Thousands of companies are facing an imminent change: the end of support for on‑premises versions of Office, Exchange, and Skype for Business. This situation poses a security risk… but also a major opportunity for technological modernization.
In this article, we explain how to take advantage of this moment to migrate to Microsoft 365, and what benefits this strategic decision brings for your clients or your company.
Which products are becoming obsolete?
Starting in October 2025, the following on‑premises solutions will no longer receive support or significant updates:
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Office 2016 and 2019
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Exchange Server 2016 and 2019
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Skype for Business Server 2015 and 2019
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Visio 2016 and 2019
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Project 2016 and 2019
The lack of support will lead to a higher risk of vulnerabilities, reduced compatibility with new operating systems, and a loss of productivity compared to cloud‑based solutions.
Migrating to Microsoft 365 Business Standard: the best alternative
One of the most efficient ways to manage this transition is to adopt Microsoft 365 Business Standard, which centralizes your work tools under a modern, accessible, and secure model.
What does Microsoft 365 Business Standard include?
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Microsoft 365 Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook in both desktop and online versions.
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Exchange Online: professional email with high availability.
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Microsoft Teams: real‑time collaboration, video calls, chat, and teamwork.
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OneDrive for Business: cloud storage with 1 TB per user.
This plan is designed to replace the key functionalities of traditional Office and Skype for Business, while also strengthening business collaboration.
Enhance your proposal with Visio Plan 2 and Project Plan 3
If your customers were using Visio or Project in their 2016 or 2019 versions, now is the time to offer them the modern cloud‑based alternatives:
Benefits of Visio Plan 2:
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Professional diagrams accessible from the browser
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Integration with Microsoft 365 Apps
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Real‑time collaboration
Advantages of Project Plan 3:
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Cloud‑based project planning
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Gantt visualization and task tracking
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Collaborative work from any device
These online versions offer an enhanced experience, with scalability and automatic updates.
On‑premises options: Office LTSC 2024 and Exchange Server Subscription
For customers who, due to internal policies or industry requirements, need to remain in on‑premises environments, there are updated options available:
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Office LTSC 2024: no Internet connection required, but includes improvements over Office 2019.
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Exchange Server Subscription Edition: continuous updates under a subscription model.
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Skype for Business Server 2025 (for very specific scenarios).
Although these versions do not offer the collaborative power of the cloud, they represent a necessary evolutionary step compared to outdated releases.
Key advantages of migrating to the cloud with Microsoft 365
Optimize the IT area and reduce costs
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Eliminate on‑premises servers and centralize email, storage, and apps in a single solution.
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Access from up to 5 PCs, 5 tablets, and 5 mobile devices per user with a single license.
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1 TB of OneDrive storage and secure access to files from anywhere.
Deliver exceptional user experiences
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Real‑time collaboration among employees, no matter where they are.
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Always‑up‑to‑date applications with active technical support.
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Greater productivity with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, the integrated AI assistant.
Enhance security and protect your data
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Protection against phishing, malware, and spam with customizable policies.
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Secure sign‑in with multi‑factor authentication.
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Data recovery and full access control for sensitive environments.
Why trust ABD for this process?
At ABD Consulting and IT Solutions, we have spent more than 30 years helping companies migrate their technological infrastructures safely and cost‑effectively.
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, we provide guidance, implementation, and support throughout the entire transition to the cloud with Microsoft 365:
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Training for work teams
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Implementation of Microsoft 365 Copilot
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Integration with ERP, CRM, or other environments
If your company needs to modernize—or you want to help your clients do so—at ABD we guide you step by step to unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365.