Microsoft has outlined a series of product and service retirements scheduled for as part of its ongoing lifecycle management policies. According to The Register, this includes the end of mainstream support for Office LTSC 2021 on . On the same date, Windows Server 20R2 will reach the end of its final Extended Security Updates (ESU) phase, and SQL Server 2016 will transition solely to its Extended Security Updates phase.
In its Azure ecosystem, Microsoft plans to retire the Speech to Text API v3.0 in . Additionally, support for AKS hybrid and Windows Server 2019 on AKS is also slated for retirement within . For collaboration and project management tools, SharePoint versions from and Project Server 20 will reach their end of support on . The retirement of SharePoint Server 2016 also marks the final end-of-life for InfoPath 2013, which Microsoft reportedly kept alive primarily for compatibility with SharePoint Server 2016.
The upcoming year will see multiple critical Microsoft products exiting support. Users of Office LTSC 2021 will lose mainstream support, including non-security updates and new feature requests, from . Similarly, Windows Server 20R2 will cease to receive any security updates or technical assistance after this date, concluding its lifecycle.
For database administrators, SQL Server 2016 will move into an Extended Security Updates-only phase, meaning only critical security patches will be provided, without general support or non-security updates. In the cloud domain, the discontinuation of the Azure Speech to Text API v3.0 in will require developers to migrate to newer API versions. The end of support for SharePoint Server 2016 and Project Server 20 on , underscores Microsoft‘s shift towards more current versions and cloud-based solutions like Microsoft 365 for collaboration and project management. This also includes the final retirement of InfoPath 2013, a tool that has had extended life due to specific dependencies.
The planned retirements align with Microsoft‘s established Fixed and Modern Lifecycle Policies, which provide predictable guidelines for support availability. Under these policies, products have defined end-of-support dates from their launch, or require customers to stay current with servicing and licensing for continuous support. For products like Office LTSC 2021 and Windows Server 20R2, the cessation of support marks the natural conclusion of their defined lifecycle, typically involving a period of mainstream support followed by extended support for security updates. The retirement of InfoPath 2013 is directly linked to the end of support for SharePoint Server 2016, highlighting how dependencies on older platforms can dictate the lifespan of associated tools.
Specific details regarding potential user compensation or refund policies for services being retired are not available in the initial reports. The precise number of organizations or individual users still relying on these particular versions of software and services, and thus directly impacted, remains unquantified.
Organizations currently utilizing any of the affected Microsoft products and services will need to plan and execute migrations to newer, supported versions or alternative solutions. Continuing to use unsupported software after its end-of-life date can lead to significant risks, including unpatched security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and compatibility challenges with newer hardware and software. As an analyst from Nerdio noted regarding Windows 10 end-of-life, unsupported systems become targets for cyberattacks
and can lead to major compliance and legal headaches
. Microsoft encourages customers to stay current with their products to maintain security and functionality.
- Audit Your Systems: Identify all instances of Office LTSC 2021, Windows Server 20R2, SQL Server 2016, affected Azure APIs/services, SharePoint Server 2016, Project Server 20, and InfoPath 2013 within your organization.
- Consult Microsoft Documentation: Refer to the official Microsoft Lifecycle Product Database for the most accurate and detailed end-of-support dates and migration paths.
- Plan for Migration: Develop a comprehensive migration strategy to move to supported versions or alternative solutions. This should include budgeting, resource allocation, and a timeline to complete transitions before the respective end-of-life dates.
- Prioritize Security: Understand that after end-of-life, products will no longer receive security updates, increasing vulnerability to cyber threats. Prioritize upgrading critical systems to maintain a robust security posture.
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