End of Support Life for Endpoint Protection 12.1
search cancel

End of Support Life for Endpoint Protection 12.1

book

Article ID: 164751

calendar_today

Updated On:

Products

Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

On April 3, 2017, Symantec announced the End of Life (EOL) for Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1.

Important Dates of Note

Milestone Date Impact
End of Life
(EOL)
4/3/2017 Ceasing marketing or distributing of a product or a version release of Licensed Software. The End of Life date starts the timeline and process leading to End of Support for the Major Release and its related Minor Releases and Maintenance Packs.
End of New Sale Availability (EONSA) 4/3/2017

Following this date, new customers are no longer able to order licenses, or initial support services through the price list for the EOL product and version. Existing customers may continue to renew until End of Extended Support Life date, and to add quantity until the End of Access Date.

The final year's support renewal is prorated and automatically end on the End of Extended Support (End of Support Life) date.

After End of New Sale Availability, Symantec may continue to sell Education and Consulting services for the EOL product and version.

End of Access (EOA) 4/3/2018

Following this date, existing customers may no longer obtain additional licenses of an EOL product and version. 

All customer requests for new or renewed licenses of an EOL product and version shall be referred to their Sales representative or Partner for a discussion on how to migrate to the current version.

End of Standard Support Life (EOSSL) 4/3/2019 Standard Support for EOL products can be renewed by existing customers for up to 2 years after the EOL announcement date at a 20% uplift on the previous year's purchase price. Renewals are prorated to end at the End of Extended Support Life date.

After the End of Standard Support date, existing customers may continue to renew but are required to pay full list price for Extended Support for up to 2 additional years.

Other components of maintenance (e.g., content) remain the same

This end date is the point we stop doing bug fixes for the product.
End of Extended Support Life (EOESL) 4/3/2021

Extended Support will be available to existing customers in years 3 and 4 after the EOL Announcement date at full list price. No discounting is approved. Renewals are prorated to end at the End of Extended Support Life date.

After End of Extended Support, Technical Support is not offered for the EOL product and version.  However, Symantec may continue to grant customers access to the knowledge base or continue to provide assistance through a fee-based service.

After End of Extended Support, customers are no longer able to renew the EOL product and version.

This date is the point when the product is no longer available on MySymantec and we stop publishing content updates (definitions).

For more information regarding the services provided in Standard Support, Extended Support, and Content Updates, please refer to the Technical Support Policy.

 

FAQ

  1. Does this mean Symantec is no longer providing content or signature updates for SEP 12.1?  
    • SEP 12.1 definitions will no longer be available as of May 19th 2021. Further 12.1 content information here.
       
  2. Will Symantec still fix bugs in SEP 12.1?
    • We will continue to provide bug fixes until the End of Standard Support Life date on April 3, 2019.
       
  3. Is a migration required?
    • To continue receiving product updates, content/signature updates, or technical support a migration will be required after April 3, 2021. 
       
  4. What is the suggested migration path?
  5. What happens for customers who do nothing?
    • On April 3, 2021 the customer will no longer be able to access technical support services. On May 19th 2021 the 12.1 clients will no longer update.

Resolution

With the end of support life of Endpoint Protection 12.x quickly approaching, Symantec recommends that you upgrade all Endpoint Protection 12.x environments to Endpoint Protection 14.

 

What this means to you

  • Endpoint Protection 12.x clients no longer download updates from Symantec LiveUpdate, any SEPM (12.x or 14.x), or an internal LiveUpdate Administrator as of May 19th 2021.
    • There will be no new 12.x definitions after May 19th 2021 and these clients will no longer update after this date via any means. These clients must be updated to a supported version to continue receiving updates.
    • Intrusion Prevention, Proactive Threat Protection, and all other content are not available for download through any means.
  • Endpoint Protection 12.x is no longer supported by Technical Support.
    • If a problem does occur, your only course of action with Technical Support is to upgrade to Endpoint Protection 14. All other requests for support are denied.
       

What's new in Endpoint Protection 14?

Endpoint Protection 14 has implemented new features and technologies to more fully protect your environment. The following is a new feature comparison list between 12.x and 14:

Feature

Endpoint Protection 12.x

Endpoint Protection 14

Description

Improved Protection and Performance

 

 

 

IPS and Browser Intrusion Prevention

Scans network traffic for indications of or attempted intrusions, or attacks that are directed at browser vulnerabilities

Symantec Insight reputation analysis

Separates files with risky reputation from those that are safe, for faster and more accurate malware detection.

Behavioral monitoring (SONAR)

SONAR examines programs as they run, identifying and stopping malicious behavior 

Signature Detection

Traditional reactive malware detection technologies.

Advanced Machine Learning

 

Advanced Machine Learning (AML) on the endpoint for improved static detections of unknown threats.

Intelligent Threat Cloud – helps reduce definition files sizes by 70%

 

Rapid cloud lookup of virus definitions using patented techniques. Helps reduce definition size updates.

Memory Exploit Mitigation

 

Hardening to protect against zero-day exploits of vulnerabilities in common applications.

New Emulator scans 15% faster

 

Static Data Scanning detects custom packed malware. Improves scan performance and effectiveness.

LiveUpdate Enhancements

 

New content: Security patches for Windows clients and Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) definitions

SONAR Enable Suspicious Behavior Detection

 

Keep behavior policy enforcement protection of applications ON when SONAR scoring is off.

SONAR scan files on remote computers

 

Recommend: enable the Only when files are executed option for protection and performance

Application Hash Value Report

 

Reports the hash value - use instead of an application's name to add to policies that block applications

Orchestration, Usability, and Scale

 

 

 

User Interface for SEPM

 

New look and feel, in addition to new icons and fonts

In-Product Notifications

 

The latest news regarding SEP within SEPM UI and an informational alert when the “Endpoint Protection Notification” page is Updated

Group Update Provider (GUP) Supernet

 

The super subnet mask lets you add a subnet which encompasses multiple subnets, reducing the number of explicit entries from thousands to a few.

Custom Replication Schedule

 

Run replication multiple times a day across multiple locations, improving effective reporting while preventing deadlocks on SEPM.

REST APIs

 

For integration with other security infrastructure like Edge Secure Web Gateway (formerly ProxySG).

Mac Enhancements

 

Configure a Device Control policy for Mac clients to manage removable devices, such as USBs and FireWire. AutoUpgrade from SEPM added for Mac.

 

Read What’s New in Symantec Endpoint Protection 14 for more details about these and other enhancements 

Conclusion

The benefits of upgrading to Endpoint Protection 14 go well beyond the end of virus definition updates, security updates, and technical support for version 12.x. Endpoint Protection 14 provides overall improved security and better protects your environment today, as well as tomorrow.

Additional Information

12.1 ru6 mp6
12.1 ru6 mp7
12.1 ru6 mp8
12.1 ru6 mp9
12.1 ru6 mp10
eol
eosl