There is no successor ready yet for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, while support for both applications will end soon.
On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will end support for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019. As the end date approaches, the successor Exchange Server SE is still not available. According to Microsoft, it will only be released in July, giving organizations just three months to migrate.
Insufficient Time for Migration
According to Microsoft, Exchange Server SE is identical to the last major update of Exchange Server 2019 (CU15), with additional security patches. However, no administrator will blindly trust a new release. A migration requires time for testing, planning, and implementation. Three months is tight for this.
Microsoft will also increase the prices of its on-premises servers, including Exchange, by 10 percent from July. Online variants such as Exchange Online and Teams will not follow this price increase. The message is clear: those who continue to rely on Exchange Server will soon pay more for less flexibility.
Microsoft Wants to Move to the Cloud
According to analysts, it’s clear what Microsoft is aiming for, writes The Register. “The combination of price increases, poor integration with new Outlook versions, and the tight migration window is a signal: switch to Exchange Online,” says Microsoft analyst Rob Helm.