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Doc TitleProduct Life Cycle PolicyEnd of Life (EOL) policy for Enterprise &Government products – software,appliance & hosted servicesforcepoint.comForcepoint Product Management11 March 2020Forcepoint Public
forcepoint.comIntroductionForcepoint strongly suggests that customers utilize the most recent version of our products. The impact of the evolving IT threatscan best be limited by implementing the latest iterations of our software solutions.This Forcepoint Product Life Cycle Policy defines the stages of Forcepoint software products, software versions and appliance andhardware products from initial release through retirement. This Policy describes appliance or hardware warranties, as well astechnical support or maintenance, including updates and fixes for hardware, appliances and software, from initial launch througheventual End of Life (EOL). The intent of this Policy is to provide consistent documentation that aids in planning and preparing foran organization’s support needs.This Policy document is comprised of three separate sections:1.2.Appliance & Hardware – Details standalone hardware or appliance products.Software & Software Versions – The software life cycle policy is divided into two separate sections:a. Commercial Software & Software Versions Policy – Includes automatic and manually updated versions ofour on-premise and cloud-based Commercial software products.b. Global Governments Software & Software Versions – Includes automatic and manually updated versions ofour Global Governments software products.Milestone Definitions Beta Availability – Date at which Beta or early access releases are available for select customers for non-productiondeployment. Beta releases are created entirely at the discretion of Forcepoint. General Availability of Major Release – Date at which a Major Release is available for use in production deployments.Major Releases trigger life cycle changes for previous releases. Refer to the individual (Commercial and GlobalGovernments) life cycle Policy for additional details. General Availability of Maintenance Release – Date at which a Minor Release is available for any given MajorRelease. All previous Minor Releases for the given Major Release are retired. End of Maintenance – Date at which the product version receives no further Minor Releases. End of Support – Date at which the product version is no longer eligible for technical support services. End of Sale Notice – Forcepoint’s announcement to all current customers and channel partners detailing the intention toend product sales. Licenses to the product are available for final purchase. End of Sale – Date at which licenses to the product will no longer be sold. Some parts or extensions may remainavailable while supplies last. End of Life – Date at which product is no longer available for technical support including new product versions or criticalfixes.January 2020 2020 ForcepointForcepoint PublicInformation classification label: Public1
Appliance & Hardware Life CycleEffective January 2020The Appliance and Hardware Life Cycle Policy applies to Forcepoint hardware or appliance products, and consists ofForcepoint-branded hardware and firmware, as well as any spare parts or components. The product families within theAppliance and Hardware Life Cycle include: Forcepoint NGFW & Sidewinder (including SMC);Forcepoint I-Series, S-Series, x10G, M-Series, V-Series & Z-Series Appliances;Forcepoint Data Guard;Forcepoint Behavioral Analytics; andForcepoint Advanced Malware Detection On-Premises.Refer to the Forcepoint Product Support Cycle web page for detailed information on each appliance or hardware tLife Cycle.Figure 1 outlines the Forcepoint Appliance and Hardware Life Cycle from product introduction through End of Life. The Policydescribes the expectations for Forcepoint customers and partners after each key date.Figure 1. Appliance and Hardware Life CycleAfter product launch, each Forcepoint appliance and hardware product will be Generally Available (GA) for a varying period oftime. The GA period will differ for each appliance and hardware product but is typically available for 2-4 years. Each product willhave its own unique timeline, deliverables and technical support options available once a product is no longer GA or hasreached End of Sale.Forcepoint will provide notification three months (90 days) in advance of any hardware or appliance product reaching End ofSale. During this notification period, licenses to the product remain available for new purchases. The End of Sale notification willoutline all options available beyond the End of Sale date and associated dates. Forcepoint reserves the right to change thedeliverables of technical support or limit the technical support offerings for an appliance that has reached End of Sale. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public2
