3 Reasons to Upgrade BizTalk Server Now
In the modern integration world, many companies use Microsoft BizTalk to connect business applications, which allows them to communicate with partners, vendors and customers. Microsoft BizTalk Server is a proven integration server, but it is critical to make sure the version you are running is not out of date.
Missing critical business applications
BizTalk Server as a product is running mission critical business applications across multiple verticals for over 10 years and has been continuously updated over the years, yet retaining the core with backward compatibility. BizTalk server is widely adapted in some of the most demanding industries such as Healthcare, Banking, Insurance, Oil & Gas, and Supply Chain. Every industry has its own set of standards that act as guiding/governing principles. For example,
- Supply chain and retail must follow EDI, standing for electronic data interchange. This standard permits multiple companies — possibly in different countries — to exchange documents electronically.
- The Healthcare industry must follow HIPPA standards, protecting the confidentiality and security of healthcare information.
With every release of BizTalk Server, updated industry standards are supported. For instance, BizTalk Server 2013 & 2013 R2 supports :
- X12 EDI Updates for 5040, 5050, 6020, 6030
- EDIFACT support for D06A, D06B, D07A, D07B, D08A, D08B, D09A, D09B, D10A, D10B
- HL7 – 2.51 message support added
- SWIFT – 2012 Message Pack
Outside of supporting the updated industry standards, BizTalk Server also releases the performance improvements around those standards implementations. In previous BizTalk versions with scenarios where ordered delivery uses multiple endpoints, performance improvements impacted HL7 solutions. The newer BizTalk Server MLLP adapter is updated for performance improvements along with 64-bit support for hosting HL7 adapter.
Lifecycle for BizTalk, OS and SQL Server
From the on-premises perspective, Microsoft support lifecycle policy provides guidelines throughout the product’s life. During the mainstream support phase, Microsoft will provide updates to the product (both security and non-security) as well as changing the product design and feature set. When the product goes into Extended support phase, product features and non-security updates (except hotfix via premier support) are not available. Certainly when the product goes towards end of life, due to it being primarily non-supported it becomes more critical to ensure that the business applications running on the BizTalk Server are planned for mitigating the risk and hence the need to upgrade your BizTalk Server.
The table below defines the End of Support and End of Life-cycle for BizTalk, SQL and OS.
| BTS End of Support | BTS End of Life | OS End of Support | OS End of Life | SQL End of Support | SQL End of Life | |
| BTS 2013 R2 | July 2018 | July 2023 | Windows 2012 R2 – Jan 2018 | Windows 2012 R2 – Jan 2023 | SQL 2014 – July 2019 | SQL 2014 – July 2024 |
| BTS 2013 | July 2018 | July 2023 | Windows 2012 R2 – Jan 2018 | Windows 2012 R2 – Jan 2023 | SQL 2012 – July 2017 | SQL 2012 July – 2022 |
| BTS 2010 | Jan 2016 | Jan 2021 | Windows 2008 R2 – Jan 2015 | Windows 2008 R2 – Jan 2020 | SQL 2008 R2 – July 2014 | SQL 2008 R2 – July 2019 |
| BTS 2009 | July 2014 | July 2019 | Windows 2008 – Jan 2015 | Windows 2018 – Jan 2020 | SQL 2008 – July 2014 | SQL 2008 – July 2019 |
| BTS 2006 and 2006 R2 | July 2011 | July 2016 | Windows 2003 – July 2010 | Windows 2003 – July 2015 | SQL 2005 – April 2011 | SQL 2005 – April 2016 |
The Microsoft support page also provides detailed information for a specific BizTalk Server. Below is the information specific to BizTalk Server 2006 R2
| Product | Lifecycle Start Date | Mainstream Support End Date | Extended Support End Date | Service Pack Support End Date |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Branch Edition | 6/23/2006 | 7/12/2011 | 7/12/2016 | 4/12/2011 |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Branch Edition | 6/23/2006 | 7/12/2011 | 7/12/2016 | 4/12/2011 |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Developer Edition | 6/23/2006 | 7/12/2011 | 7/12/2016 | 4/12/2011 |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Enterprise Edition | 6/23/2006 | 7/12/2011 | 7/12/2016 | 4/12/2011 |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Service Pack 1 | 4/27/2010 | Review Note | Review Note | |
| Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Standard Edition | 6/23/2006 | 7/12/2011 | 7/12/2016 | 4/12/2011 |
Technology and Features/Capabilities updates
It is quite possible that your Integration solutions are connecting to your on-premises or SAAS systems. Enterprise business applications (ERP, CRM, Sales and Accounting) for instance are typically integrated using the BizTalk middle-ware solutions. There’s going to be a day when your antiquated BizTalk environment will no longer be able to support these technologies. Each version of BizTalk includes upgrades that are crucial for integration with these important enterprise systems.
With every release of BizTalk Server, outside of the core latest platform support (Operating System, Databases), it includes support for your enterprise business applications as well as technological updates to support those modern systems. For instance BizTalk Server 2013 & 2013 R2 supports:
- On-premises ERP updates – SAP 7.2 & 7.3, Oracle DB 11.2, Oracle EBS 12.1, Siebel 8.1
- Connectivity to Cloud
- Support for connecting to Azure Infrastructure (Service bus, Storage)
- REST integration for SAAS connectivity (Salesforce)
- JSON Support
So, in conclusion, if you want to save yourself and your business a headache, consider upgrading your BizTalk server – especially if it is at risk of “end of life”.