For many years, Microsoft Trade has been the spine of enterprise communications, powering emailing, scheduling and collaboration for organizations worldwide. Whether or not deployed on-premises or in hybrid environments, firms of all sizes depend on Trade for seamless inside and exterior communication, typically integrating it deeply with their workflows, compliance insurance policies and safety frameworks.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has officially announced that assist for Trade Server 2016 and Trade Server 2019 will finish on October 14, 2025. Whereas this will likely look like a distant concern, companies and IT groups should begin making ready now. The tip of assist signifies that Microsoft will now not present safety patches, bug fixes or technical assist, leaving organizations working on these variations uncovered to safety vulnerabilities, compliance dangers and potential operational disruptions.
So, what ought to companies do now? On this article, we’ll discover the affect of Microsoft’s choice, the dangers of continuous with an unsupported Trade surroundings and the accessible choices to make sure enterprise continuity and safety. In case you’re an IT decision-maker or enterprise chief navigating this transition, hold studying — as a result of ignoring this shift might depart your group susceptible.
What does Microsoft’s finish of assist imply for Trade 2016 and 2019 customers?
The tip of assist for Trade 2016 and 2019 is not nearly shedding updates — it is about severe safety, compliance and operational dangers.
- Safety dangers: With out safety patches, Trade 2016 and 2019 turn into prime targets for cybercriminals. Unpatched vulnerabilities can result in knowledge breaches, ransomware assaults and email-based threats, placing delicate enterprise communications in danger.
- Lack of technical assist: After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will not present fixes, patches or help. If one thing breaks, IT groups will likely be on their very own — resulting in longer downtimes, pricey troubleshooting and potential enterprise disruptions.
- Compliance dangers: Laws just like the Basic Knowledge Safety Regulation (GDPR) and the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) require companies to make use of safe, up-to-date software program. Working outdated Trade variations might result in fines, audits and authorized penalties if a safety incident happens.
- Operational inefficiencies: Older software program lacks trendy options, efficiency enhancements and integrations, making communication slower and IT upkeep extra complicated. Retaining Trade 2016 or 2019 working may also price extra over time as assist sources dwindle.
Vital word: This finish of assist additionally applies to a number of associated Microsoft merchandise, together with Microsoft Workplace 2016, Microsoft Workplace 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, Skype for Enterprise 2016, Skype for Enterprise 2019, Skype for Enterprise Server 2015 and Skype for Enterprise Server 2019.
Key dates to bear in mind
Microsoft follows a two-phase assist lifecycle for its merchandise: Mainstream Help and Prolonged Help.
Mainstream Help contains characteristic updates, safety patches and technical help, whereas Prolonged Help focuses solely on vital safety fixes — no new options, bug fixes or complimentary assist. As soon as Prolonged Help ends, Microsoft fully stops all updates and help, leaving you with none security web.
What are one of the best choices to maintain your small business safe and working easily?
Sticking with outdated Trade variations is not a viable choice for IT groups — the dangers far outweigh any short-term comfort. Let’s discover one of the best migration paths and alternate options to maintain your group safe, environment friendly and compliant.
1. Improve to Trade Server Subscription Version (Trade Server SE)
Microsoft has introduced Trade Server Subscription Version (Trade Server SE), a brand new subscription-based model of Trade for organizations that require an on-premises e mail answer. This selection is greatest for companies that want to take care of compliance-driven, on-prem infrastructure or want a hybrid mannequin that integrates with Microsoft 365.
Nevertheless, there are some key issues companies should think about earlier than this migration:
- Requires periodic upgrades: Trade Server SE would require common updates, which means IT groups should keep on prime of upkeep.
- Licensing and upkeep prices: A subscription mannequin means ongoing prices, and organizations will nonetheless must handle and safe their very own infrastructure.
- Complicated improve path from Trade 2016: Microsoft recommends that companies improve to Trade 2019 earlier than transferring to Trade Server SE since direct in-place upgrades to Trade SE will not be supported.
2. Migrate to Trade On-line (Microsoft 365)
For companies seeking to transfer past on-premises infrastructure, Trade On-line (Microsoft 365) is a compelling choice. This cloud-based answer eliminates server upkeep, enhances safety and improves scalability, making it best for organizations embracing a cloud-first technique.
Key benefits of selecting Trade On-line embody:
- No extra server upkeep: Microsoft handles all updates, patches and infrastructure administration, liberating IT groups from the burden of sustaining Trade servers.
- Constructed-in safety and compliance: Trade On-line contains automated safety updates, menace safety and compliance instruments to satisfy regulatory necessities, similar to GDPR and HIPAA.
- Scalability and accessibility: Staff can securely entry e mail from wherever, with 99.9% uptime and versatile storage choices that scale with enterprise wants.
- Enhanced collaboration: As a part of Microsoft 365, Trade On-line integrates seamlessly with Groups, SharePoint and OneDrive, enhancing productiveness and knowledge administration.
Nevertheless, there are some potential challenges as effectively.
- Migration complexity: Transferring massive quantities of e mail knowledge will be time-consuming and requires cautious planning to reduce downtime.
- Licensing prices: Microsoft 365 operates on a subscription mannequin, which means ongoing per-user licensing charges.
- Consumer adoption and coaching: Staff might have coaching to completely make the most of new options and guarantee a clean transition.
