14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently announced that Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard will be allowed to download Internet Explorer 11 beginning this spring.
Previously, these two platforms were only allowed to update to Internet Explorer 10, which will reach the end of support in January 2020.
Microsoft says Internet Explorer 11 will be originally available on the Microsoft Update Catalog, and the new browser will also be offered through Windows Update and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) later this year too.
In January 2020, Microsoft will stop releasing security updates for Internet Explorer 10 and Windows 7, so devices not upgraded to newer versions would technically be exposed to exploits aimed at unpatched vulnerabilities.
Full focus on Microsoft Edge
Furthermore, Microsoft warns that after the January 2020 deadline, the company wouldn’t even offer custom support to companies interesting in paying fur continued updates.
“After this, we will not release any security or non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content changes for IE10,” it says.
“We encourage you to use the time available to pilot IE11 in your environments. Upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer will ease the migration path to Windows 10, Windows Server 2016 or 2019, or Windows 10 IoT, and unlock the next generation of technology and productivity. It will also allow you to reduce the number of Internet Explorer versions you support in your environment.”
In the meantime, Microsoft is hard at work on transitioning Microsoft Edge browser to the Chromium engine. A preview build of the new build is projected to go live in the first quarter of 2019, while the stable version could be shipped sometime later this year or in 2020.
Internet Explorer no longer receives new features, but only security updates and fixes, and the software giant recommends everyone to switch to Microsoft Edge for full support.