2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet: Key End-of-Support Dates IT Teams Should Know
2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet: Key End-of-Support Dates IT Teams Should Know
As IT teams plan budgets, refresh cycles, and support strategies for the year ahead, one reality is unavoidable: 2026 is shaping up to be a major end-of-support (EOSL) year across servers, storage, networking, and security platforms.
Missed EOSL dates often lead to rushed decisions, unexpected costs, and forced upgrades that don’t align with business priorities. That’s why proactive planning matters—and why we created a 2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet to help teams stay ahead.
Why EOSL Planning Matters More Than Ever
EOSL doesn’t mean equipment suddenly stops working—but it does mean official vendor support, updates, and maintenance come to an end. For many organizations, that creates real risk if not planned for properly.
In 2026, several factors are amplifying the impact of EOSL events:
- Rising OEM maintenance costs
- Longer infrastructure lifecycles driven by budget pressure
- Increased scrutiny around security and compliance
- The need for flexibility as IT environments become more hybrid and complex
Without visibility into upcoming EOSL milestones, teams are often forced into last-minute decisions that prioritize urgency over strategy.
What’s Inside the 2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet
The 2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet is designed to give IT leaders and channel partners a single, reliable reference point for what’s coming next year.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Major OEM platforms reaching EOSL in 2026
- Coverage across servers, storage, networking, and related infrastructure
- Official EOSL dates (not estimates)
- A clean, scannable format for quick reference and planning
Rather than digging through multiple vendor sites and product bulletins, this cheat sheet puts the most critical information in one place.
How to Use the Cheat Sheet
The cheat sheet is most effective when paired with early action. Here’s how teams typically use it:
- Identify assets reaching EOSL in the next 12–24 months
- Flag systems supporting critical workloads or regulated environments
- Evaluate options—refresh, extend, or retire
- Align decisions with budget cycles and long-term IT strategy
This approach helps eliminate surprises and gives teams more control over cost, timing, and risk.
EOSL Doesn’t Have to Mean Immediate Replacement
One common misconception is that EOSL automatically requires a full refresh. In reality, many organizations safely extend the life of their infrastructure beyond OEM support using third-party maintenance (TPM).
TPM can provide:
- Significant cost savings versus OEM contracts
- Continued support for stable, production-ready systems
- Flexibility to refresh on your timeline—not the vendor’s
With the right planning, EOSL becomes a decision point—not a disruption.
Download the 2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet
If you’re responsible for infrastructure planning, budgeting, or lifecycle management, this resource was built for you.
👉 Download the 2026 EOSL Cheat Sheet to stay ahead of upcoming end-of-support dates and make smarter, more strategic IT decisions in the year ahead.
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