End-of-Support for Windows NT Server 4.0

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Microsoft End-of-Support Deadline for Windows NT Server 4.0 Affects IT Security for Many Small and Large Enterprises

November 18, 2004 (9:01 PM EST)

NORCROSS, Ga., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft plans to stop supporting an older version of Windows, NT Server 4.0, at the end of 2004 -- a decision that affects thousands of enterprises, with more than two million servers still running the network operating system, who have not developed and executed plans for migrating to a different enterprise networking environment.

Maha Mahadevan, president and CEO of Norcross, Ga.-based BOSS, which offers network asset management software and services to all size enterprises, says that those who do not make a change to either an upgraded Microsoft network platform or one offered by another vendor will have to play virtually "without a net" in today's high-risk enterprise networking environment.

"Since Microsoft will not be providing patches, security fixes and even premier pay-per-incident support for the Windows NT Server any longer, you will have to address security problems and other technology issues on your own," said Mahadevan.

"Your enterprise will become more vulnerable to hackers. Your network availability will be subject to inordinate downtime. Your users will lose productivity.

New software applications, such as accounting, backup, firewall, mail server or anti-virus protection may not be backwardly compatible with NT Server. And even when you buy replacement hardware there may not be drivers available to make the components work on your network."

As a Microsoft Gold Software Development Partner, the BOSS product suite, which includes the DiagWin network management and software deployment utility, and the U-Win software and operating system migration aid, plus BOSS's expertise and track record in successful enterprise migrations, would be of great benefit to any organization contemplating upgrading to the recommended Microsoft path.

In addition, Mahadevan said, BOSS's custom development and deployment skills would be of great value to those seeking to migrate instead to an entirely different networking environment, like open source Linux or UNIX.

A successful migration takes a number of weeks of proper planning and execution, addressing server and workstation configurations, domain configurations, mail, corporate practices and policies, and other considerations, said Mahadevan. "Most enterprises already feel the pinch of constrained IT resources just in supporting and maintaining resource availability for their users," he said. "BOSS can give those IT managers the extra muscle they need to make any migration path smooth and painless."

Microsoft stopped supporting client versions of NT on June 30, 2004, and the Dec. 31 end of support for NT Server signals a total discontinuation of the product. Its upgrade strategy is to prepare a smoother migration path to its 64-bit operating environment that's expected to hit the market in 2005 and 2006.

Microsoft recommends that NT customers migrate to Windows 2003 Server, which in many cases involves upgrades to Microsoft Exchange Server and Web server applications. BOSS has experience and creative expertise in assisting enterprises with all aspects of that deployment, including migrations to Active Directory, the Microsoft schema for tracking all network resources and users, and SharePoint Portal Server, which enables enterprises to seamlessly connect users, teams and knowledge so people can take advantage of relevant information across multiple business processes.

All of that will provide solid foundations for the enterprise to accommodate the 64-bit architecture that is making its way into enterprises today.

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