I am afraid to ask the question. Do you still have a Windows 2003 Server? If the answer is yes, do two things. One, don’t tell me, and two, GET RID OF IT!
For all you medical practices out there, I can’t stress enough how out of compliance you are. Your Windows 2003 server is a HIPAA breach just waiting to happen. What I want to know is why. Why would you keep your mission critical data on an old server that has more open holes than Swiss cheese? I know you care about it.
Get Serious
It’s time to get serious about replacing the Windows 2003 server. Whatever reason you have for hanging onto it, it’s time to let it go. The end of life for Windows 2003 was in July, 2015. That means we are approximately 5 months removed from any security patches and critical updates. These 2 things are vital to the health of your server. If this server crashes, or is hacked, you are in for a world of hurt.
If you have ever read any of my blogs, you know I am not into “scare tactics”. I never want to scare anyone into having a security assessment, or upgrading your hardware. With Windows 2003, I need to scare you enough to realize that this is serious. You need to replace that server. I know it’s not easy. it involves money, hardware, and project planning. It could also mean a culture change in your office, like moving to the cloud. These are all things you can discuss with your current IT provider.
Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to stay current with your Windows servers. Having a 2003 server is like an accident waiting to happen. Are you scared yet?