McMaster IT Notice | Microsoft ends Extended Security Updates license

Please note that as of January 10, 2023, Microsoft has ended ESU for Windows 7, 8/8.1, and Server 2008 R2. This means that technical assistance and software updates will no longer be provided to users running these systems.  Windows Server 2008 R2 hosted in Azure has an additional year of ESU.

Since these operating systems are end-of-life and no longer receiving security fixes, these operating systems may be vulnerable to malware, exploits, and security vulnerabilities. Continuing to run these operating systems may, therefore, put users and the university at increased security risks or compliance issues.

If you haven’t already, please migrate these operating systems immediately to a new operating system.

If you are not able to upgrade these operating systems, please contact the IT Security Team c-it-security@mcmaster.ca for assistance with security risk mitigation and treatment options.

Where can I learn more?

Learn more on Microsoft’s webpage here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-8-1-support-ended-on-january-10-2023-3cfd4cde-f611-496a-8057-923fba401e93