If you still rely on Windows Server 2016, you now have a clear deadline. Windows Server 2016 end of support is 12 January 2027. After that, Microsoft stops providing regular security updates, which means any new vulnerability stays open on any server you have left on 2016.
For a lot of North East SMEs, those servers are quietly running the things that matter most: line-of-business applications, shared drives, account systems and databases. Leaving them on an unsupported platform is not just a technical risk, it is a business risk. This article explains what Windows Server 2016 end of support actually means, how to check where you stand, and the practical routes to modernise before the 2027 cut-off.
What Windows Server 2016 end of support actually means
Microsoft gives its server products two main phases of support: mainstream support with feature updates, and extended support focused on security fixes. For Windows Server 2016, mainstream support ended in January 2022 and extended support ends on 12 January 2027. After that point, no regular security patches are released for most customers.
When a platform goes out of support:
- Newly discovered vulnerabilities may never be patched.
- Security and compliance frameworks expect you to be on supported software, or to have a clear plan to move.
- Third-party vendors may stop certifying their applications on that version.
- You may be able to use paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a short-term bridge, but these are designed as temporary cover while you migrate, not a long-term plan.
For many SMEs in and around Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and County Durham, the practical route is to upgrade or migrate away from Windows Server 2016 over the next 12–18 months, rather than waiting until late 2026.
Why this deadline matters for North East SMEs
If your servers sit in a cupboard or a small comms room, it is easy to ignore them while they just ‘keep working’. The 2027 end of support date forces a different question: if this server failed tomorrow or was compromised, what part of the business would stop?
Typical impacts when legacy servers are left too long include:
- Prolonged downtime while ageing hardware and software are coaxed back to life.
- Higher recovery costs, because modern backup and disaster recovery was never set up properly on older platforms.
- Audit and insurance pressure, where unsupported systems are flagged as a material cyber risk.
The good news is that there is enough time to move away from Windows Server 2016 in a controlled way, rather than rushing a migration in late 2026.
Step 1: Get a clear picture of your current servers
Before deciding what to do next, you need an accurate inventory. For most SMEs, that means answering four simple questions.
1) Which servers are still running Windows Server 2016?
List physical and virtual machines, including anything hosted in a local data centre or colocation facility. Note their roles, such as file server, domain controller, application server or SQL database host.
2) What does each server actually support?
Map servers to business functions, such as:
- Finance and accounts
- Line-of-business or industry-specific apps
- File storage and printing
- Identity and authentication (Active Directory)
3) Who depends on these systems?
Identify departments, sites and external partners that rely on those services so you can prioritise high-impact workloads.
4) How critical is each workload?
Group them into:
- Tier 1: Cannot be down during working hours
- Tier 2: Can tolerate short, planned downtime
- Tier 3: Legacy, rarely used or candidates for retirement
If you already work with an IT partner, ask them to produce this view as part of a Windows Server 2016 review. This is typically covered under an ongoing support arrangement like Managed IT Services.
Step 2: Choose your direction, upgrade, move to cloud, or retire
Once you know what is running on Windows Server 2016, you can decide the best path for each workload. In practice, most North East businesses use a mix of three approaches.
Option A: Upgrade to a newer on-premise Windows Server
If you still need a local server at your office or data centre, upgrading to a newer long-term support version of Windows Server keeps a familiar model with a more modern foundation.
This is usually suitable where:
- You have on-site hardware that still has life left and is supported.
- Regulations or application requirements mean the server must stay on-premise.
- Latency-sensitive systems need to sit close to machinery or local infrastructure.
The trade-off is that you remain responsible for hardware, power, cooling and physical security. Treat the upgrade as a chance to tidy up and standardise, not just lift-and-shift an untidy setup onto a newer operating system.
Option B: Migrate workloads to cloud or hosted platforms
For many SMEs, Windows Server 2016 end of support is a natural trigger to move parts of the stack to:
- Hosted applications, such as SaaS replacements for on-premise systems
- Cloud infrastructure, where servers are virtual rather than physical
- Modern file storage backed by Microsoft 365 and SharePoint for collaboration
This route reduces hardware and patching overhead, but it needs careful planning around identity, security, connectivity and backup so you do not simply move risk elsewhere. If you are weighing cloud options locally, Unite’s guide to business cloud solutions in Newcastle and the North East is a helpful starting point.
Option C: Retire unused or low-value workloads
Almost every server estate contains at least one system that nobody really needs any more. When you find those on Windows Server 2016, the simplest option is often to retire them completely.
That might mean archiving data for compliance, exporting reports or consolidating functions into newer systems. Removing unused servers reduces your attack surface and simplifies what you need to support.
Step 3: Build a realistic migration plan to 2027
Once you have grouped workloads into upgrade, migrate or retire, you can put timelines against them. A practical plan usually includes:
Prioritised phases
Tackle high-impact systems first, such as finance and core line-of-business apps, especially if they sit on older hardware.
Testing time
Allow for test environments where upgrades or migrations can run without disrupting live users.
Communication with staff
Let teams know when systems will be offline and what will change, especially if new logins or ways of working are involved.
Fallback and backup
Ensure backups are recent, tested and usable before making any major change to a Windows Server 2016 environment. If you need to tighten this up, Unite’s article on IT disaster recovery strategy and business continuity is worth a read.
Rather than one big ‘server replacement project’, treat this as a series of smaller, manageable changes over the next 12–18 months.
Step 4: Reduce risk while you transition off Windows Server 2016
You may not be able to move everything overnight, so it is important to reduce risk on any Windows Server 2016 systems that will be around for a while.
Practical measures include:
- Tightening access to management interfaces and remote access
- Ensuring endpoint protection is up to date and monitored
- Segmenting older servers on the network so they are less exposed
- Improving backup and disaster recovery arrangements so that if something goes wrong, you can recover quickly
These are not a substitute for moving away from an unsupported platform, but they can reduce exposure while projects are in flight. If you are also working towards a recognised baseline, Cyber Essentials can help structure the fundamentals, including patch management and secure configuration.
How a local partner can help North East businesses prepare
For many organisations, the hardest part of dealing with Windows Server 2016 end of support is finding the time and internal expertise. A local managed IT and cyber security partner can:
- Audit your current server estate and map business impact
- Advise on whether on-premise upgrades, cloud options or hybrids make most sense
- Plan migrations to minimise downtime for staff and customers
- Build backup and disaster recovery plans around your most important systems
Unite supports North East SMEs with practical IT planning and delivery that fits how teams actually work, whether that’s modernising on-premise infrastructure, improving resilience, or moving the right workloads into the cloud. This is typically delivered through ongoing support via Managed IT Services and Microsoft environment management via Microsoft 365 services.
Next steps if you are still on Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 will continue to run after January 2027, but running critical systems on an unsupported platform leaves your organisation exposed in ways that are increasingly hard to justify.
A sensible next move is to:
- Confirm exactly where you are still using Windows Server 2016
- Prioritise servers by business impact and technical risk
- Decide which workloads to upgrade, move to cloud or retire
- Put a phased plan in place to complete the work well before the 2027 deadline
If you want structured help rather than trying to untangle this on your own, a managed IT partner can handle the planning and delivery.
Talk to Unite about a Windows Server 2016 end of support review. You’ll get a clear map of your current servers, practical recommendations for upgrade or migration, and help turning that into a timeline that fits your budget and business priorities.
Contact Unite