Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 End of Life: Everything You Need to Know

Posted by Liam Neate on Feb 28, 2025 Last updated Feb 28, 2025

  • Cloud
  • On-premise
  • Compliance
person looking at laptop in front of server

Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 will officially reach their end of life (EOL) on October 14, 2025. Organizations still using these versions must act now to ensure business continuity, security, and compliance.

This article will guide you through what EOL means for your business, the risks of inaction, and the best options for migrating your archive and mailboxes.

When will Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 reach End of Life?

Microsoft will end support for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 on October 14, 2025. After this date, there will be no further security updates, bug fixes, or technical support, leaving businesses vulnerable to cyber threats and compliance risks.

This applies to:

  • Exchange 2016 EOL (including Exchange 2016 CU19 end of life)
  • Exchange 2019 EOL
  • Microsoft Exchange Server end of life

Why It’s Important to Act Now

It’s imperative that you weigh up your options sooner rather than later and move towards a decision. Failure to act exposes your business to risk but it also prevents you from accessing the benefits of Microsoft Office 365.

The Risks of Staying on Exchange Server 2016/2019

If your organization remains on Exchange Server 2016 or 2019 after the EOL deadline, you expose your business to significant risks:

  • Security vulnerabilities: No security patches mean increased risks of data breaches and cyberattacks.
  • Compliance failures: Many industries require up-to-date security standards. Running unsupported software can result in compliance violations and legal consequences.
  • Lack of innovation: Without updates, you miss out on productivity-boosting features like Microsoft 365 Co-Pilot and enhanced collaboration tools.

The Benefits of Moving to Microsoft Office 365

Migrating to Microsoft Office 365 offers:

  • Enhanced security: Always up-to-date with the latest security protections.
  • Improved collaboration: Cloud-based tools like Teams and OneDrive streamline communication.
  • AI-powered productivity: Features like Co-Pilot provide intelligent assistance for emails, meetings, and workflows.

What Are Your Options?

Your next steps will depend on whether you’re focusing on mailbox migration, archive migration, or both.

What to Do with Your Email Archive

Your archived email data needs careful planning to ensure compliance and accessibility. You have two main options:

What to Do with Your Mailbox

Migrate from Exchange Server to Microsoft Office 365

Transvault specialises in seamless migrations to Microsoft Office 365, ensuring minimal disruption and complete data integrity.

Upgrade to Exchange Server Subscription Edition

For businesses that must remain on-prem, Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) is the future.

Microsoft is introducing Exchange Server SE, expected to launch in Q3 2025. This version will operate on a subscription model and require Server and Client Access Licenses (CALs), available only to customers with Software Assurance (SA). If you plan to stay on-premise, you must upgrade to Exchange Server 2019 first to transition smoothly to SE—an additional upgrade step that could be avoided by migrating directly to Microsoft Office 365.

Planning Your Migration away from Exchange Server: Steps to Take Now

  1. Assess Your Business Needs:

    Identify whether Microsoft Office 365 or Exchange Server SE aligns with your long-term IT strategy.

  2. Evaluate Your Current Environment:

    Determine storage, compliance, and security requirements.

  3. Review Licensing:

    Ensure you have the necessary licenses for your chosen migration path.

  4. Plan for Mailbox and Archive Migration:

    Partner with a trusted expert like Transvault for a smooth transition.

How Transvault Can Help

At Transvault, we make your move to the Cloud from Exchange effortless. Our market-leading solutions and expert team ensure:

  • Tailored migration strategies: We assess your setup and recommend the best path forward.
  • Seamless execution: Our tools and expertise minimise disruption and ensure data integrity.
  • Proven success: We’ve helped thousands of businesses migrate with confidence.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Email Infrastructure?

Contact Transvault today to start planning your migration from Exchange Server 2016/2019 before the 2025 deadline.

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  • Legally defensible & secure

    Our solution migrates your data in a single, end-to-end step, securely within your environment, with no interim formats or temporary storage. Transvault provides a fully demonstrable chain of custody, including data integrity checks, audit reports, and remediation services that ensure compliance with the strictest email records legislation.

  • Streamlined & accurate

    A successful migration is about more than speed—it’s about precision. Our proven delivery approach, combined with intelligent migration technology, streamlines your entire project. This means faster decommissioning of legacy infrastructure, reduced costs, and quicker realisation of ROI from your new service.

  • Industry-leading migration expertise and project experience

    We thrive on solving complex migration challenges. With over a century of combined experience, our expert Services and Support teams work seamlessly with clients to deliver secure, efficient, and disruption-free migrations.

  • Seamless user experience

    Our migrations are designed to be invisible to end users, minimising business disruption. By meticulously scanning and preserving metadata, we ensure your data remains organized and accessible, maintaining the integrity of your original setup post-migration.

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