Keeping You Ahead: An Update on the EWS to Microsoft Graph Transition

Following up on our recent update about the retirement of Exchange Web Services (EWS), there has been an important development from Microsoft that we want to make sure is on your radar. Microsoft recently shared specific timelines for certain license types, and as always, AvePoint is staying one step ahead to ensure your data management remains uninterrupted.

Here is what you need to know about the updated timeline and how we are ensuring a seamless transition for your environment.

The Latest from Microsoft: Key Deadlines for Frontline Workers

Microsoft has announced that EWS access for Exchange Online Kiosk, Microsoft 365 F1, and Office 365 F1 and F3 licenses will be deprecated earlier than the general population, specifically at the end of June 2026.

While the broader retirement of EWS is still scheduled for October 2026, this move underscores Microsoft’s commitment to migrating to the more modern Microsoft Graph API. If your organization utilizes these specific license types for frontline workers, the transition to Graph will happen on an accelerated schedule.

The AvePoint Roadmap: Our Plan for Your Success

We have built a proactive release schedule to ensure that Cloud Backup for M365, Fly, and Opus are fully prepared well in advance of these deadlines. Our goal is to make this shift invisible to your daily operations.

Here is our phased approach:

• Phase 1: Preparation (February Release) In our upcoming February release, we are updating app permissions to include the necessary scopes for Microsoft Graph.
  • Action Needed: Please reauthorize your AvePoint applications to accept these new permissions. While these permissions aren’t required for functionality immediately, setting them up now ensures you are ready for the code updates later this year.
  • Custom Apps: If you use your own custom applications for these products, our documentation will be updated on February 8th to outline the specific new permissions required.
• Phase 2: Targeted Transition (June Release). In our June release, the code for Cloud Backup for M365, Fly, and Opus will be updated to interact via Microsoft Graph for the three mailbox types specified by Microsoft (Kiosk, F1, and F3). This ensures these users remain protected and manageable as the EWS deprecation for those licenses takes effect.
• Phase 3: Final Integration (August Release). By the August release, we will update the code to interact with Microsoft Graph for all remaining mailbox license types. This puts our customers and partners in a secure position well before Microsoft’s final October 2026 deadline for the general deprecation of EWS.

What We Need from You

We are handling the heavy lifting of the code migration and engineering, but there is one simple step you can take now to ensure a smooth path forward:

Right now, the only action required is to reauthorize your AvePoint applications. By accepting the new permissions in February, you provide the necessary foundation for our June and August updates to take effect without further intervention. If you are using custom applications, please refer to our documentation for instructions on adding the required Microsoft Graph permissions.  

February Release Schedule

Application permission updates and our documentation will come in our February release as follows:

• AOS Commercial – February 8th, 2026
• AOS US – March 1st, 2026
• AOS FedRAMP – March 8th, 2026

We remain in close communication with Microsoft’s engineering teams to ensure this transition is nothing more than a footnote in your successful year. We will continue to communicate frequently and provide in-product assistance to guide you every step of the way.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. If you have any questions about your specific environment, reach out to your AvePoint account team for help.