Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are a paid for subscription that provides 3 additional years of security updates for Windows Server and SQL Server versions that are no longer in support. First released for 2008/R2 (which are now so old even ESUs aren’t an option), they are now available for 2012/R2.
For the last few years, ESUs have been available to Enterprise customers only but now, as of October 1st 2023, Microsoft have announced their arrival on CSP:
“CSP partners will be able to offer ESUs for end of support versions of Windows Server and SQL Server.
Customers will then have the right to use licenses covered by ESUs on deployments on-premises or within outsourced environments running on Authorized Outsourcers. Customers may also apply ESU licenses to “license-included” workloads acquired from Services Provider Licensing Agreement (SPLA) partners or CSP-Hosters.”
In terms of eligibility, Microsoft say:
“Customers will require Software Assurance (SA) or an equivalent subscription to be eligible to buy the associated ESU. Perpetual licenses only don’t qualify.
However, a customer doesn’t require SA or subscription to utilize ESUs with license-included services purchased from SPLA providers.“
Pricing
Cloudy with a chance of Licensing 