Product Lifecycle Policy

1. Introduction

Titania encourages all customers to keep up to date with the latest product releases to ensure that they are achieving the greatest benefit from their deployed solution. As part of Titania’s ongoing commitment to delivering proactive security risk assessment and vulnerability management solutions, from time to time we may find it necessary to discontinue certain software versions or products.

Products reach the end of their life cycle for several reasons, including following the introduction of new and improved products, changing market demands, evolving industry best practice and technology innovation.

The Titania Product Lifecycle policy outlines the lifecycle stages of Titania software products (“Titania Products”) from release through to End of Life. It aims to provide transparency and predictability to enable customers to plan for Titania Product upgrades, support changes, and to manage any Titania Product end-of-life transition.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all generally available Titania software products. Exceptions will apply for beta releases and limited-availability products. A full list of products and their lifecycle phase is available on the Product Status Page.

3. Product Versions

Versioning plays a pivotal role in good software lifecycle management, offering clarity for suppliers, partners customers and users.

All Titania Products have their own unique product identification number, aligned with a three-part semantic versioning scheme. Versions are recorded as MAJOR.MINOR.MAINTENANCE, e.g. 3.9.1.

MAJOR version (X.y.z)
A Major Release involves significant changes to the relevant Titania Product that are not backwardly compatible. This may include architectural changes, behavioural modifications, new functionality or major performance enhancements. Major releases signal substantial evolution in the Titania Product and will require users to update their systems to maintain compatibility.

MINOR version (x.Y.z)
A Minor Release delivers non-breaking changes in a backward-compatible manner. These may include product performance improvements, modifications to existing features, or the introduction of new functions or features which are delivered without disrupting existing functionality.

MAINTENANCE version (x.y.Z)
A Maintenance Release is a simple patch update and may include bug fixes, security patches, amendments to existing functions or minor performance enhancements.

Examples:

MAJOR - 3.0.0 - First major release of version 3.
MINOR - 3.5.0 - Features added, still compatible with 3.0.0.
MAINTENANCE - 3.5.1 - Security or bug fixes to 3.5.0.

As standard practice, Titania will only release MAINTENANCE updates for the latest MAJOR.MINOR version of each Titania Product. When a MINOR Release or MAINTENANCE Release is available for any given MAJOR Release of a Titania Product, all previous MINOR Releases and MAINTENANCE Releases for that MAJOR Release are retired.

4. Lifecycle Definitions

Initial Release Date – The date of a MAJOR release of a Titania Product to the market through agreed delivery channels. This date marks the start of the product lifecycle journey and the beginning of the General Availability phase for that MAJOR release.

General Availability – The period from the Initial Release Date through to the End of Sale Date. During this phase the MAJOR release is available for sale and purchase via agreed delivery channels and for use in production environments together with associated MINOR and MAINTENANCE releases. During this phase Titania will provide Full Support.

Full Support - Full product support, including technical support, release of new features, bug fixes, and security patches through the MINOR and MAINTENANCE release process.

End of Sale Notification – A notification announcing a MAJOR release of a Titania Product’s upcoming transition away from General Availability. This will typically be published six (6) months ahead of the End of Sale Date.

End of Sale Date - The date on which a MAJOR release of a Titania Product will no longer be generally available for sale or purchase in the ordinary course of business, as specified in the End of Sale Notification. This date marks the start of the Limited Availability phase for that MAJOR release.

Limited Availability – Period from the End of Sale Date to End of Life. This phase will typically extend for around twelve (12) months. During this phase the MAJOR release will only be available for use in production environments under existing licences but will not be available for sale or purchase. During this phase Titania will only provide Limited Support.

Limited Support - Limited technical support to assist with continued operational needs and to support upgrade activities. No further MINOR or MAINTENANCE releases will be issued and bug fixes, security patches will no longer be made available.

End of Life Notification - A notification announcing a MAJOR release of a Titania Product’s transition away from Limited Availability to End of Life. This will typically be published six (6) months ahead of End of Life.

End of Life – The date on which a MAJOR release of a Titania Product is classed as obsolete and will no longer be available, improved, maintained, or supported. All related support material and assets will typically be withdrawn and there will be no provision for technical support after this date.

