# Windows Server 2016 support ends on 12 January 2027. Have a plan before then. > Windows Server 2016 extended support ends on 12 January 2027; after that date Microsoft releases no more security updates for it. For £525 (list £750) we review up to five of your servers, work out what runs on them and hand you a costed, step by step plan to move. Source: https://wharfcloud.co.uk/windows-server-2016-end-of-support · Last updated 21 October 2026 · WharfCloud ## At a glance - **End of support:** 12 January 2027 - **What you get:** Written, costed migration plan - **Scope:** Up to 5 servers - **Price:** £525 one-off (list £750) - **Access needed:** Read-only, or a guided call - **Format:** Written plan plus a walkthrough call ## What actually changes on 12 January 2027 Windows Server 2016 left mainstream support on 11 January 2022 and has been on extended support (security fixes only) since. On **12 January 2027** extended support ends: no more security updates, no more fixes, no more online technical help from Microsoft, according to Microsoft's [lifecycle page](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016). The server will keep running. The problem is what happens next: every newly found vulnerability stays open, and many insurance questionnaires, client security reviews and the Cyber Essentials scheme expect in-scope software to be supported and patched. We have written a longer, sourced explanation of the options in our guide: [Windows Server 2016 end of support: options for UK small businesses](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/windows-server-2016-end-of-support-uk). ## What the migration plan covers 1. **Inventory.** Roles, applications, databases, scheduled tasks, shares and who uses them, for up to five servers. 2. **Dependencies.** Which other systems, licences and suppliers each server depends on, including application vendors who must certify a new version. 3. **Options per server.** In-place upgrade, rebuild on a newer Windows Server, move to Linux, move to a managed server, or retire it in favour of a service you already pay for. 4. **Costs and risks.** One-off effort, monthly running costs and the risks of each option, in plain English. 5. **A schedule.** An order of work that fits around your busy periods, with rollback points. The plan is yours to keep. You can carry it out yourself, with your current IT provider, or with us. ## If you want us to do the move Workloads that move onto our managed servers migrate free of charge. A [Managed Windows Server](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/managed-servers/windows) is £119/month (list £149/month); if a workload can leave Windows, a [Managed Linux Server](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/managed-servers/linux) starts at £29/month (list £39/month). Either way the plan tells you the monthly cost before you commit. Want a rough figure first? Try the free [migration cost calculator](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/tools/migration-cost-calculator). ## How it works 1. **Book online.** Pay by card. A person checks every first order before work starts. 2. **Kick-off call.** Thirty minutes on what the servers do, who uses them and what worries you. 3. **Read-only review.** We collect inventory with read-only access or by walking through the servers with you on a screen share. We change nothing. 4. **Plan and walkthrough.** You receive the written plan and we go through it with you, answering questions until it is clear. ## Price - **Up to 5 servers:** £525 intro price (first 50 customers), £750 list price (one-off). Assessment and written migration plan. Includes: Inventory of roles and applications; Target platform options; Costed, step by step plan. Prices in GBP. No VAT is added: we are not VAT registered. Order online: https://wharfcloud.co.uk/app/order/windows-server-2016-migration?plan=up-to-5 ## Questions we get asked ### When does Windows Server 2016 support end? Extended support ends on 12 January 2027, per Microsoft's lifecycle policy. Mainstream support already ended on 11 January 2022. ### Can we just buy Extended Security Updates? Yes, if you qualify. Microsoft offers up to three years of paid Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2016, through 2030, delivered through Azure Arc: the server needs the Azure Connected Machine agent, and buying requires Software Assurance unless the server is licensed through a provider's SPLA or a Server Subscription. They buy time; they are not a plan. Details and prices in our [Windows Server 2016 ESU guide](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/windows-server-2016-extended-security-updates). ### Can we upgrade in place? Microsoft documents in-place upgrade paths from Windows Server 2016 to newer versions. Whether it is wise depends on the applications on the server, their vendors' support and the age of the hardware, which is exactly what the plan checks. See [upgrading Windows Server 2016 to 2025 in place](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/guides/upgrade-windows-server-2016-to-2025). ### We have more than five servers. [Tell us how many](https://wharfcloud.co.uk/contact?topic=windows-server-2016-migration) and we will quote a fixed price for the larger estate before you book. ### Do you need admin access? No. We work with read-only access or a guided screen share. Nothing on your servers is changed during the review. --- WharfCloud is a trading name of Sunucu Internet Services Consultancy Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 12963678. Not VAT registered. Support: engineers Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00 UK time. Critical incidents: A person responds to critical incidents within 1 hour (Every day, 07:00 to 23:00 UK time). Automated monitoring and automated recovery overnight and at weekends. Contact: hello@wharfcloud.co.uk · https://wharfcloud.co.uk/contact