Microsoft recently issued a warning to Office 2016 and 2019 users that starting from October 2023, they may face potential issues when connecting to Microsoft 365 services. According to the announcement, users will not be completely blocked from making these connections but this may yet have serious implications for many business owners. Let’s delve into the details.

According to Microsoft, while these Office versions may still be able to connect to Microsoft 365 after 10 October 2023, the connections won’t be supported and could experience performance or reliability issues over time. In addition, the end of mainstream support means Microsoft will stop providing security and bug fixes, technical support and feature updates for these products.

In short, a Microsoft spokesman has said that “… as we make updates to Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and other Microsoft 365 services, we will not be building around the constraints inherent in the older perpetual Office clients that are already out of mainstream support. Customers … may not get the full value out of new investments in our cloud services…”

Based on this announcement, to avoid potential security, productivity, and compliance risks, we recommend upgrading to Microsoft 365. This solution includes all the apps users are already familiar with, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.

Benefits of Upgrading to Microsoft 365

Here are some of the benefits of upgrading to Microsoft 365:

• Superior Security: Features like Advanced Threat Protection and Multi-Factor Authentication.
• Efficiency Boost: Microsoft 365 is not just an email platform; it’s a streamlined productivity powerhouse.
• Improved Communication: Microsoft Teams, a part of Microsoft 365, becomes your workplace communication tool – a central hub for meetings and messaging.
• Mobility: You can access applications remotely from any device, allowing you to work anywhere and instantly switch between desktop and mobile apps.
• Real-time Collaboration: OneDrive for Business enables several people to co-author documents simultaneously, updating a single file rather than emailing new versions each time changes are made.
• New Solutions: In addition to the traditional suite of Office apps, the cloud-based portfolio is bursting with new tools such as Planner, Editor, Forms, and Power BI. These integrated products offer new ways of working while boosting productivity.
• Cost-Efficiency: Microsoft Office 365 is a subscription model. There is no need for an upfront investment to buy expensive software licenses.
• Convenience: Microsoft Office 365 is an integrated platform that offers all the above services at a single price point.

By entrusting your Office needs to us, you can focus on what matters most: your core business.