Support for MDI sensor on Windows Server 2012 R2

[AlastairCain]

Hello,

Short version of the question: When "Support" for the MDI Sensor on Windows 2012 R2 ends in October, will the sensor cease to function entirely?

Long version:

The following article regarding MDI support on Windows Server 2008 R2 

End of support for Microsoft Defender for Identity on Windows Server 2008 R2 - Microsoft Community H...

Includes the following:

"How will this affect your organization:

For two months, the sensor will continue to function with all the functionality available up to June 15th, 2022. After this two-month period, starting August 15th, 2022, the sensor will no longer function on Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms. There will be no Defender for Identity support available for any sensors running on a Windows server 2008 R2 operating system."

The Defender for Identity sensor requirements section on Learn states the following but is not clear if the sensor will cease to function at that point or not:

"Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will reach extended end of support on October 10, 2023. You should plan to upgrade those servers as Microsoft will no longer support the Defender for Identity sensor on devices running Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2."

Prerequisites - Microsoft Defender for Identity | Microsoft Learn

Thank you.

Alastair.

[#2]

@AlastairCain I would say yes, because the sensor will stop reporting back to MDI and any misfunctioning of the logs or sensor will not be supported from the MS security team 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-for-identity/prerequisites#defender-for-identity-sensor-r...

so, I suggest you upgrading your servers before that period, because also those OS versions (2012,2012 R2) will become out of support as well.

[#3 · Accepted solution]

@AlastairCain Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will reach extended end of support on October 10, 2023. You should plan to upgrade those servers as Microsoft will no longer support the Defender for Identity sensor on devices running Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.

The Defender for Identity sensor running on Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will continue to report to Defender for Identity and even receive sensor updates, but some of the new functionalities will not be available as they might rely on Operating System capabilities.

[#4]

Hi Mark, thank you for the clarification.