Post End of Sale SupportWhen any Forcepoint hardware or appliance product has reached End of Sale, licenses to the product will no longer beavailable for new purchases. The End of Sale Notice will contain all relevant dates and options available through the product’sEnd of Life. Unless otherwise stated in the End of Sale Notice, Forcepoint appliance or hardware products will have thefollowing options and associated dates: Post End of Sale – Receive all new hardware or appliance software releases and updates as well as content updates.Remain eligible for warranty extensions for a period of two years.Post End of Maintenance – Receive critical fixes and security updates at Forcepoint’s discretion as well as access tocontent updates. Remain eligible for warranty extensions for a period of two years from the initial purchase date, not toexceed five years.Table 1 outlines the options available post End of Sale (EOS).Critical Fixes & Security UpdatesContent UpdatesNew Major Software VersionsNew Minor ReleasesHardware Repair or ReplacementYear 1EOSAppliance Life Cycle SupportYear 2Year 3XXXXXXXXXXXXWith WarrantyExtensionWith WarrantyExtensionWith WarrantyExtensionYear 4Year 5XXXXFor NGFWOnlyWith WarrantyExtensionFor NGFWOnlyWith WarrantyExtensionTable 1. Post End of Sale OptionsX StandardUnless otherwise stated, technical support and warranty services for hardware products can be purchased up to five years afterthe date of the initial hardware or appliance purchase. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public3
Software & Software Version Life CycleEffective January 2020Commercial Software & Software Version Life Cycle PolicyThis Commercial Software and Version Life Cycle Policy applies to all Commercial software developed for on-premisedeployment on Forcepoint hardware or appliances or virtually. It does not include cloud-based software (“Cloud Services”) suchas CASB or software as a service (“SaaS”) such as Web Security Cloud SaaS or Email Security Cloud SaaS.This Policy includes software for the following product families: Forcepoint NGFW & Sidewinder (Including SMC) Forcepoint Web Security (Excluding Cloud / Hybrid Deployment) Forcepoint Email Security (Excluding Cloud / Hybrid Deployment) Forcepoint URL Filtering Forcepoint DLP Forcepoint Insider Threat Forcepoint Threat Protection Forcepoint UEBA Forcepoint Data GuardRefer to the Forcepoint Product Support Cycle web page for detailed information on every Forcepoint software product orsoftware versions: ycle.Software Version Numbering & DefinitionsForcepoint provides multiple commercial software release types with each being identified by the version number. Table 2details the software release types for Forcepoint commercial products and what each contains.TerminologyDescriptionExampleMajor ReleaseMajor new functionality, additions, enhancements, or updates.8.2 - 8.3 or7.8 - 8.0Minor ReleaseFixes for known issues or hotfixes that have been issued. May alsocontain minor enhancements to existing functionality.8.3 - 8.3.1 or8.2.1 - 8.2.2Hot FixesTargeted fixes to quickly address issues within Major or MinorReleases.N/ATable 2. Commercial Software Release TypesFigure 2 outlines the Forcepoint Commercial Software Version Life Cycle for Major Releases from introduction through the Endof Support. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public4
Figure 2. Commercial Software Version Life CycleMajor Software ReleasesMajor Releases constitute the most significant release type for Forcepoint software and a new Major Release triggers life cyclechanges for previous releases. With the launch of a new Major Release, prior software versions will be retired with the detaildepending on the product. Forcepoint NGFW: The version that is one Major Release back is retired and enters the End of Maintenance period.Other Forcepoint product families: The version that is either two Major Releases back or 18 months old is retiredand enters the End of Maintenance period.During the End of Maintenance period for a given software version it may continue to be eligible for technical support. Criticalfunctionality or security fixes can be provided at Forcepoint’s discretion. These fixes, if any, will be provided in a Minor Releaseor hot fix.Maintenance Software ReleasesMinor Releases provide for easy distribution and upgrade or installation of critical functionality or security fixes to any Forcepointproduct. Minor Releases are scoped to only include required fixes or functionality updates. Minor Releases are driven by a needfor updates at Forcepoint’s discretion.When a Minor Release is launched, the previous Minor Release version is retired. Critical issues discovered within retired MinorReleases are addressed in the next Minor Release for the associated Major Release.Long-Term Supported (LTS) ReleasesForcepoint has specific releases labelled as LTS, which provide 24 months of technical support regardless of the number ofreleases from initial launch. These releases require special authorization and are usually reserved for certified releases (e.g.,Common Criteria). End of Life dates are communicated separately .Forcepoint Software Product End of Sale 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public5
Figure 3 defines the expected announcement and continued technical support when a Forcepoint commercial software productis to be discontinued.Figure 3. Commercial Software End of Sale Life CycleForcepoint will provide notification three months (90 days) in advance of an End of Sale of a commercial software product.During this notification period, licenses to the product remain available for new purchases or expansions. When the product isEnd of Sale, Forcepoint may make available for purchase a one-year period of limited technical support including limitedsecurity patches, but excluding bug fixes, security fixes and content updates. Forcepoint reserves the right to reduce or extendthe technical support expectation depending on the product situation.Customers with a current and fully paid subscription continue to receive technical support through the end of the subscriptionterm in accordance with the terms of the applicable Forcepoint end user license agreement unless notified at the time of theEnd of Life announcement.The End of Life period allows customers to purchase limited technical support, make last-time purchases or expansions, andplan to move to the new baseline. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public6
