Naturally, it pains us to imagine firms chugging along with Windows Server 2008 into 2020, but you just know it'll happen.

ENGADGET: Microsoft extends free Windows Server 2008 support through January 15th, 2015

According to the company's revised product lifecycle, paid updates for Windows Server 2008 will now be available through January 14th, 2020.

ENGADGET: Microsoft extends free Windows Server 2008 support through January 15th, 2015

By default, Internet Explorer on Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 runs in a restricted mode that is known as Enhanced Security Configuration.

FORBES: Connect

"I'm a Mac user, but on my Mac I have multiple instances of Windows--XP, Vista, very old Windows stuff and the very latest stuff, like Windows Server 2008, " he says.

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Now that its successor is available, you're unlikely to hear much excitement for Windows Server 2008 around IT water coolers, but that's not to suggest it'll fade into oblivion anytime soon.

ENGADGET: Microsoft extends free Windows Server 2008 support through January 15th, 2015

The customers include Lionbridge, Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts (LIPA), and EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffered Services, and the post focuses on how they use a combination of Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V server virtualization and System Center management tools to optimize their IT infrastructure and experience the benefits cloud computing has to offer.

FORBES: Real Customers, Real Private Clouds

For Microsoft customers, the great news is that we acknowledged this shift several years ago and began laying the foundation for it with our investments in public cloud offerings such as Windows Azure and by integrating private cloud technologies into our existing Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V virtualization and System Center IT management offerings.

FORBES: IDC: Time to Embrace the Cloud is Now