Support Lifecycle Site Information

Support Lifecycle Policy Service Pack Support
Phases Security Updates
     - Mainstream Support Support Lifecycle FAQs
     - Extended Support Product Lifecycle Search
     - Self-Help Online MS Support Lifecycle Blog
Product Support Compatibility Matrix
Support Lifecycle Quarterly Update Newsletter

Microsoft Support Lifecycle

Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy provides consistent and predictable guidelines for product support availability when a product releases and throughout that product’s life. By understanding the product support available, customers are better able to maximize the management of their IT investments and strategically plan for a successful IT future.

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy

The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy took effect in October 2002, and applies to most products currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing and most future release products. Through the policy, Microsoft will offer a minimum of:

Phases of the Support Lifecycle

Mainstream Support

Mainstream Support is the first phase of the product support lifecycle.
At the supported service pack level, Mainstream Support includes:

Please note:
Extended Support

The Extended Support phase follows Mainstream Support for Business and Developer products.
At the supported service pack level, Extended Support includes:

Please note:
Self-Help Online Support

Self-Help Online Support is available throughout a product's lifecycle and for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of its support. Microsoft online Knowledge Base articles, FAQs, troubleshooting tools, and other resources, are provided to help customers resolve common issues.

Please note:

Service Pack Support

Note new Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy effective April 13, 2010: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/newSPlifecycle

As part of the effort to continually improve Microsoft software, updates and fixes are created and released for recognized issues. Many of these fixes are regularly combined into a single package (called a service pack) that is made available for installation. Both the Mainstream Support and Extended Support phases require the product’s supported service pack be installed to continue to receive support (including security updates). Service packs are cumulative, meaning that each new service pack contains all the fixes that are included with previous service packs and the new fixes. This is done so that you do not have to install an earlier version of a service pack before you install the latest version. A Security Rollup Package (SRP) provides a cumulative rollup of security updates that have been offered since the last SRP.

Visit the Lifecycle Supported Service Packs page to find the support timelines for your particular product’s service pack.

Service Pack Support Policy
Customers are highly encouraged to stay on a supported service pack to ensure they are on the latest and most secure version of their product. For customers on unsupported service pack versions, Microsoft offers limited troubleshooting support as follows:
  1. Limited break/fix support incidents will be provided through Microsoft Customer Service and Support; and through Microsoft’s managed support offerings (such as Premier Support).
  2. There will be no option to engage Microsoft’s product development resources, and technical workarounds may be limited or not possible.
  3. If the support incident requires escalation to development for further guidance, requires a hotfix, or requires a security update, customers will be asked to upgrade to a supported service pack.

A matrix of the Microsoft product families and the duration of service pack support for each product family is as follows:

Product Family 12 Months 24 Months
Windows   Yes
Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics AX   Yes
Office Yes  
Servers Yes  
Developer Tools Yes  
Business Solutions Yes  
Consumer, Hardware, Multimedia, Games Yes  

This support policy permits customers to receive existing hotfixes or to request new hotfixes for the supported service packs during the Mainstream Support phase.

Service packs are not automatically modified to include hotfixes developed after the service pack’s initial release date. An older service pack can be modified to include hotfixes developed after the service pack has released. Contact Microsoft and request the modification.

Security updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Security Response Center will be reviewed and built for the supported service packs only.

Microsoft strongly recommends that customers evaluate and install current service packs in a timely manner to make sure that systems are up-to-date with the most recent security software. Service packs are available on the Service Packs for Microsoft Products Web site.

Security Updates

Microsoft is committed to providing products with improved security. Our long-term goal is to remove security vulnerabilities from all our products before they are released. To realize the dream of Trustworthy Computing is a key element of our vision. Although we strive to remove vulnerabilities during development, software vulnerabilities remain a fact today and we must be prepared to respond when they are discovered.

Security Update Policy

Microsoft will provide security update support for a minimum of 10 years (through the Extended Support phase) for Business and Developer products. The security updates will apply only to the supported service pack level for these products.

Microsoft will provide security update support through the Mainstream Support phase for Consumer, Hardware, Multimedia products. The security updates will apply only to the supported service pack level for these products.

Visit the Microsoft Security and Privacy Web site for information about Microsoft privacy policies and the latest security bulletins, virus alerts, and security downloads.

Support Lifecycle Frequently Asked Questions

View the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Product Support Lifecycle policy:

Product Lifecycle Search

If you do not find your product listed, check for lifecycle information on the Additional Products page and/or the Obsolete Products page.

 

The information on this page is subject to the Microsoft Policy Disclaimer and Change Notice. Return to this site periodically to review any such changes.

Cached on April 23, 2010, with minor editing for format clarity purposes. For internal use only.