Support is ending for Microsoft Office 2016 and 2019 in October 2025
In October 2025 Microsoft will officially end support for Office 2016 and 2019. Organisations still using these versions will become increasing vulnerable to cyber security incidents and slowly find that less and less modern systems are compatible with this software.
What happens when they ‘End Support’
Microsoft will stop providing security & bug fixes, cease technical support and no longer test compatibility of these products against systems and services as other products get upgraded.
What does this mean for my small business
If you keep using unsupported software in your business, you will expose yourself to several risks and issues:
- Security issues, Unsupported software becomes vulnerable to the latest attacks from cyber criminals. It can allow access into and traversal of your systems and data.
- Legal issues, Data Protection and GDPR laws mean businesses should take all reasonable actions to protect data. In the event of a breach due to unsupported software, the ICO will look poorly on the organisation.
- Insurance Issues, Cyber Insurance companies will insist on minimum standards to be maintained which normally include always keeping software up to date.
- Compatibility issues, as other services are updated users may suddenly find that features stop working without warning.
- Compliance issues, Organisations with some ISO or Cyber Security certifications may fall out of compliance with these standards.
What are my options
Each organisation will have different requirements and needs, Tetrabyte are here to support customers in these decisions by providing specific recommendations. The core options are:
- Switch to Microsoft 365 Apps Subscription, This keeps your team on the latest Microsoft Office Products with additional collaboration features, mobile licenses, Cloud Integration and access to the latest A.I. Features to enhance productivity (subject to licensing options).
- Purchase newer ‘Perpetual Licensing’, This can work out cheaper over a 6 year refresh cycle but requires a full upfront payment for the full cost.
NOTE: At this time ‘Perpetual Licensing’ editions do not include ‘New Outlook’ only ‘Classic Outlook’ which may become an issue when Microsoft retire support for ‘Classic Outlook’ in 2029.
How do I switch and deploy
This will largely depend on your current setup, infrastructure and the licensing options you select moving forward, Tetrabyte can review your setup and provide a customised migration plan to switch to either licence model. Remember with Tetrabyte Managed Remote IT Support packages all the work to transition you from point a to point b is fully included.
What now
Businesses need to take action as soon as possible, time is getting limited to manage transitions in a smooth, planned way. Contact Tetrabyte on 0330 900 1066 or use the contact form above and we can build you a customised plan to move forward.
