We are happy to announce that SAS® released version 9.4 maintenance level 9 (v9.4 M9) on June 17th, 2025! A Strategic Step Forward for SAS 9 Customers:
SAS continues its active development and long-term support for the SAS v9.4 platform. With the launch of a dedicated SAS 9 Division, comprised of developers, testers, and product managers, SAS is reinforcing its commitment to customers who rely on SAS 9 as a critical analytics foundation.
This release follows the release of SAS 9.4 M8 in January 2023. Each release receives standard support for five years, meaning:
- M8 is supported through January 2028
- M9 is supported through mid-2030
- M10 is already in active planning
SAS 9 is not being sunset, but it is important to acknowledge that new innovation is largely focused on SAS Viya. SAS 9 will continue to receive essential security and compatibility updates, while some legacy components may be deprecated gradually in a step-by-step, pragmatic approach.
Why Upgrade to SAS v9.4 M9 now?
Upgrading to M9 offers significant advantages beyond the extended support timeline:
Compatibility & Continuity
• Aligns with current operating system versions
• Ensures continued security updates and compliance
through 2030
• Required to maintain support as older OS versions enter limited support or reach end-of-life
Enhanced Security
• Automated Transport Layer Security (TLS) setup to reduce
manual configuration
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) support integrated with
Single Sign-On
• Centralised certificate management for improved governance
• Twelve additional security vulnerabilities addressed beyond M8
• Improved metadata protection against unauthorised changes
Platform & Performance Improvements
• Includes all hotfixes up to M8
• Ships with Java 21 (LTS)—no separate installation needed
• Reduces third-party Java dependencies (from 8,000+ to ~1,500)
• Upgrades Platform Suite to 14.1, including LSF 10.1.0.14 and
IBM Spectrum Process Manager 10.1.0.14
• Performance gains, especially for SAS/ACCESS interfaces such
as Google BigQuery
Eased Administration
• Simplifies upgrades by consolidating past fixes
• Brings back Customer Intelligence and Marketing Automation
support (expected in a post-M9 release)
• Improved manageability for hybrid and ageing infrastructure
Operating System Support
Newly supported: RHEL 8.10+ / 9.1+, Oracle Linux 8.10+ / 9.1+, SUSE 15+, Windows 2025 & Windows 11
Dropped support: RHEL/OEL 7.x, Windows Server 2012/R2, Solaris SPARC/x86
Upgrade Requirements for Maintenance level 9
- Existing environment must be running SAS v9.4, with Java 11 and supported upgrade OS already in place (e.g., RHEL 8.10+, Windows Server 2016+). If on older OS like RHEL 7, an Operating System upgrade is required before the M9 installation;
- No separate Java installation needed, M9 includes Java 21;
- Retired or unsupported components should be removed before upgrade.
In Summary
SAS v9.4 M9 is not a routine patch—it is a strategic release that brings:
- Enhanced security features (Multi Factor Authentication, Transport Layer Security, certificate management)
- Modern platform alignment regarding Operating Systems and current Java standards
- Continued support for SAS 9 well into 2030
- Better performance and reduced administrative burden
If your platform is already on M8 and Java 11, upgrading to M9 is straightforward. For those on older OS versions, it is essential to migrate to supported platforms before upgrading.
M9 is your opportunity to secure, stabilise, and modernise your SAS 9 environment for the next 5 years.
To access the complete list and related details, please visit the SAS help centre
OCS Consulting and OCS Life Sciences are available to support you in assessing and planning the optimal roadmap both for short-term upgrades and long-term strategy. We offer guidance and hands-on support for upgrades and migrations, aligned with industry best practices.
Whether you're considering an upgrade to SAS v9.4 M9 or a migration to SAS Viya, on-premises or in the cloud, feel free to contact us at sasmigration@ocs-consultingservices.com.
Supported operating systems
OS | Status Change in 2025 | Next Major Change |
|---|---|---|
Windows 10 | End Of Life (EOL, mainstream end): Oct 14, 2025; Extended Security Update (ESU) paid until ~Oct 2028 | ESU program ends 2028 |
Windows 11 22H2 / 23H2 | Move out of mainstream: Oct 14 / Nov 11, 2025 | Extended support continues ~2028+ |
Windows Server 23H2 | Extended support until Oct 24, 2025 | No major transition in 2026 |
RHEL 7 | End Of Maintenance, (EOM) June 30, 2024; still Extended Life cycle Support (ELS) until June 30, 2028 | End ELS in 2028 |
RHEL 8.8 / 9.2 (EUS) |
Extended Update Support (EUS) ended May 31, 2025 |
Standard maintenance continues |
SLES 15.2 / 15.3 |
Support ends Dec 31, 2025 |
Next SLES release enters 2026+ |
SLES 12 SP5 |
Support lapsed Oct 31, 2024 |
Already unsupported |
Oracle Linux 7 |
Switched to Extended Support Jan 1, 2025 |
Extended support phase until EOL (unspecified) |
Oracle Linux 6 |
Moved to sustaining support Dec 31, 2024 |
No updates post-2024 |
RHEL 6 |
ELS Long-Life until Dec 31, 2025 |
Full EOL after 2025 |
Recommendations
- Upgrade or plan migrations for systems hitting EOL or nearing end-of-support: Windows 10/11, SLES 15.2/15.3,
RHEL 8.8/9.2, Oracle 7. - Consider paid support options (EUS, ESU, Extended Support) for short-term reprieves.
- Track upcoming 2026 EOLs, especially for RHEL 6 and remaining Oracle 7 ELS.
Contact us to apply or learn more about the opportunities we offer.