Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components
End-of-life (EOL) support period
Also known as: Support period, End-of-support period
German: Supportzeitraum bis End of Life (EOL)
In product lifecycle management, the end-of-life (EOL) support period is the time during which a manufacturer still provides spare parts, repairs, firmware updates or security fixes for a product after it is discontinued, until support ends completely.
- Automation components
- OT security
In one sentence
The EOL support period is the time a manufacturer still provides spare parts, repairs and security updates after a product is discontinued.
Example
The manufacturer announces the end of sales of a controller series and guarantees spare parts and security updates for another seven years.
How it applies
- Engineering: Plant owners check support periods when selecting components, since plants run for decades while electronics change quickly.
- Operation: After support ends, known vulnerabilities stay open; Compensating controls or migration become necessary.
- Documentation: Product documentation and lifecycle notices should state the support period, what it covers (spare parts, repair, security updates) and how customers are informed. Under the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), manufacturers must define and state a support period for security updates for products in its scope.
Support period vs. warranty
A warranty covers defects for a contractual or legal period. A support period covers availability of parts, services and updates, which may be much longer and is often defined by the manufacturer's lifecycle policy.