3. Migrate to Google Workspace
For companies searching for an economical, cloud-first various to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace is a robust contender. It supplies seamless collaboration, built-in safety and diminished IT overhead, making it an interesting selection, particularly for organizations that do not require the superior instruments included in lots of Microsoft 365 plans.
Notably, Google Workspace is commonly extra cost-competitive than Microsoft 365. Whereas Microsoft 365 pricing ranges from $6 to $22 per consumer monthly, Google Workspace plans sometimes fall between $6 and $18 per consumer monthly, with enterprise pricing accessible upon request.
Among the benefits in switching to Google Workspace embody:
- Decrease IT overhead: No Trade server upkeep, lowering {hardware} and operational prices.
- Scalability and adaptability: Google’s cloud infrastructure scales with your small business wants with out further IT effort.
- Collaboration and productiveness: Google Workspace integrates Gmail, Google Drive, Meet and Docs, enabling real-time collaboration throughout groups.
In the meantime, potential challenges embody:
- Migration complexity: Transitioning from Trade will be disruptive, requiring cautious knowledge migration planning.
- Consumer coaching and adoption: Staff accustomed to Outlook and Microsoft apps might have coaching to adapt to Gmail and Google instruments.
- Integration challenges with legacy programs: Companies utilizing on-prem programs, like buyer relationship administration (CRM) or enterprise useful resource planning (ERP), that depend on Trade could battle with integration. Configuring Google Workspace Sync for Outlook or utilizing third-party migration instruments will help bridge the hole.
Planning your migration journey from Trade 2016 and 2019
Whether or not you select to remain on-prem with Trade Server SE or migrate to the cloud with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, understanding the appropriate migration steps is important for a clean transition.
Making ready for Trade Server SE
For companies staying on-premises with Trade Server SE, the improve path will depend on your present Trade model:
- In case you’re working Trade 2016, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Trade 2019 now, as direct in-place upgrades to Trade SE will not be supported.
- In case you’re already on Trade 2019, you may merely hold your servers updated and carry out an in-place improve to Trade Server SE as soon as it turns into accessible.
Transitioning to a SaaS surroundings (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace)
Migrating to a cloud-based answer like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace provides companies higher flexibility, safety and scalability whereas eliminating the burden of server upkeep. Beneath is a high-level guidelines to information your clean transition from Trade to a SaaS platform.
Section 1: Planning and preparation
Begin by assessing your present surroundings. Establish mailboxes, shared accounts and integrations with third-party instruments like CRM or ERP programs. Select the appropriate migration technique and instruments, whether or not transferring from Trade to Microsoft 365, Trade to Google Workspace or utilizing Web Message Entry Protocol (IMAP) migration instruments.
Subsequent, confirm your area in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, guaranteeing e mail routing is correctly arrange. Consumer communication and coaching are additionally essential — hold workers knowledgeable and supply crucial coaching to reduce disruption. Lastly, vital knowledge have to be backed up earlier than migration to guard towards any surprising knowledge loss. That is the place a dependable backup answer can save the day.
Section 2: Migration execution
To keep away from downtime, configure MX information to maintain Trade working as the first mail server through the migration. If transferring to Google Workspace, arrange Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Trade (GWMME). Carry out an preliminary batch sync with chosen customers, then take a look at the migration to make sure emails, contacts and calendars switch appropriately. Migrate customers in batches, prioritizing key groups first and monitoring the method carefully through admin instruments.
Section 3: Cutover and post-migration
As soon as the migration is validated, change MX information to your new platform, redirecting all new emails to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Replace safety settings, together with Sender Coverage Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Recognized Mail (DKIM) and Area-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) to reinforce e mail safety. Lastly, if Trade is now not wanted, decommission your Trade Server after confirming a profitable migration.
Safe your cloud knowledge with Backupify
Migrating to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace shifts e mail administration to the cloud, however it does not eradicate knowledge loss dangers. Underneath the shared duty mannequin of cloud safety, whereas cloud suppliers safe their infrastructure, clients are liable for securing their very own knowledge towards unintentional deletion, cyberthreats and different knowledge loss eventualities. With out a devoted backup, companies danger shedding vital emails, recordsdata and collaboration knowledge with no approach to get better them.
That is the place Backupify is available in. As a trusted SaaS backup answer, Backupify ensures that companies utilizing Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have a safe, automated security web for his or her cloud knowledge. Whether or not it is unintentional deletions, ransomware assaults or compliance necessities, Backupify supplies full knowledge safety, so that you by no means lose entry to vital enterprise data.
Why over 40,000 companies belief Backupify:
- Automated, day by day backups: Shield emails, recordsdata and collaboration knowledge with steady backups.
- Fast and dependable restoration: Restore misplaced or deleted knowledge immediately, avoiding pricey downtime.
- Superior safety: With Backupify’s non-public, immutable cloud storage, be sure that your knowledge is protected from all types of information threats.
- Compliance and knowledge retention: Meet HIPAA, GDPR and different trade mandates with customizable retention insurance policies.
- Save on storage prices: Archive inactive consumer knowledge at a fraction of the associated fee in comparison with different choices.
Do not take dangers together with your business-critical knowledge — view the top 5 reasons IT Pros choose Backupify for Microsoft 365 protection here.
