What can you expect when Atlassian's server support ends?

On February 15, 2024, Atlassian will discontinue technical support for its server products. This means that Atlassian customers will have to decide whether to migrate their existing server instances to the cloud or to the Data Center Edition or whether to continue working with the risk of a post-end-of-support server. In this blog post, we compare the benefits of an Atlassian migration with the risk of a post-end-of-support server. The aim is to help you, as an Atlassian customer, make an informed decision in good time.

What does it mean when Atlassian says "end of support/service"?

Simply put, end of support (or EoS) refers to the date Atlassian and its Marketplace partners will no longer provide technical support for issues, security updates, or server bug fixes. This can be problematic for you and your organization if you have important business processes mapped with the server products. Since there will no longer be security patches for the server products after February 15, 2024, your system will be more vulnerable to security risks and your systems (users and data) will be more exposed to harmful viruses and spyware. System failures may even be caused by malicious hacker attacks. Compatibility with future versions of databases and operating systems is also no longer guaranteed from February 15.

On the other hand, the advantages of staying with the server version are obvious: you don't have to do any work with the migration at first. You also save costs, as the server version is already paid for. In some cases,highly individualized server versions and high compliance requirements play an important role in the decision-making process.

However, a lack of updates for IT security and compatibility also means that you can no longer change the IT landscape around the ageing server version. Whether it's an aging PostgreSQL version or an operating system that you are no longer allowed to patch, the problems and risks will increase inexorably. And in the end, it all boils down to a changeover.

Change in Good Time = Minimize Risks

It is better to plan the migration of your server/server products before February 15, 2024 to ensure the security of your systems throughout and to benefit from continuous updates. We recommend working with an Atlassian partner such as the ISO-Gruppe. Work with us to define your company's requirements and select a suitable migration strategy to migrate your data and users. This ensures a successful cloud migration with satisfied users.

Preparing Customers

As the end of server support is imminent, it makes sense to define a migration strategy tailored to each individual user as quickly as possible. Especially because cloud migrations can take longer for larger instances.

Pros & Cons: Cloud Migration vs. the Risk of a Server Product after February 2024

Advantages of an Atlassian migration to the cloud

• Improved security and compliance
• Increased scalability and flexibility
• Continuous innovation and feature updates
• Improved reliability and performance
• Fast and reliable support

Risks of a post-end-of-support server

• Increased vulnerability to security threats
• Lack of compliance with industry standards
• Limited scalability and flexibility
• Reduced reliability and performance
• Limited support and services - as of February 15, 2024

For a detailed list of risks and benefits, please contact us free of charge:

Conclusion:

The decision whether to migrate your Atlassian server instance or continue working with a version not supported by the manufacturer after February 15, 2024 depends on various factors. A detailed consideration usually shows the advantages of migrating to the Atlassian Cloud, as the lack of maintenance is a knock-out criterion for many customers.

To ensure the smooth operation of your Atlassian instances, migration to the cloud is the recommended option. The continuous updates, technical support and scalability offer numerous advantages to meet constantly changing requirements. In addition, you can concentrate on your core business while the experts take care of the infrastructure and maintenance.

However, the risk of a post-end-of-support server should not be ignored. Security vulnerabilities, lack of compatibility and limited functionality can lead to significant problems, especially with regard to data security and the protection of sensitive company information.

It is important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your organization. If, as previously mentioned, your Atlassian instances are highly customized or need to meet these high compliance requirements, migrating to the cloud may require additional customization. A migration to the Data Center Edition would be a possible alternative to the cloud. Read more about the cloud vs. data center comparison.

Our Advice to you

Before you make a decision, it is advisable to work with an Atlassian Solution Partner such as ISO-Gruppe. We will help you make the right choice between Server, Data Center and the Atlassian Cloud by assessing your individual requirements and supporting you in planning and executing the migration.

Overall, as an Atlassian customer, you should view the end of server support as an opportunity to modernize your IT infrastructure and reap the benefits of the cloud. Carefully weighing up the benefits and risks will help you make the right decision and ensure the long-term success of your Atlassian implementation.

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