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Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy

Are you sure all the products you are running are supported? If you do not know the details of the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy then I recommend you have a read of the BlogMS Resource Guide to the Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

The guide will provide essential information including Lifecycle Management, Product and Service Pack Lifecycle Timelines, Stand-Alone and Security Hotfixes, Cumulative Updates, Extended Hotfix Support Agreements (EHSA) and Custom Support Agreements (CSA).

Managed and Complimentary Support from Microsoft

A detailed guide to complimentary and managed support options is coming soon. It will provide an overview of the various support options including Microsoft Services Premier Support and the Mission Critical Program. Check back here soon...

Self Help: TechNet and MSDN Libraries

The Microsoft TechNET (for IT professionals) and Microsoft MSDN (for developers) are two of the most important sites to help support customers to learn about, deploy, use and support Microsoft products and technologies:

Resources for IT Professionals: Microsoft TechNet Home / TechNET Tech Centers List: Keep up-to-date with the TechNet Online Magazine and TechNet Magazine Blog

Resources for IT Developers: Microsoft MSDN Home / MSDN Tech Centres List: Keep up-to-date with the MSDN Online Magazine and MSDN Magazine Team Blog

Self Help: Microsoft Help and Support

The Help and Support Website is organised by product and technology and provides up-to-date information for Top Issues, Error Messages, Downloads and Updates, Installing and Upgrades and more.

If you have a question about a Microsoft Office application you will find the Microsoft Office Online Website useful with Help and How To guidance, ClipArt and Templates.

Self Help: Microsoft Events and Webcasts Home

The Events and Webcasts Website is an essential resource and provides access to content that helps everyone to increase their knowledge of Microsoft products and technologies. In person events, Live webcasts, On-demand webcasts, Podcasts, and access to the latest information on TechNet and MSDN Virtual Labs. Many of the events and webcasts are free and available in countries throughout the world.

Self Help: Microsoft Technical Communities

The Microsoft Technical Communities Website (blogs, technical chats, newsgroups and webcasts) provide opportunities to interact with Microsoft employees, experts, and your peers in order to share knowledge and news about Microsoft products and related technologies.

Self Help: Microsoft Security Central

The Microsoft Security Central Website is the definitive location for all Microsoft security related services and information:

Services: Security Updates, Malicious Software Removal Tool, Microsoft Security Response Center, Microsoft Malware Protection Center, Trustworth Computing and the Security Development Lifecycle
Information for: Home Users, IT Professionals (TechNet), Developers (MSDN), Midsize Businesses, Small Businesses and the CSO Community.

Other Essential Resources

The following table provides a list of other essential resources for the implementation, deployment and operation of Microsoft technologies and products.

Resource	Description
Microsoft Product and Support Team News (BlogMS)	Keep up to date with the latest news from the product and support team blogs at Microsoft – a weekly article is published on this blog which summaries all articles. If you are looking for a specific product or technology check out the Directory of Team Blogs.
Technical Rollup Mails	Technical Rollup articles summarize the key changes during a month. Each report is categorized - the categories are: Unified Communications, Security, Platforms, SQL, Internet, Manageability.
Deployment: Solution Accelerators	Microsoft Solution Accelerators are free, authoritative resources to help IT Professionals proactively plan, integrate, and operate IT systems.
Deployment: How Microsoft does IT	Best practices and experiences from Microsoft IT that give a unique, inside view into how Microsoft plans for, deploys, and manages its own enterprise solutions.
Microsoft Premier Online	Access the Premier customer only partner-level Knowledge Base, Enterprise Troubleshooting Portals and Service Catalogue. This site can also be used to securely submit Premier Support incidents online.
Microsoft Support – Knowledge Base (KB) Articles Search	Keep up-to-date with the latest support announcements for Microsoft products and technologies. Read the Support Hot Blog whch publishes weekly articles on the new KB articles, or subscribe to RSS feeds for individual products.
Microsoft Support – Daylight Savings	Keep up to date with announcements about changes to Microsoft products affected by Day Light Savings time changes.