Microsoft extends security support for outdated Exchange and Skype servers by an additional six months
Microsoft has announced that its on-premises Exchange and Skype for Business Server products will transition to a subscription-only model, effective from an unspecified future date. In addition, the company has extended the security update programs for Exchange Server 2016, 2019, Skype for Business 2015, and 2019.
Beginning August 1, 2025, customers can purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, which will provide critical and important security updates after the products' official end-of-support date in October 2025. The ESUs will be offered on a per-server basis, with the exact cost details to be provided by Microsoft account teams at the time of purchase.
For Skype for Business 2015 and 2019, there are no specific ESU programs or pricing details mentioned. Microsoft's announcements focus on Exchange 2016/2019 and Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, without explicit references to Skype for Business.
Customers must sign up for the ESU to receive notifications about available patches. It is important to note that checking Windows Update or Microsoft's downloadable patch troves will not provide information about available updates for the extended security updates.
Microsoft appears to be losing patience with customers who are struggling to migrate away from these products, as the extended updates are a one-time offer from the company. Customers who have started their migrations but might need a few extra months for completion are advised to consult with Microsoft account teams for possible extensions.
In other news, Microsoft has provided fresh commercial terms for EU cloud providers, but details about these terms were not disclosed in the search results.
It is recommended for customers interested in ESUs for Skype for Business to consult directly with Microsoft support or their Microsoft account team for the latest official offerings. For Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, customers must contact their Microsoft account representative starting August 1, 2025, to get pricing and purchase information.
With these changes, Microsoft continues to emphasize its commitment to cloud-based services and encourages customers to consider migrating to its subscription-based solutions. The extended updates for Microsoft's products will end on April 14, 2026, and will not be extended past that date.
- As Microsoft continues to shift its focus towards cloud-based services, customers using Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 can purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) starting August 1, 2025, to ensure they receive critical security updates beyond the products' end-of-support date in October 2025.
- In the realm of data-and-cloud-computing, Microsoft has been transitioning its on-premises Exchange and Skype for Business Server products to a subscription-only model, and while ESUs are available for Exchange Server, there is no explicit mention of such programs for Skype for Business at this time.
- As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology continue to evolve, Microsoft has released technology updates for its on-premises Exchange and Skype for Business Server products, introducing a cloud-based approach that requires customers to sign-up for Extended Security Updates (ESU) to receive important patches and updates.
