In January 2015, Microsoft ended mainstream support for Exchange Server 2010. Those who didn’t make the transition to Exchange 2016/2019 or Microsoft Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) got a bit of a breather due to five years of extended support.
However, this time it is really happening. As of October 13, 2020, there will be no further security or patches, fixes, updates, or available support. Nothing.
While we understand that making a change can be a nuisance, NOW is the time to act on updating your Exchange server. Your business has been missing out on a host of benefits found in more recent versions, so any “pain” you experience from upgrading will quickly be forgotten when you have access to more modern, convenient functionality.
Further, believe us when we say that every hacker and cyber-criminal is just waiting to attack platforms still on Exchange 2010. They know businesses that don’t upgrade will be vulnerable, and they already have plans in place.
Two actions you must take soon to protect your business
1. Determine what version of Exchange you are running (if you are not sure).
- Click Connection Status
- Move the horizontal slider all the way to the right. Under the Version column heading, note the number that appears
- Compare the number to the versions that will be out of support on October 13, 2020:
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 14.0.639.21
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1 14.1.218.15
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP2 14.2.247.5
2. Explore your move to a modern workplace.
If you are running one of the Exchange versions listed, your next action is to make a choice about what you want to do next. The most natural choice is to upgrade to Exchange Online/Microsoft 365 (Office). However, if for some reason moving email to the cloud is not possible for business reasons, you can upgrade to Exchange 2016/2019.
A migration project can take time to plan and this is one project you do not want to push off. There are considerations and decisions to make throughout the process, whichever choice you make. You need time to choose a partner that can help you review migration plan options and make the best decisions for your organization.
While you are considering your choices, remember that the move to a modern workplace encompasses far more than email and office productivity. Choose a partner that has the depth and breadth to help you manage your system beyond implementation. This includes improving your security posture; monitoring and optimizing licenses; and providing insight and guidance on how to get the most value out of your software investment.
