In the oil and gas industry, it’s not uncommon to find critical systems running on software from the early 2000s or even the 1990s. This technology has been reliable for decades, but a significant shift is underway. Vendors are increasingly ending support for older products and protocols, leaving companies in a difficult position.
Recent announcements, like Microsoft’s decision to phase out VBScript and harden DCOM, are sending ripples through the industry, as many SCADA systems rely on them. Many CygNet environments in particular will be affected, and Weatherford has not yet shared a remediation plan. This forces a tough choice: continue running familiar but potentially vulnerable systems, or invest in costly, disruptive upgrades.
If you’re facing an end-of-life (EOL) notice, you’re not alone. This guide provides a practical framework for navigating this challenge, helping assess the risks, understand options, and create a strategic plan that protects your operations.
Is It Safe to Keep Using Unsupported Oil and Gas Software?
The short answer is yes, you can technically keep your unsupported software running—but it comes with significant and escalating risks. The moment a vendor ends support, they stop releasing security patches, bug fixes, and compatibility updates. While your system won’t shut down overnight, it immediately becomes a static target for new threats.
- Mounting Security Vulnerabilities: Unsupported software is a primary target for cyberattacks. Malware like WannaCry exploits known vulnerabilities in outdated Windows systems, causing massive disruption for industrial operators. Without vendor patches, you have no defense.
- Compliance Violations: Running unsupported software can put you in breach of industry regulations. Standards like ISA/IEC 62443 and NERC CIP often require that all system components are actively supported to ensure operational integrity and security.
- Operational Instability: As you upgrade other parts of your infrastructure (like network hardware or connected systems), your unsupported software will gradually lose compatibility. What works today might fail tomorrow after a minor IT update, leading to unexpected downtime.
When Do I Need to Upgrade My Oil and Gas Software?
While most EOL announcements give you a grace period, certain factors can shrink your timeline from months to weeks. You may have 6–18 months of usability left, but that window closes fast. An immediate hardware failure, a new cyber insurance policy, or an upcoming audit can force your hand.
Consider these factors to assess your true timeline:
- Cyber Insurance Renewals: Many insurers now refuse to cover damages related to unsupported software. If your policy renews in 90 days, you may need a documented migration plan to maintain coverage.
- Hardware Failures: Can you still find spare parts for the hardware running your legacy system? If a critical component fails and no replacements are available, your timeline just became “immediate.”
- System Criticality: A system managing non-critical historical data has a longer runway than one controlling active production or safety-instrumented systems. A single failure in a production-critical system could halt operations entirely.
- Connectivity: Is the system air-gapped or connected to the internet? Internet-facing systems are exposed to far more threats and require urgent attention.
Based on general industry best practices, here are some estimated timelines for action after a vendor officially ends support:
- Low-Risk Internal Systems: 12–18 months
- Critical Operational Systems: 6–12 months
- Internet-Connected Systems: 3–6 months
- Safety-Critical Systems: Immediate replacement planning required
*Note: These timelines are general estimates. A detailed risk assessment is crucial to determine the right timeline for your specific operational environment.
3 Solutions for Managing Unsupported Oil and Gas Software
Once you’ve assessed the risks, you have three primary paths forward. The right choice depends on your budget, risk tolerance, and operational needs.
1. Keep Your Current Software Running with Third-Party Support
This involves contracting with a specialized firm, like CSE ICON, to provide support for legacy systems after the original vendor has bowed out. It’s a bridging strategy—a way to keep the lights on safely while you plan your next move.
- How it Works: The third-party provider takes over support duties, helping you manage the system, troubleshoot issues, and implement compensating controls to mitigate security risks. They can’t patch the core software, but they can help you isolate it and protect it.
- When it Makes Sense: This is an ideal temporary solution if you need more time to evaluate a full upgrade, have immediate budget constraints, or if the system is low risk but still necessary for operations.
2. Upgrade to the Latest Version of Your Existing Software
If you’re happy with your current vendor and their software family, the most direct path is to upgrade to the newest supported version. This option allows you to stay within a familiar ecosystem while gaining modern security and features.
- How it Works: The process involves assessing the changes between old and new versions, planning a data migration, testing the new environment, and executing the switch during scheduled downtime. The key challenge is that newer versions often require new hardware and operating systems and may feature a redesigned interface that requires user retraining.
- When it Makes Sense: Upgrading is a strong choice when the vendor has a clear, proven migration path, the new features offer significant value, and your team is comfortable with the vendor’s long-term roadmap. It is often simpler than a full replacement.
3. Replace Your System with a New Solution
Sometimes, an EOL notice is an opportunity to modernize. Replacing your legacy application with a new platform can offer capabilities that your old system never could, such as moving to an enterprise SCADA system that provides centralized data and improved analytics. To ensure you select the best-fit platform (not just the best pitch), CSE ICON provides vendor-agnostic advice. Our subject matter experts evaluate multiple software options against your use cases, security and compliance requirements, integrations, and total cost of ownership.
