Azure Local 22H2 Clusters: End of Service and Feature Degradation

Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI) version 22H2 reached End of Service (EOS) on May 31, 2025. As communicated earlier, this means:

• No further security updates or bug fixes will be provided.
• CSS support is limited to upgrade assistance of the existing environment only.

What’s Changing?

Around February 23, 2026, Microsoft will begin degrading features on 22H2 clusters. These changes align with Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy, which requires customers to stay current with servicing and system requirements to maintain support. Under this policy, failure to upgrade can lead to significant degradation of product functionality, starting with:

• Disabling ESU: Extended Security Updates will no longer be available.
• Disabling WSS: Windows Server Subscription benefits will be removed.

Once these changes take effect:

• Customers will not be able to purchase or renew ESU or WSS for 22H2 clusters, meaning:
• ESU updates will no longer be offered, leaving guest operating systems exposed to security vulnerabilities.
• Guest operating systems will no longer be licensed, which can lead to compliance violations and potential service disruptions.
• Any degraded feature will not be restored under best-effort support.

Customer Responsibility

If the customer chooses to remain on 22H2:

• They assume full responsibility for any security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, or government regulatory requirements associated with running an unsupported version.
• Microsoft does not provide guarantees or remediation for risks arising from continued use of 22H2.

Next Steps

To maintain a secure and supported environment:

• Upgrade to 24H2 as soon as possible.
  Learn how to upgrade → We strongly recommend planning your upgrade now to avoid service disruptions and compliance risks.