Understanding CentOS EOL Support Options and Services

The end-of-life (EOL) date for CentOS is quickly approaching on June 30, 2024. You are now facing a pivotal moment. Your once stable and secure infrastructure is now at stake and your support options are limited.

This quick guide is designed to illuminate the path forward, offering clarity on the various CentOS support options available post-EOL. We want to provide you with the knowledge to make strategic, informed decisions that will safeguard your organization’s technological future.

In this blog, you’ll find:

• What end of life for CentOS means for enterprises
• Security, stability and cost considerations
• Support options after CentOS end of life

The Impact of CentOS EOL

The urgency to plan for your post-EOL CentOS support cannot be overstated. Without regular updates and security patches, systems become increasingly vulnerable to exploits and performance issues.

According to the Ponemon Institute, 60% of cyberattacks are caused by unpatched or unmaintained systems, which shows how crucial it is to take action before CentOS goes end-of-life. The lack of critical updates after EOL makes your infrastructure an easy target for hackers, risking data breaches and operational inefficiencies. This can cost your company dearly; not only monetarily, but also in customer trust.

Recognizing the impact of CentOS EOL is the first step toward maintaining a secure, efficient environment. You must act now, exploring and implementing appropriate support options to safeguard your infrastructure and ensure business continuity. The decisions you make today will determine the stability and security of your operations tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions for CentOS EOL Support

• When is CentOS going end-of-life? CentOS is going end-of-life on June 30, 2024.
• What happens after CentOS reaches EOL? Systems become vulnerable without regular updates and security patches.
• What are my options for continuing support? Options include extended support services, third-party support, do it yourself patching and maintenance. CentOS.org will now be focused on CentOS Stream; there will be no more patches for CentOS 7.
• I’m still running CentOS, is it too late for me? It’s not too late, but you need to act now. Considering that SUSE releases approximately 9 security patches each month, each passing month means that your CentOS systems only become more and more vulnerable.

What to Consider

As CentOS reaches its end-of-life, the challenges for systems relying on this Linux distribution are significant. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Maintaining Security Post-EOL: Security must remain your top priority post-EOL. Without security updates and patches, CentOS environments are at massive risk after June 30. Hackers will exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities. Implementing strategies to deliver regular security patches, updates and advanced security tools is essential. Proactive practices, including threat monitoring and incident response planning, will shield your systems from emerging threats. From meeting regulatory requirements to meeting internal business requirements, security must remain top of mind.
• Ensuring Stability Post-EOL: To achieve system stability as CentOS reaches EOL, adopt best practices for monitoring and performance. Regularly check software and hardware compatibility, actively track system performance and ensure timely updates to prevent disruptions. Ensure that your applications continue to run in this post EOL world. Without these measures, your systems may become vulnerable to bugs and cyberattacks, leading to significant business continuity disruptions and high costs.
• Cost Considerations for Post-EOL Support: Understanding the financial impacts of extended support, third-party support and migration is critical for your bottom line. Conduct a comprehensive cost analysis, comparing all your options both in monetary terms and in resources required. Consider both immediate and long-term impacts. Balancing cost and reliability is key to ensuring your chosen solution is economically viable and robust enough to meet your operational needs.

By focusing on these areas—security, stability and cost—you can navigate the challenges of CentOS EOL effectively. This leads to informed decisions that will protect and sustain your infrastructure.

CentOS Support Options

As CentOS approaches its end-of-life, you may be exploring various support options to ensure system stability and security. Let’s talk about some of them:

• Extended Support Services for CentOS: Extended support services provide critical updates, security patches and technical support, extending the life of your existing systems. It’s important to note that no current first-party extended support is being offered for CentOS, and its current proprietors are advising a full migration to another Linux environment. When selecting an extended support provider, consider their history with Linux, their engineering staff, the scope of support and costs. Be mindful of potential vendor lock-in, which can limit your flexibility and future options.
• Third-Party Support Options: Third-party support for CentOS is an alternative to vendor-provided extended support services. While potentially more flexible and cost-effective, be sure to research the history of the provider. Take into account their history with open source, the depth of their engineering teams and their ability to properly support CentOS. Look at the length of the support contracts and whether the vendor has a history of providing patches in a timely manner. Comparing the benefits and drawbacks of each option will help you determine the best CentOS support option for your needs.
• DIY (Do It Yourself) Support for CentOS: The CentOS community as you know it today will be frozen on June 30, 2024 with no patches or updates forthcoming. That leaves the option of your company creating its own patches and updates for your CentOS system. While this may be a viable option if you have a deep engineering bench with a history of Linux expertise, it is not the most cost-effective or time-sensitive means to address upcoming vulnerabilities. Support quality and time constraints will often foil this DIY model of support.

SUSE Liberty Linux for CentOS EOL Support

Imagine a future where your transition from CentOS is seamless, stress-free and fully supported. SUSE Liberty Linux embodies this vision. This solution offers comprehensive features and continuous support, allowing you to avoid migrating off CentOS while still receiving updates and security patches. It integrates smoothly with your existing infrastructure, providing enterprise-grade reliability and support. And because SUSE Liberty Linux is both API and ABI compatible with CentOS 7, your applications will continue to run smoothly.

SUSE Liberty Linux offers extended support without requiring migration to a new Linux distribution, backed by SUSE’s 30 plus years of enterprise Linux experience. This approach avoids vendor lock-in, giving you freedom and flexibility. Additionally, it benefits from SUSE’s active open source community, providing valuable insights and resources.

SUSE Liberty Linux is a strategic choice for maintaining system stability and security post-CentOS EOL, combining extended support, third-party reliability and robust community backing.

Conclusion

As CentOS reaches its end-of-life, the need for strategic planning and informed decision-making becomes critical. This is a defining moment for your organization. Understanding your support options—whether through extended support services, third-party solutions or transitioning to robust alternatives like SUSE Liberty Linux—can safeguard your infrastructure against vulnerabilities, disruptions and high costs.

By prioritizing security, stability and cost-effectiveness, you can confidently navigate the post-EOL landscape. Now is the time to act. Explore your options and secure the future of your technological environment. The decisions you make today will shape your organization’s success tomorrow.

For more detailed insights, refer to SUSE’s comprehensive guide on navigating CentOS end-of-life.

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