GravityZone - Support for Windows legacy versions add-on
In 2020 and 2023, Microsoft discontinued support for several legacy Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2. These systems no longer receive security updates or technical assistance, leaving organizations exposed to potential vulnerabilities and compliance risks.
To maintain security coverage and operational continuity for customers still running these environments, Bitdefender introduces the GravityZone - Support for Windows legacy versions add-on. This add-on enables continued core protection, limited maintenance, and essential management capabilities within GravityZone, helping businesses transition to supported operating systems without immediate disruption.
Note
The add-on is an optional paid extension available with GravityZone Cloud Version 6.70.0-1 for customers who continue to use legacy Windows systems.
It will also be available with a future GravityZone On-premises release.
Recommendations
Bitdefender strongly recommends upgrading to supported Windows versions to ensure full functionality and compliance with modern security requirements. The GravityZone - Support for Windows legacy versions add-on is intended as a temporary measure to maintain core protection during migration or hardware replacement planning.
GravityZone compatibility
This add-on is available by request and is compatible with the following products:
GravityZone Small Business Security
GravityZone Business Security
GravityZone Business Security Premium
GravityZone Business Security Enterprise
Bitdefender GravityZone Defense XDR
Bitdefender MDR and MDR Plus
Bitdefender MXDR and MXDR Plus
GravityZone Security for Workstations
GravityZone Security for Servers
GravityZone Security for Virtual Env per CPU
GravityZone Security for Virtualized Environments VS
GravityZone Security for Virtualized Environments VDI
GravityZone Security for Endpoints Physical Servers
GravityZone Security for Endpoints Physical Workstations
Frequently asked questions
1. Will the BEST agent continue to function on Windows legacy systems after January 2026?
Yes. Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools (BEST) will still function but will not be officially supported. Compatibility issues or performance limitations may appear over time.
2. Will the security content continue to update on Windows legacy systems?
Yes. When using the GravityZone – Support for Windows legacy versions add-on, Bitdefender will continue to provide security content updates for malware detection and core threat protection, ensuring ongoing coverage against the latest threats.
Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that these updates will continue to reach existing endpoints running unsupported Windows versions.
3. Will EDR, XDR, and Risk Management remain available on Windows legacy systems?
No. These advanced modules depend on newer operating system capabilities and are not supported under the extended support add-on.
4. Can customers negotiate additional support after 2026?
Yes. Organizations with critical legacy infrastructure can request customized extended support agreements. Approval is subject to Bitdefender’s discretion.
5. What happens with existing multi-year licenses?
Bitdefender will accommodate existing licenses as much as possible. However, feature availability may be limited after January 2026.
6. What happens after the legacy add-on license is added?
After the license is added in GravityZone, a Reconfigure agent task starts to remove the unsupported features. Afterwards, the security agent will perform a product update.