Microsoft reminded administrators that Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 will reach the end of extended support in October 2025.
The regular (non-extended) support end for Exchange 2016 arrived in October 2020, while for Exchange 2019 on January 9, 2024. Now, the company is warning that the final end is coming.
“Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 installations will of course continue to run after October 14, 2025. However, due to the impending end of support and potential future security risks, we recommend that customers act now.“.
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In short, administrators will be able to use them later, but Microsoft will no longer provide technical support for any issues including security updates that would fix critical vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities could compromise client devices and affect server usability and stability.
End of Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 – Need to upgrade
Microsoft advises administrators to upgrade to Exchange Online (available as an Office 365 subscription or as a standalone service) or Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE)when it is released in the early second half of the year.
Administrators can perform an in-place upgrade from Exchange Server 2019 to Exchange Server SE, such as when installing a Cumulative Update (CU).
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“ To enable quick and easy in-place upgrades from Exchange Server 2019, we either pushed new features to Exchange Server 2019 CU15 or pushed them to Exchange Server SE CU1 or later, leaving Exchange SE RTM to be a branding update that introduces new lifecycle and support policies ,” the Exchange team previously stated
“By moving to Exchange Server SE RTM, your servers are on the supported path for Exchange SE CU1. Once Exchange SE CU1 is released, all older versions will be out of support,” the team continued.
Microsoft's documentation site provides detailed transition guidance and helps administrators decide on the Exchange Online migration path.
Microsoft's continued focus on updating software and ending support for old versions underscores its commitment to keeping systems secure and up-to-date.
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It also serves as a reminder for organizations to regularly review and update their technology to remain compliant and protected from potential threats.
As technology continues to evolve, it is important for businesses to follow vendor guidelines and prioritize updating their systems.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that organizations using Exchange Server 2016 and Exchange Server 2019 plan an upgrade as soon as possibleto avoid any future disruptions or security risks. By using supported Microsoft platforms, businesses can continue to operate smoothly while protecting their valuable information.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
