Welcome to Your New Home, Windows Server 2012!
Extended Security Updates no longer available for Windows Server 2012? No problem.
How time flies... It's been three years since we security-adopted Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, after Microsoft's free support ended. At that time, we gave these servers an alternative to (rather expensive) Microsoft's Extended Security Updates and were happy to welcome many new customers for it.
Three years later, Extended Security Updates (ESU) are ending too - but not our support: We will provide security patches for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 for at least three more years, i.e. at least until October 2029.
Remember Windows Server 2008 R2 going out of support back in 2020? Well, we security-adopted it and have thousands of customers still running this server version securely with our security patches today. Meanwhile, the ESU period for Server 2008 R2 has long ended for both on-premises and Azure-hosted servers, but we're still patching it against newly found vulnerabilities.
If you're new to 0patch and our security patches, we have a lot of information in our Help Center but here's a quick overview:
0patch provides critical security patches for vulnerabilities that are likely to be exploited.
Our tiny patches (usually just a few CPU instructions) get applied in memory of running processes; we don't change original executable files.
Patches get applied and removed instantly, without restarting the computer.
Apart from critical security patches for vulnerabilities Microsoft will patch on still-supported Windows versions, you also get our "0day" patches for vulnerabilities that don't have official security patches yet.
0patch Central allows for central management of all 0patch Agents.
0patch costs a fraction of the cost of Extended Security Updates. (Consider Pro plan for a single server, and Enterprise plan for multiple servers with central management.)
To use 0patch on Windows Server 2012 after October 2026, you will need to:
Create a 0patch account if you don't have one yet.
Install 0patch Agent on the server and register it to your 0patch account. (See 0patch Agent user manual for instructions on silent deployment and auto-registration in a selected group.)
Install all cumulative Windows Updates offered for Windows Server 2012, regardless of whether and how many years of Extended Security Updates you may have purchased. (Our patches are written for specific EXEs and DLLs delivered by October 2023, October 2024, October 2025 and October 2026 Windows Update.)
Make sure to have a enough licenses in your 0patch account.
End of support is getting close - start testing 0patch in your environment now to iron out the wrinkles without too much pressure. To start a free trial, create a free account in 0patch Central, log in and accept a trial offer (PRO or Enterprise) located at the top of the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do you plan to provide critical security patches for Windows Server 2012 after October 2026?
A: For at least three more years - until October 2029. Depending on the demand, we'll consider an extension.
Q: Are your micropatches actual code patches or "virtual patches"?
A: Our patches are actual code patches; we add a couple of CPU instructions to the original (vulnerable) executable code to remove the vulnerability. Such patches cannot be bypassed, unlike other exploit-protection mechanisms, including virtual patches.
Q: We'd like to see a demo.
A: Send an email to sales@0patch.com and provide your company name and time zone so we can suggest a couple of dates for the demo.
Q: We'd like to set up a trial.
A: Please see Get started with 0patch in 3 minutes
Q: We have more questions about 0patch.
A: Our Help Center has a lot of answers but if you can't find yours there, feel free to contact us at sales@0patch.com.