On-premises: Eligible customers will be able to purchase Extended Security Updates for their on-premises environment. Licenses are sold in 2 core packs for SQL Server and 16 core packs for Windows Server 2012, and are priced as below:

Year 1: 75% of full license price annually

Year 2: 100% of full license price annually

Year 3: 125% of full license price annually

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/extended-security-updates

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/sysadmin › 2012 extended support cost
r/sysadmin on Reddit: 2012 Extended Support Cost
April 7, 2023 -

Was curious if anybody had a ballpark estimate of what a 16 Core pack of Server 2012 standard would cost? We use volume licensing and and am trying to prepare our client for what the total cost is going to be to continue to patch these servers that they can't afford to upgrade.

On-premises: Eligible customers will be able to purchase Extended Security Updates for their on-premises environment. Licenses are sold in 2 core packs for SQL Server and 16 core packs for Windows Server 2012, and are priced as below:

Year 1: 75% of full license price annually

Year 2: 100% of full license price annually

Year 3: 125% of full license price annually

Discussions

Any guidance for purchasing Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows Svr 2012
We have a client that’s got a Windows Server 2012 R2 server and a pretty extensive Autodesk Revit deployment with Revit Servers 2018 through 2024. Their projects are typically very large and long running so there are still projects in Revit 2018 that are being actively worked on. More on community.spiceworks.com
🌐 community.spiceworks.com
13
15
October 4, 2023
Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 end of support | Sysnative Forums
Microsoft support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 ended on October 10, 2023. After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates. If you cannot upgrade to the next version, you will need to use Extended ... More on sysnative.com
🌐 sysnative.com
October 11, 2023
Do we have to pay for Windows Server 2012 R2 Extended Security support after Oct 2023?
Do we have to pay for Windows Server 2012 R2 Extended Security support after Oct 2023? If so, where do we go to buy this extended support and where do we find instructions to install the extended support on the server? More on learn.microsoft.com
🌐 learn.microsoft.com
1
0
November 8, 2023
2012 Extended Support Cost
For anyone with Azure, they should be aware that migrating said server into Azure will get them extended security "for free". Not the best for everyone but it IS an option. Source: footwork for the folks I'm currently contracting to where the idiot sysadmin still doesn't want to do anything about his 13+ 2008 servers, let alone the 30+ on 2012... More on reddit.com
🌐 r/sysadmin
10
3
April 7, 2023
🌐
Remend
remend.com › how-much-does-microsoft-esu-cost
How Much Does Microsoft ESU Cost? | Remend
October 23, 2023 - Two weeks ago, on October 10, 2023, customers unable or unwilling to move Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 (“Win2012”) systems to Azure had to start paying to patch security holes. These security patches, called Extended Security Updates (“ESU”), incur costly fees.
🌐
SHI International
blog.shi.com › home › weighing the costs and benefits of microsoft extended security updates
Weighing the costs and benefits of Microsoft Extended Security Updates - The SHI Resource Hub
March 20, 2024 - That adds up to $350 per device over three years. In contrast, upgrading to a new license agreement would cost you $228 — the MSRP for a Level A Windows Enterprise Agreement (EA).
🌐
Redmondmag.com
redmondmag.com › articles › 2023 › 09 › 19 › windows-server-2012--azure-arc-esus.aspx
Windows Server 2012 ESUs via Azure Arc Now Commercially Available -- Redmondmag.com
September 19, 2023 - However, customers cannot purchase Extended Security Updates outside of the EA, EAS, SCE, EES, or Subscription licensing programs. Azure Arc ESU Costs Organizations will have to pay the full license price of Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 each year to use Azure Arc-managed ESUs.
Top answer
1 of 12
1

It’s my understanding that you should be able to buy the ESUs from any Microsoft CSP. The MAK will show up in the MAC (admin.microsoft.com), which you’ll add to each server using slmgr.vbs /ipk and then activate.

You’ll typically get 3 years of updates via ESU. Each license is only valid for a year, so you’ll need to re-license each server annually. In my experience, the cost per license doubles each year.

If you’re interested in getting in contact with someone who can sell you ESUs, send me a DM. They’re located locally to me (MN). I’m not sure if they’re able to sell to companies in other states, as they’re mostly a local MSP/ITSP, but it’d be worth asking.

2 of 12
15

We have a client that’s got a Windows Server 2012 R2 server and a pretty extensive Autodesk Revit deployment with Revit Servers 2018 through 2024. Their projects are typically very large and long running so there are still projects in Revit 2018 that are being actively worked on. We started working back in September of last year to try to migrate them to at least Revit 2021 (which supports Windows Server 2022) but we aren’t going to make it and they’re likely going to be stuck on Windows Server 2012 for quite a while. At this point, we have to start looking at how to keep the Server 2012 going for as long as we can and the Extended Security Updates seem to be our only option. We usually buy Microsoft licensing through TechData / TD Synnex but they have basically said “we don’t do that” and hung up. I’m digging around on the Microsoft site now to try to wrap my head around it but am not making a lot of progress. Can anyone here give me some pointers or point me in the right direction on this? My original hope was that there would just be a SKU that Id buy that would give me a magical key or something to continue getting updates but that’s apparently not the case

