Microsoft’s October Support Changes: A Broader Impact Beyond Windows 10
As the curtain falls on free support for Windows 10, a more extensive reshuffling is taking place within Microsoft’s ecosystem. The discontinuation of support extends beyond the widely publicized end of Windows 10, affecting older versions of both Office and Windows Server, leaving many users in a state of uncertainty.
On October 14, support for Office 2019, which includes Office 2016, as well as Exchange Server 2019, came to an abrupt halt. While Microsoft offers Windows 10 users a lifeline through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year, Office users find themselves at a crossroads. The options are limited: either transition to Office 2024 LTSC or embrace the subscription model of Microsoft 365.
This subscription route, however, may not be feasible for all organizations. Many companies operate in environments that require disconnected functionality due to compliance or regulatory mandates, or simply prefer the predictability of a perpetual license. Office 2024 LTSC, while promising support until 2029, will lack the continuous feature updates that come with Microsoft 365, potentially leaving users at a disadvantage.
Esben Dochy from Lansweeper expressed concerns that Office might not receive the attention it deserves from organizations preoccupied with the impending end of Windows 10 support. Despite Microsoft’s efforts to enhance security, including the default disabling of VBA macros, Office remains a tempting target for cyber threats.
For those relying on on-premises Exchange email or Skype for Business servers, the situation is even more pressing. The transition to Subscription Editions is essential for continued access to updates and patches, as support for Exchange 2016, Exchange 2019, Skype for Business 2016, and Skype for Business 2019 also ended on October 14. While administrators should have anticipated these changes, the intense focus on Windows 10’s support expiration may have relegated other necessary migrations to the background.
Moreover, the support cuts are not limited to older products. Even Windows 11 has not escaped the sweeping changes, with Windows 11 22H2 for Enterprises and Education now out of the update loop. Microsoft encourages users to upgrade to a more recent version, further complicating the landscape for IT administrators.
Given the heightened attention surrounding the end of Windows 10 support, it would be easy to overlook the significant implications of the support cessation for Office and other perpetual licensed server products. For many organizations, this shift may prove to be just as challenging, if not more so, than the transition away from Windows 10.
