businesses vulnerable to potential security threats. Customers are strongly advised to execute a migration strategy to protect their IT infrastructure and avoid any security & compliance risks.

Businesses who continue to employ Microsoft SQL Server 2005 will not receive any Microsoft security updates, patches or hotfixes and consequently be prone to potential security risks. Without support, the cost of maintaining the Server is likely to rise, leaving businesses prone to cyber security attacks on their computer systems, databases and applications.

Added to this, with the end of support it will become harder to prove compliance with the latest regulations. Organisations in regulated industries – or those handling regulated data such as healthcare sector – may not be able protect their data and stay on top of regulatory compliance, subsequently facing fines.

Furthermore, lack of Microsoft SQL Server updates can affect its performance, impacting on business processes and customer interactions. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 delivers 13 times greater performance gains relative to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, significantly accelerating business applications and improving productivity.

The benefits of migrating from Microsoft SQL Server 2005 up to Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or Microsoft Azure SQL Server offer a lengthy list of improvements, including better performance, lower maintenance costs and better security. By upgrading to a modern Server platform, businesses can protect their data and mitigate potential future security risks, while still outweighing the costs of maintaining security, support and compliance for an unsupported database.

While support for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 ends in April 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 became obsolete in July 2015, making the upgrade a priority for businesses who continue to use any of these Server platforms. With the variety of flexible and tailored upgrade options available, it is highly recommended to make a move in order to prevent security threats and software defects that may jeopardise your business data.

For more information on the effects to your business operations of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 going end-of-life – as well as upgrade options available to you – please email [email protected].