@Microsoft

🌐
Broadcom
knowledge.broadcom.com › external › article › 407881 › extended-security-updates-for-windows-se.html
Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2
August 20, 2025 - In order to use IT Management Suite or Server Management Suite to distribute extended security updates for Windows Server 2012/R2, you must purchase an extended security update subscription for each server from Microsoft. In addition, you must purchase extended patch management support from Broadcom.
Find elsewhere
🌐
CANCOM
marketplace.cancom.at › en-US › apps › 118009 › extended-security-updates-for-windows-server
Extended Security Updates for Windows Server | CANCOM Cloud Marketplace Austria
The extended support for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 ended on October 10, 2023. By purchasing Extended Security Updates you can ensure to receive further critical and/or Important security updates for a maximum of three years after the product's End of Extended Support date.
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › windows-server › get-started › extended-security-updates-overview
Overview of Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012, and 2012 R2 | Microsoft Learn
June 5, 2025 - They're available free of charge for servers hosted in Azure, and available to purchase for servers not hosted in Azure. Extended Security Updates don't include new features, customer-requested nonsecurity hotfixes, or design change requests.
🌐
Sysnative
sysnative.com › relaxation and information center › news you can use › microsoft news
Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 end of support | Sysnative Forums
October 11, 2023 - Microsoft support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 ended on October 10, 2023. After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates. If you cannot upgrade to the next version, you will need to use Extended ...
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › lifecycle › faq › extended-security-updates
Product Lifecycle FAQ - Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Learn
With ESU (SKUs) through Commercial ... subscriptions for no additional cost. Customers who migrate workloads to Azure will have access to ESUs for SQL Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 for three years after the End of Support ...
🌐
US Cloud
uscloud.com › home › windows 2012 r2 server end of life
Windows 2012 R2 Server End of Life
June 26, 2024 - Customers with active Software ... for 75 percent of the license cost of the latest version of Windows Server for the first year, 100 percent of the license cost for the second year, and 125 percent of the license cost for the third year...
🌐
NRI North America
nri-na.com › home › modern work › windows server 2012 end-of-life risks, options, and next steps
Windows Server 2012 End-of-life Risks, Options & Next Steps
August 19, 2024 - It’s very costly to purchase extended support, with an average cost of 75% of the Windows Server license, and it’s an additional yearly expense you have to incur for each workload.
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 2194730 › do-we-have-to-pay-for-windows-server-2012-r2-exten
Do we have to pay for Windows Server 2012 R2 Extended Security support after Oct 2023? - Microsoft Q&A
November 8, 2023 - You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question. ... Yes, you will need to pay for Windows Server 2012 R2 Extended Security Updates (ESU) after October 2023.
🌐
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › extended-security-update-esu-windows-server-2012-r2-sql-bianca-lueb
Extended Security Update (ESU) for Windows Server 2012 (R2) and SQL Server 2012 is announced with a price increase for the full 3-year term
September 14, 2021 - For Windows Server and SQL 2008 ... Windows Server and SQL Server 2012 (R2) ESU will increase in years 2 and 3 by an additional 25% of the base price of the license each year....
🌐
Azure Aggregator
azureaggregator.wordpress.com › 2024 › 01 › 18 › windows-server-2012-r2-extended-security-updates-licensing-and-billing-4
Windows Server 2012/R2 Extended Security Updates Licensing and Billing – Azure Aggregator
January 18, 2024 - Back-billing for sign-ups after ... for Windows Server 2012/R2, they will be billed a one-time upfront charge for the months they missed after the end of support date, with billing coming in at the end of the first month when ...
🌐
Redmond Channel Partner
rcpmag.com › articles › 2023 › 10 › 11 › esu-support-for-windows-server-2012.aspx
ESU Support Commences for Windows Server 2012 -- Redmond Channel Partner
October 11, 2023 - For customers who enroll in ESUs ... for Windows Server 2012/R2), they will be billed a one-time upfront charge for the months they missed after the end of support date, with billing coming in at the end of the mont...
🌐
Amazon Web Services
aws.amazon.com › migration and modernization › aws for microsoft workloads › faqs
Microsoft FAQ – AWS
4 days ago - Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Extended Security Updates available for purchase from Microsoft for Amazon License Included? Yes. Extended Security Updates available for purchase from Microsoft for Bring Your Own License (BYOL)? Yes; active Software Assurance (SA) required. Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Extended Security Updates available for purchase from Microsoft for Amazon License Included?
🌐
SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT
schneider.im › microsoft-windows-server-2012-and-2012-r2-extended-security-updates-available
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 ESUs
November 10, 2023 - It includes critical and/or important security updates for a maximum of three years after the product’s End of Extended Support date. Yes. 1-year ESUs are now available through the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. In Azure, ESUs are automatically applied. In on-premises and hosted environments, there are two options to get ESUs: ESUs enabled by Azure Arc, where you can enroll your machines in Windows Server 2012/R2 or SQL Server 2012 ESUs via the Azure portal, connect through Azure Arc, and pay for them as an Azure billed service.