Key milestones in the SharePoint support timeline

SharePoint Server continues to be a central platform for enterprise collaboration, intranets, and document management, but SharePoint 2016 and 2019 will reach the end of Microsoft’s support lifecycle in July 2026. Ignoring these deadlines can leave systems vulnerable and non-compliant. To maintain security, compliance, and operational efficiency, organizations need to understand the SharePoint support lifecycle and plan upgrades or migrations well in advance.

Understanding the SharePoint support lifecycle

Microsoft products follow two defined phases of support: Mainstream Support and Extended Support. Each phase has distinct business implications.

1. Mainstream Support

Mainstream Support is the initial phase of the support lifecycle, during which Microsoft provides regular updates, security patches, and technical support. For SharePoint 2016 and 2019, it included:

• Feature Enhancements: Regular updates that introduce new features and enhancements. 
• Security Protections: Timely patches to safeguard against evolving cyber threats.
• Full Technical Support: Direct troubleshooting assistance and issue resolution from Microsoft’s support teams.

End of Mainstream Support:

• SharePoint 2016: July 13, 2021
• SharePoint 2019: January 9, 2024

2. Extended Support
Once Mainstream Support ends, products enter the Extended Support phase. During this time, Microsoft provides limited support: 

• Security Updates Only: Limited to critical patches to keep the system minimally secure.
• No Enhancements: No further features, productivity improvements, or usability updates.
• Restricted Technical Support: Support is still available, but with fewer resources and a limited scope.

End of Extended Support:

• SharePoint 2016 & 2019: July 14, 2026

What happens after July 14, 2026?

When support ends, businesses will face:

• No Microsoft help with failures, vulnerabilities, or outages
• No new security or non-security updates
• Removal of all Microsoft support channels, both free and paid
• Greater compliance risks due to unsupported infrastructure

Why these milestones matter

Reaching these deadlines without preparation means running unsupported software, leaving systems exposed to threats, regulatory violations, and operational disruptions. Planning a migration or upgrade before July 14, 2026, is crucial to protect business operations, maintain compliance, and leverage new collaboration features available in more recent SharePoint or cloud platforms. 

Final thoughts

With critical support deadlines ahead, organizations must take these milestones as definitive checkpoints. Evaluating dependencies, reviewing current environments, and planning migration early will ensure secure, compliant, and uninterrupted collaboration.

Leverage our expertise to make this transition seamless and secure.
Connect with sales@avamigratron.com

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