The SharePoint Server end of support July 2026 deadline is 14 July 2026 for SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019. Organisations face the choice of upgrading their on-premises systems or migrating to SharePoint Online, which will significantly impact how your business manages data over the next 10 years.
Understanding the SharePoint Server End of Support July 2026 Deadline
Mainstream Support for SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 has ended, and now, Extended Support brings only security updates. As of 14 July 2026, SharePoint Server and Project Server 2016 and 2019 will face the complete withdrawal of Microsoft support and patches, creating an at-risk situation given their role in supporting crucial business documents, portals, and business processes.
The Risks of Running Unsupported Software
Security Vulnerabilities
The main danger is security: should a vulnerability exist that can be exploited to conduct ransomware attacks or steal valuable data.
Compliance and Legal Implications
After a breach, the ICO is unlikely to accept unsupported systems where GDPR expects “state of the art” security. End-of-life software can also break Cyber Essentials by removing vendor support and valid licensing, leading to exploitable flaws, automatic audit failures, and risks to cyber insurance or public-sector eligibility.
Option A: Upgrading to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE)
If cloud migration is not possible due to data sovereignty or latency needs, Microsoft offers SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE), which replaces the perpetual licences for 2016 and 2019 and is the latest on-premises release.
Pros:
- Control: All aspects of the hardware, upgrades, and data storage location are within your control.
- Familiarity: The user experience remains similar to previous on-premises versions, minimising training requirements.
- Continuous Updates: It follows a constant update model, like Windows 10, removing the need for massive “forklift” upgrades in the future.
Cons and Technical Debt:
- Infrastructure Requirements: Upgrading to SE is not a simple in-place update. It requires Windows Server 2019 or 2022 and SQL Server 2019 or newer. This necessitates a complete hardware refresh.
- Cost: You must maintain the underlying hardware, Windows Server licences, and SQL Server licences. The “Subscription” model means you pay forever; you never own the software outright.
- Complexity: You still have responsibility for high-availability management, MinRole topologies, and disaster recovery tasks.
Option B: Migrating to SharePoint Online
For most organisations, the 2026 deadline is the catalyst to embrace the cloud. SharePoint Online, part of Microsoft 365, eliminates the burden of server maintenance. This enables converting the static storage container, SharePoint, into an intelligent collaboration platform.
Pros:
- Evergreen: It is automatically updated from Microsoft. You will always use the latest version without downtime.
- Integration: Seamless connectivity with Microsoft Teams, Power Platform, and Microsoft Viva.
- Scalability: The storage solution can scale easily without requiring the purchase of storage disks or SANs.
- Security: The investment of a billion dollars in security that Microsoft has made benefits you in an area that on-premises servers cannot compete in, namely, the area of threat.
Cons:
- Dependency: Requires reliable internet connectivity.
- Migration Effort: Transferring data requires an organised project, not just copy-and-paste.
The Migration Roadmap
A successful move requires a proven methodology for migrating file servers and legacy SharePoint sites.
- Discovery: Use tools like the SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool (SMAT) to scan your environment for issues.
- Pilot: Small, non-critical migration, as a point of adoption rate and network performance assessment.
- Remediation: Fix faulty links, trim long path names, and maintain historical data at an archives location.
- Velocity Migration: Transfer most data with external tools like AvePoint if dealing with large data sets.
The Hybrid Compromise
If moving everything to the cloud proves too disruptive for business, there is always the option of moving to a hybrid system. This is the system that connects the local SharePoint Server SE environment to SharePoint Online.
Why Hybrid?
- Search Federation: Users can search once and see results from both cloud and on-premises locations.
- Unified Navigation: A consistent look and feel in both environments.
- Gradual Transition: Moving your heavy loads to the cloud while keeping your sensitive data on-premises.
Hybrid environments are pretty complex and have demanding identity management needs, for instance, Microsoft Entra ID synchronisation, as well as security setup.
Comparison: On-Premises SE vs SharePoint Online
Making the correct choice depends on your budget, IT capacity, and strategic goals.
| Feature | SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE) | SharePoint Online (Microsoft 365) |
| Licensing Model | Subscription (requires Software Assurance) + Infrastructure costs | Per-user Subscription (SaaS) |
| Updates | Client-managed (Feature update packs) | Automatic (Evergreen) |
| Remote Access | Requires VPN or complex Edge configuration | Native, secure access via the internet |
| Hardware | Customer managed (High maintenance) | None (Microsoft managed) |
| CAPEX vs OPEX | Heavy CAPEX (Hardware refresh cycles) | Pure OPEX (Predictable monthly cost) |
| AI Features | Limited / None | Native (Copilot, Viva) |
The Hidden Complexity: Personal Storage and Workflows
Most migrations involve personal data in MySites or network drives, which should move to OneDrive for version history and co-authoring that file servers cannot match.
You must plan to migrate to Microsoft OneDrive for Business capabilities to replace these legacy personal archives. This involves training users on how to share links securely rather than attaching files to emails.
Custom Workflows and Forms
Do not overlook automation. Legacy workflows built on SharePoint 2010 or 2013 engines, or using InfoPath, are unsupported in modern environments. These tools are deprecated. Rebuild business logic in Power Automate and Power Apps before scrapping servers that use it. Redesign sandboxes for cloud computing using code based on the SharePoint Framework (SPFx).
Preparing Your Data for Migration
Avoid lift and shift. In the legacy environment, there are duplicates, nested folders, violations of the 400-character standard for cloud storage path naming, and orphan accounts. Perform a ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, Trivial) exercise to remove unwanted data, archiving or deleting it to save costs and time. Perform setups for strong backup and disaster recovery before migration: While Microsoft provides platform availability, backup and rollback remain your responsibility.
Conclusion
A smoothly managed migration away from SharePoint Server would take 12 to 18 months, whereas the SharePoint Server end of life window is July 2026. Therefore, delays escalate the risks of having potential security as well as productivity-related issues; an audit must be conducted, and a decision must be made as to which option may be suitable – Subscription Edition or SharePoint Online.
What happens if we do not upgrade by 14 July 2026?
Your server will remain operational, but it will be vulnerable to attacks. There will be no more security fixes from Microsoft, leaving your information vulnerable to attacks.
Can I purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) for SharePoint 2016?
Currently, Microsoft has not announced an Extended Security Update (ESU) programme for SharePoint Server. Unlike Exchange or SQL Server, you should not assume a paid extension will be available. You must plan to upgrade or migrate before July 2026 to stay secure.
Is SharePoint Server Subscription Edition free?
No. It requires active Software Assurance (SA). Unlike previous versions, where you owned the licence forever, Subscription Edition requires an active payment. If your Software Assurance lapses, you are contractually required to uninstall the software.
Does SharePoint Online support InfoPath forms?
You will no longer use InfoPath. You will have to re-engineer your forms using Power Apps and your workflows using Power Automate.
How long does a typical migration to SharePoint Online take?
Full-scale migration, including planning, data cleansing, and adoption, takes 6 to 12 months to complete for medium-sized businesses. Large organisations may take longer, up to 18 months and even longer.
Is my data safe in SharePoint Online?
Microsoft makes extensive efforts on the security front, but the backup and restore features are left for you to handle as per the responsibilities defined by the Shared Responsibility Model.
Can we keep some data on-premises and some in the cloud?
A hybrid model can link SharePoint Server SE with SharePoint Online, enabling search and collaboration while keeping sensitive data on premises.
What are the hardware requirements for SharePoint Server SE?
You need Windows Server 2019 or 2022 and SQL Server 2019 or newer. You cannot run SE on older server operating systems.