All IT providers, from the Systems Administrators at Fortune 500 companies to Managed Services Providers (like me) who help small business owners, have a competing set of objectives. One is to satisfy the technological and business requirements of their clients. The other is to work within the constraints (sometimes edicts) of the vendors they use to provide and build those business solutions.
The most significant “elephant in the room” is inevitably Microsoft. Just when everyone took time over the recent year-end holidays to relax after the massive effort to migrate from Windows 10 to 11, the calendar page flipped to 2026, and the meme associated with the phrase, “objects in mirror are closer than they appear,” took on new meaning.
Microsoft identifies dates well in advance for the end of support (or end of life, EOL). In the coming year, several significant events are scheduled for October. The first is that Office 2021 will reach EOL. This stalwart is the one-time installation software that has been available as a long-term license (rather than subscription). It has been superseded by Office 2024.
And within the Office family, Microsoft has also issued a death knell for Publisher. This product is no longer available in the Office 2024 edition, and Microsoft will remove it from all Office 365 subscriptions (in which it still exists) in October 2026. I hate that decision because I create all of my client-facing documents in Publisher, including this newsletter. There are very few alternatives I need to investigate (and learn), but more on that next month.
Also, in October, Microsoft will end support for Windows 11 version 24H2. I will ensure that all clients running this version of the operating system receive the recently released 25H2 update in late August or early September to maintain support and security (including monthly updates).
The subsequent entry on a longer-term calendar is the January 2027 end-of-life for Windows Server 2016. What I learned from a recent event (Windows Server 2012 went EOL in October 2023) is that many organizations — more than I ever expected — held on to ancient hardware for as long as possible, even if it slowed down their entire operations.
I understand trying to wring the last vestige of usefulness out of a hardware device that initially cost thousands of dollars. But the cost was amortized, and the device was fully paid off long ago. And yet, when it comes time now to replace a Windows Server 2016 with a new server, with the rapidly rising price of memory (RAM), business owners are going to be shocked out of their chaise by the prices of new Windows Servers.
While I do not like churn (of either hardware or software) for its own sake, in most cases, new hardware performs significantly better than older hardware — even if the old hardware has not broken. Similarly, newer software — despite the incessant push to include AI — offers features and benefits for anyone interested in taking advantage of them.
If all you use is a web browser to read your email and go to websites, you can use your phone. But if you have a line-of-business application that is still server-based, you will need new hardware. Dell is pricing its Windows Servers at astronomical prices, and things are going wild!
In a recent Reddit post, another MSP stated that on Wednesday, their Dell representative could not honor a Monday quote for a pre-configured server. He was questioning the community to see if this is “real or Memorex.”
The first response came from someone in the industry, who said, “I quoted [a] customer yesterday about 900 USD per 64GB RAM stick. Today, new pricing came in… 1600 USD per stick. Our quotes are valid for a day, it’s so crazy atm” [atm means “at the moment”].
Can you imagine seeing a nearly 80% price increase in something within one or two days? That is the current — and rather unfortunate — state of the world.
Having said that, I am thrilled that I was able to upgrade more than 95% of my clients’ computers to Windows 11 machines last year. Those who must upgrade this year — due to age or lack of warranty — I’m warning you now, you will pay significantly more.
What Not to Do When You Have a Data Breach
Sax LLP (“Sax”), also known as Sax Advisory Group, disclosed a 2024 data breach in December 2025 that affected its systems. Yes, more than a year and a half after the “unusual network activity” in August 2024, the firm notified almost a quarter of a million individuals that their information was exposed. Compromised information included name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license information, and passport number.
I don’t think anyone affected is feeling very good about this. If I were a victim, I’d be screaming to the heavens about why it took so long between identifying the breach and notifying those affected — especially given the range of information that was exfiltrated. This breach is an awful case where identity theft could run rampant for these victims.
Thanks, and safe computing!