- How it Works: This process is more intensive, requiring you to define requirements, vet new vendors, plan a full data extraction and import, and retrain your team on entirely new workflows. The switch is often done in phases to minimize disruption.
- When it Makes Sense: Replacement is the best option when your current software no longer meets your needs, the upgrade costs are prohibitive, or the underlying technology is too outdated to support future growth. It’s a chance to build for the future instead of patching the past.
Beyond Oil & Gas — These EOL Challenges Hit Other Industries, Too
While this guide focuses on oil and gas, the same end-of-support risks and decisions apply across many manufacturing and process industries, including power, chemicals, water/wastewater, and food & beverage. Vendors are steadily retiring legacy components—forcing operators to choose between compensating controls, upgrades, or full replacements. CSE ICON’s roots are in oil and gas, but we also support customers across these sectors. For example, AVEVA’s eDNA data historian—widely used in the power sector—has been on a sunset path since 2021 and is slated for full end-of-life after 2026.
If your team is facing an EOL notice—whether in oil and gas or another industrial domain—let’s map your safest path forward with a tailored assessment and migration plan.
FAQs About Discontinued Software Support in Oil & Gas
Can vendors really just stop supporting their software?
Yes. Vendors typically provide a public EOL policy that outlines when they will cease standard support, extended support, and security updates for older products.
Is "extended support" from the vendor a good option?
Extended support can be a useful, short-term bridge, but it is often expensive and provides only critical security patches, not feature updates or full support. It’s best used as a temporary measure while you finalize your upgrade or replacement plan.
How do I know which systems in my environment are impacted?
Start with a current asset inventory. For each system, capture software/version, OS, hardware, dependencies (e.g., DCOM, VBScript), network connectivity, data flows, and business criticality. Map vendor support lifecycles to each item and flag anything at or past end-of-support. This becomes your risk register and migration roadmap.
Can virtualization or network isolation buy me time?
Yes, as compensating controls. Virtualization can stabilize aging hardware and simplify backups. Isolation (segmented VLANs, firewalled zones, one-way gateways, jump servers, no direct internet) reduces exposure. These measures reduce risk but don’t eliminate it—you still need a defined path to upgrade or replace.
What compensating controls should we consider if we must run EOL software?
Implement strict network segmentation, application allowlisting, MFA for any remote access, hardened jump hosts, least-privilege accounts, frequent offline backups with restore testing, enhanced monitoring/alerting, and removal of nonessential services and internet access. Document these in the risk register and review quarterly.
Will extending support with the vendor or a third party keep us compliant?
It depends on your regulator and framework. Some accept well-documented compensating controls and a time-bound remediation plan; others require actively supported components. Confirm with compliance/audit teams and align your plan and timeline to formal requirements.
How should we plan downtime for upgrades in continuous operations?
Use phased cutovers with rehearsals in a representative test environment. Pre-stage data and configurations, create clear rollback procedures, and time-box migration windows. Coordinate with production schedules/turnarounds, and run parallel operations where feasible to validate performance before fully switching over.
What data migration pitfalls should we watch for?
Common issues include schema mismatches, timestamp/timezone and unit conversions, historian compression differences, loss of metadata/permissions, and incomplete tag mappings. Mitigate with sample-to-full migration tests, checksums, reconciliation scripts, and parallel runs to confirm trend parity before cutover.
Will upgrading break integrations with PLCs, historians, or ERP systems?
Potentially. New versions may change drivers, protocols, APIs, or authentication. Inventory all interfaces, check vendor compatibility matrices, and plan adapter/middleware updates. Validate end-to-end data flows (from PLC to historian to MES/ERP) in staging before production rollout.
How do we quantify the business case for upgrading vs. replacing?
Compare total cost of ownership (licenses, hardware, integration, support, training), risk-adjusted downtime and incident costs, cyber insurance impacts, potential compliance penalties, and expected efficiency gains (analytics, remote ops, reliability). Use a multi-year NPV/payback analysis and include sensitivity scenarios for timeline and risk.
Facing a Software EOL Notice?
Don't wait for downtime to force your hand. Our experts can help you assess your risks and build a seamless migration plan.
Conclusion: Turn a Challenge into an Opportunity
An EOL announcement for critical software can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a crisis. By systematically assessing your risks, understanding your true timeline, and evaluating your options—from third-party support to a full replacement—you can make an informed, strategic decision.
This is more than an obligation to upgrade; it’s an opportunity to re-evaluate your systems and align your technology with future operational goals. A proactive approach not only mitigates risk but also positions your company for greater efficiency, security, and resilience for years to come.