End of support reminder for SharePoint 2016 and SharePoint 2019 on-Premises

Announcements, FastTrack, Migration, SharePoint, SharePoint Online, SP2016, SP2019, SPMT, SPO, Updates 4 Minutes

Action required!!

The end of support for SharePoint Server 2016 and SharePoint Server 2019 is qickly approaching and you will have just one year left to migrate to the M365 Onlien version or upgrade to the currently “last avaible on-Premise Version: SharePoint Server Subscription, aka “SharePoint SE“

By July 2026, Microsoft will permanently end support for SharePoint On-Premises Versions 2016 AND 2019!

What does that means for you and your business?

After July 2026, there will be NO support anymore from Microsoft except for the Q&A forum where you can post questions. However, the support provided by the forum is limited.

Of course, your Server will still run and be accessible, but you will face certainly potential security and compliance risks because there will be no further security updates provided anymore.

In terms of compliance, running an unsupported system may lead to severe issues and may cause heavy fines or hurt reputations. Therefore, your company needs to decide whether going “modern” with SharePoint Online and the M365 platform to offer a more scalable, better integrated and robust in security and Compliance for the future.

Once SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 reach end of life, Microsoft will no longer provide:

  • Security updates – Your system will be vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches.
  • Bug fixes & patches – Any issues or vulnerabilities will remain unresolved.
  • Technical support – If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.

There are also other dependencies and workloads that are impacted by this change:

  1. Nintex Workflows: find more about possible migration path offered here!
  2. InfoPath: Replace it with PowerApps but unfortunately, there is no direct migration path.
  3. SP 2013 Workflows: same as for InfoPath.
  4. SharePoint Designer: Replace it with Power Automate capabilities
  5. Classic Sites UI: Modernise sites soonest to adapt the new standards and features offered via PnP Powershell options.

What are the next steps?

Don’t wait to begin planning your path forward to remain supported once these products reach end of support. Planning now will give you plenty of time to evaluate your options to either migrate to the cloud or remain on-premises, and begin executing on your decision. 

  • Prepare for an Upgrade to either SharePoint Server Subscription or to migrate straight into SharePoint Online
  • Identify and assess your critical applications and Workflows
  • Re-evaluate your business processes if migratable or needs new developments in SPO
  • Assess the replacement options for InfoPath, Workflows, etc.
  • Use typical migration tools such as ShareGate or SPMT or any other and run a pre-scan to check for migration blockers or incompatible stuff
  • Plan your migration or Upgrade according to the results from above and setup your Projekt.

According to the official Microsoft SharePoint Blog, you have two recommended options to remain supported:

  1. Migrate to SharePoint in Microsoft 365, which is the recommended approach. SharePoint in Microsoft 365 is the premier SharePoint experience and gives customers access to all of the latest productivity, security, and usability investments that Microsoft is making now and in the future.
  2. Upgrade to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, which is the latest version of SharePoint Server. SharePoint Server Subscription Edition is based on Microsoft’s modern engineering and support lifecycle, which means they’ll continue to introduce new feature experiences and capabilities for it on a regular basis through feature updates, focusing on security and key customer scenarios. Note that while they’ll continue to make investments in SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, the scope of those investments will be much smaller compared to SharePoint in Microsoft 365, so the feature gap between them will only increase over time. For this reason, Microsoft encourage customers to migrate what they can to SharePoint in Microsoft 365 and only keep what they must in SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. See also th see New and improved features in SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Version 24H1.

FAQ

Product Usage: After the end of support date in 2026, can we still continue to use our existing SharePoint 2019 On-Premises system?
Answer: Yes. After the end of support date in 2026, you can still continue to use your existing SharePoint 2019 On-Premises system.

Technical Support: After the end of support date, will we be completely unable to receive any form of technical support from Microsoft, including paid support?
Answer: Yes, you will not be able to receive paid support from Microsoft, except for the Q&A forum where you can post questions. However, the support provided by the forum is limited.

Security Risks: What specific security risks will we face if we continue to use SharePoint 2019 On-Premises without security updates? What measures should we take to mitigate these risks?
Answer: After the security updates are stopped, there are many risk factors that cannot be predicted after that, hence possible flaws may occur over time when systems are outdating.

Upgrade Recommendations: Before the end of support for SharePoint 2019 On-Premises, does Microsoft have recommended upgrade paths or alternative solutions? How should we prepare and plan for the upgrade process?
Answer: There are two options for you to choose from:

See more Q&A as well on the recent posting at ShareGate 😉

Other related Links:

Stay tuned,
cheers Steve

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