Firms must act as countdown to switch-offs begin, IT firm warns

West Midlands firms are being warned about two major IT infrastructure changes in the new year which could have severe implications for security and business continuity if left unaddressed.

Microsoft will end its extended support for Windows Server 2016 on 12 January, 2027 – meaning legacy systems will no longer receive any critical updates and could be vulnerable to security breaches.

This is followed swiftly by the switch-off of the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on 31 January, calling time on the analogue copper phone network still used by some businesses for a variety of services.

Tamworth-based Bold IT is urging accountancy firms to take stock of their technology setup and take urgent action if they still use Windows Server 2016 or a PTSN connection.

Danny Leitch (pictured), managing director of Bold IT, said: “The end of Microsoft support for Windows Server 2016 doesn’t mean systems will stop working – but they won't receive any further security patches or updates, very similar to the Windows 10 to Windows 11 transition.

“Businesses which haven’t updated their systems will be vulnerable to cyber breaches and cyber security attacks, and we can be sure hackers will be looking for these types of servers once the 12 January date has passed.

“There is also a consideration around insurance. Your provider may see your policy as invalid, as you’ve not carried out due diligence to ensure you have the best possible protection from breaches.

“Finally, if something breaks, Microsoft won’t fix it. Once it's broken, it's broken.

“It’s for these many reasons firms need to be absolutely sure they have plans in place for when this support ends.”

Danny said most businesses using managed service providers (MSPs) will be aware of the change, but the broader issue is around understanding the need to upgrade.

He said Bold IT’s advice is that while there is an option to extend the warranty, the recommendation is to switch to Windows Server 2022 or Windows Server 2025 or migrate to a cloud-based server.

“The issue isn’t just about informing people”, he added. “Taking the Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade as an example, lots of businesses knew about that.

“It was very public, yet a percentage of businesses chose not to do that upgrade, and there are still businesses out there now without the upgrade.

“This is more about understanding why it is important and why it is a vital investment for firms to make. It’s not simply a nice-to-have which they can ignore or put off – it’s a business-critical infrastructure upgrade.”

Businesses will then have just 19 days after the Windows Server changes to ensure they are fully-prepared for the PSTN switch-off.

BT and Openreach is decommissioning the copper infrastructure used to run old telephony and internet connections, meaning any businesses still using the old copper connectivity need to upgrade to a digital solution.

Danny adds: “There are several services which could be affected by the decommissioning of PTSN – old telephony lines, old broadband lines and anything using ISDN, which are things like card payment machines or fax machines. It could even affect alarms, door entry systems or CCTV.”

“If you’re running any of these systems or have a legacy product that could be using this system, you need to look at something which would help that old analogue solution become digital.”