We’re writing to inform affected clients about an important update regarding your IT infrastructure. Microsoft is retiring Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 on October 10th, 2023. This means that after this date, Microsoft will no longer provide support or free critical vulnerability patches and updates for these server variants, posing potential risks to your organization’s computer/data security going forward.
If affected, while your server won’t suddenly cease to function on October 10th, we strongly recommend planning your upgrades with us and your IT partner as soon as possible to ensure the continued security and efficiency of your systems. Please feel free to share this information with your IT contacts.
If you haven’t already started discussions with your IT department or third-party support partner about upgrading your servers, we would encourage you to initiate these conversations promptly.
Century is fully committed to assisting you throughout this process. We’ll provide guidance on technical specifications/versions and collaborate closely with you and your IT partner to ensure a seamless transition.
We have identified that all customers still using Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 are also running older Sage 200 versions that have now reached end of support status with Sage.
It is standard industry practice for technology companies to withdraw support for older versions of software. Every year Sage invests in research and development to improve their software and services. They do this in line with regular customer feedback and to take into account new technology and changes in legislation. Sage believes that using the latest software is the best way for them to help you run your business effectively and by concentrating their resources on looking forward, they can help your business move forward too.
While Century will continue to assist you on your existing versions, utilising our current resources, second line support to us from Sage UK has ended. We strongly recommend staying within the Sage 200 product life cycle by upgrading to a supported operating system and Sage 200 version, as soon as is feasible.
Should you choose to upgrade, we will help conduct thorough user testing to ensure a smooth transition, with minimal disruption to your business operations. We are also capable of optionally completing major works after hours or on weekends to further reduce downtime.
Sage 200 Version 2023 R2 has just released, offering new features, bug fixes, and enhancements since your current version. For your convenience, please see our latest ‘What’s New at a Glance’ guide for your review.
Now is a great opportunity to upgrade your systems (dependant on availability) and address compatibility challenges.
As part of your Sage Annual Licence Plan (SALP) agreement, you can upgrade to the new software at no additional cost on the software itself. In most cases from our side, only Century’s time is chargeable, for our services in upgrading your systems and ensuring that any bespoke processes work seamlessly with the new version.
If you would like to explore this further, please let us know, and we can provide you with an in-depth site upgrade report for your business. We’ll remotely assess your software and versions, identify potential hurdles, and work with you to schedule the installation, user testing, and ‘Go live’ date on the new system.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We value your business and look forward to assisting you in this important upgrade process.
Thank you for your time and consideration.