Exchange 2016 is approaching the end of extended support and will be out of support on October 14th, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer release Security updates, Bug fixes, or any support to the Exchange Server 2016. If organizations are still using Exchange Server 2016, it is highly recommended to upgrade to Exchange Server 2019 before Oct 14, 2025.
What actions should Administrators take if they are still operating in the Exchange 2016 environment?
If active user mailboxes are still hosted in the Exchange 2016 on-premises environment, Administrators are required to migrate the mailboxes to Exchange Online (Microsoft 365). If the organization is hosting Exchange Server 2016 for Hybrid Management and Administrative purposes, it is recommended to upgrade the On-premises environment to Exchange Server 2019.
Can Administrators perform an In-Place upgrade from Exchange 2016 to Exchange 2019?
No, Administrators cannot perform an in-place upgrade from Exchange 2016 to Exchange 2019. Instead, Administrators can set up a new Exchange 2019 server to coexist with the Exchange 2016 server, migrate the mailboxes and SMTP applications to the 2019 server, and then decommission the Exchange Server 2016 from the environment completely.
Is there a new version of Exchange other than Exchange 2019 available?
Microsoft has announced their plan to release the Exchange server SE (Subscription Edition) by Q3, 2025. But the immediate option available is to upgrade to Exchange 2019. If Administrators have migrated the Exchange from 2016 to 2019, they can perform an In-Place upgrade from 2019 to the SE version once it is available.
Can Administrators utilize the Hybrid License in Exchange Server 2019?
Yes, Administrators can utilize the HCW to acquire the free Hybrid license from Microsoft and apply it to the Exchange server 2019, if the server is used for Hybrid Management purposes.
Are administrators required to update the Exchange Server 2016 with the latest security updates?
Until Oct 14th, 2025, Microsoft will keep releasing security updates and Hotfixes for Exchange Server 2016 whenever necessary. Administrators must keep the Exchange Server 2016 up to date to prevent Malicious attacks though upgrading to Exchange Server 2019 would be the ultimate solution.
Helient strongly recommends that the Administrators migrate the Exchange Workload from Exchange 2016 to Exchange Online or to Exchange 2019 as soon as possible. If you would like more information or assistance on migrating to the latest Exchange version or to Exchange Online, please contact our industry-leading experts at service@helient.com.