Global Governments Software & Software Version LifeCycle PolicyThis Global Governments Software and Version Life Cycle Policy applies to all Global Governments software developed for onpremise deployment on Forcepoint hardware or appliances or virtually.This Policy includes software for the following product families: Forcepoint Trusted Thin ClientForcepoint High Speed GuardForcepoint Trusted Gateway SystemForcepoint Trusted Mail SystemForcepoint Trusted Print DeliveryForcepoint WebShieldForcepoint SimShieldRefer to the Forcepoint Product Support Cycle web page for detailed information on each software ortLifeCycle.Software Version Numbering & DefinitionsForcepoint provides two Global Governments software release types, with each being identified by the version number. Table 3details the software release types for Forcepoint Global Governments products and what each contains.TerminologyDescriptionExampleMajor ReleaseThese are first order (V) changes. The major changesdescribed to the left represent an upgrade to a newbaseline, which requires new Assessment and Accreditation(A&A).7.8 - 8.0 or7.8.0.2 - 8.0 or7.8.1 - 8.0Minor ReleaseThese are second order (or beyond) version changes. Thechanges described to the left include updates to the existingbaseline, which may require A&A activity.7.8.0.1 - 7.8.0.2 or7.8.0.1 - 7.8.1 or7.8.0.1 - 7.9Table 3. Global Governments Software Release TypesFigure 4 outlines the Forcepoint Global Governments Software Version Life Cycle for Major Releases from introduction throughthe End of Support. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public7
Figure 4. Global Governments Software Version Life CycleSoftware ReleasesAll Global Governments Major Releases and Minor Releases are scheduled on a cadence based on product type and customerbase.When a new Major Release is generally available, the version one Major Release back enters the End of Sale period.When a new Minor Release is generally available, the previous Minor Release version of a product is retired. Critical issuesdiscovered within retired Minor Releases are addressed in the next Minor Release for the associated Major Release.Forcepoint Software Product RetirementFigure 5 defines the expected notice and continued technical support periods when a Forcepoint Global Governments softwareproduct is to be retired.Figure 5. Global Governments Software Notice and Continued SupportForcepoint will provide notification 12 months in advance of an End of Sale of a software product. During this notification period,licenses to the product remain available for new purchases or expansions. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public8
When the product reaches End of Sale, licenses to the product will no longer be available for purchase and it will transition intoa two-year End of Life period. During the End of Life period, Forcepoint will make available for purchase continued technicalsupport including critical bug fixes, security fixes, and content updates.The End of Life period allows customers to renew technical support, make last-time purchases or expansions, and plan to moveto the new baseline.When the End of Life period ends, the product is no longer supported, unless special exceptions are specifically negotiated fora given customer.Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle ImpactSome Forcepoint product components are based on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system (OS). When Red Had hasreached its post-production life cycle phase, it enters an “Extended Lifecycle Support” (ELS) phase. This phase length variesbut has historically been at least three years long. During this phase, Red Hat will no longer provide minor (or “dot”) releases,hardware updates, etc., but will continue to provide “critical-impact security fixes and selected urgent priority bug fixes for thelast minor release.” Forcepoint will make every attempt with release schedules and new baseline availability (includingcompleting necessary A&A activities) to avoid entering Red Hat’s ELS phase for a given OS version. However, if circumstancesdictate otherwise, Forcepoint will extend that OS support capability to its customers under current Maintenance along withForcepoint product fixes and updates as needed. 2020 ForcepointForcepoint Public9
forcepoint.comAbout Forcepointforcepoint.com/contact 2020 ForcepointForcepoint PublicForcepoint is the global human-centric cybersecurity companytransforming the digital enterprise by continuously adaptingsecurity response to the dynamic risk posed by individual usersand machines. The Forcepoint human point system deliversrisk-adaptive protection to continuously ensure trusted use ofdata and systems. Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint protectsthe human point for thousands of enterprise and governmentcustomers in more than 150 countries. 2020 Forcepoint. Forcepoint and the FORCEPOINT logo are trademarks of Forcepoint.All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.10
Hardware Repair or Replacement With Warranty Extension With Warranty Extension With Warranty Extension With Warranty Extension With Warranty Extension Table 1. Post End of Sale Options X Standard . as CASB or software as a service (“SaaS”) such as Web Security Cloud SaaS