5. Lifecycle Phases

6. Lifecycle Communications

Titania is committed to communicating to our customers and partners key milestones throughout each Titania Product’s lifecycle. Whenever practical Titania will endeavour to provide notification through various communication channels of upcoming product milestones in a timely and transparent manner in accordance with the timescales set out below.

New Releases (MAJOR)

Titania will notify licensed customers and partners of MAJOR releases ahead of the Initial Release Date. This notification will typically be provided by email and will include all relevant information regarding the MAJOR release
On the Initial Release Date a further notification will be sent to licensed customers and partners. Additional information and updates will also be made available on the Customer Portal (Release Notes), Product Status page.

Updates (MINOR)

On release of a MINOR update Titania will notify licensed customers and partners. This notification will typically be provided by email. Updates will also be made available on the Customer Portal (Release Notes), Product Status page.

Updates (MAINTENANCE)

Updates relating to MAINTENANCE releases will be made available on the Customer Portal (Release Notes) and the Product Status page.

End of Sale Notification

Titania will provide licensed customers and partners with reasonable prior notice of a Titania Product’s upcoming transition away from General Availability by sending an End of Sale Notification. This End of Sale Notification will typically be sent via email around six (6) months prior to the End of Sale Date. Updates will also be made to reflect the notification on the Product Status page.
The End of Sale Notification will include details of:
- The End of Sale Date,
- Any action required by to upgrade to newer versions (where relevant and available), and
- Any specific support available for users to assist with any upgrade to a newer version (where relevant and available)
On the End of Sale Date:
- The affected MAJOR release of the Titania Product shall be removed from the price list and will no longer be available for purchase or sale, and
- Titania will send a further notification to licensed customers and partners to confirm that the applicable Titania Product is no longer generally available and that no further MINOR or MAINTENANCE versions will be released. Additional information will be included where available regarding upgrade paths and system requirements for the latest release. The notification will also confirm that Limited Support will remain available for the product until End of Life.

End of Life Notifications

Titania will provide licensed customers and partners with reasonable prior notice of a Titania Product’s upcoming transition away from Limited Availability by sending an End of Life Notification. End of Life Notifications will typically be sent via email six (6) months, three (3) months and one (1) month ahead of End of Life. Each End of Life Notification will include details of:
- The date on which End of Life will commence,
- Any action required by to upgrade to newer versions (where relevant and available), and
- Any specific support available for users to assist with any upgrade to a newer version (where relevant and available)
When a Titania Product reaches End of Life, a final notification will be sent to licensed customers and partners confirming the applicable Titania Product is no longer available and that no further support will be offered. Titania will also update the Customer Portal (Release Notes) and Product Status page to reflect that the relevant Titania Product has now reached End of Life.

Exceptions

Occasionally there may be exceptions to the standard product lifecycle communications process and indicative timescales outlined above.
For example, there may be circumstances where a Titania Product is used within critical government infrastructure or in a custom deployment that is subject to a separate long-term support agreement. In such circumstances, Titania may extend or delay the usual product lifecycle process, send a bespoke notification or provide additional support to affected customers and partners.
In addition, there may be times when Titania needs to accelerate an aspect of the product lifecycle process or withdraw a specific Titania Product or version of a Titania Product more quickly than it would do ordinarily. For example, to comply with laws and regulations or to address a security concern or breach. In such circumstances, Titania will provide as much information and notice to affected customers and partners as is reasonably practicable.

7. Upgrade Policy

Titania advises and encourages all customers and partners to implement all MINOR and MAINTENANCE updates as soon as they become available and to upgrade to the latest version of a Titania Product following the release of a MAJOR update. Titania supports direct upgrades from the last two minor versions. Customers on older versions may require intermediate upgrades.

Details of all new releases are made available through the Titania website along with any related documentation.

8. Changes to this Titania Product Lifecycle Policy

We may update our Product Lifecycle Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this Product Lifecycle Policy page. You are advised to review this Product Lifecycle Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Product Lifecycle Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

9. For more information

For more information about Titania's product offering please visit https://www.titania.com