What’s the Next Step for Microsoft SharePoint 2016 and 2019 End of Life

On July 14, 2026, Microsoft will officially end support for SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 — meaning no more security fixes, assisted support options, or technical content updates.

While systems won’t shut down overnight, the real risk grows. Unsupported platforms can’t evolve with business demands and will constrain an organization’s ability to scale and adapt. 

For Microsoft customers, this creates security and operational risk. Managed service providers (MSPs), distributors, and partners are uniquely positioned to serve as advisors, guiding organizations through this change with strategy, migration expertise, and ongoing governance and security services. 

Let’s explore what this means for customers and partners, the logical next steps, and how to make migrations simpler, more complete, and smoother for admins and end users.

Why This Matters for Customers and Partners

While SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 will continue to run, organizations that remain on unsupported platforms face heightened operational, cost, and regulatory risks. Enterprises running end-of-life infrastructure are 62% more likely to experience multisystem failure during a critical incident, leaving known and emerging vulnerabilities unaddressed.

Here are the risks that come along with the SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 end of life:

• Security exposure. Unsupported software is a well‑documented weakness in regulatory frameworks, such as NIST SP 800‑53 SA‑22, and increases cyber risk. NIST recommends replacing unsupported components or isolating them from public networks — neither of which is scalable long‑term.
• Compliance challenges. Many frameworks and certifications, like ISO 27001 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), require supported software and timely patching. Running out‑of‑support platforms complicates audits and may force compensating controls, isolation, or costly third‑party arrangements.
• Operational and cost risks. Past end-of-life events show rising maintenance costs, shrinking vendor ecosystem support, and longer mean‑time‑to‑restore when incidents occur. Data recovery from outdated systems can take 3x longer than modern cloud-native solutions.

The Microsoft SharePoint 2016 and 2019 end of life is more than a technical milestone, but also a chance to modernize how work gets done — to simplify content footprint, strengthen security, and deliver a modern collaboration experience that feels effortless. 

Modernize Work, Not Just Workloads

Organizations have three migration paths to minimize disruption and maximize business value:

1. Move to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition

A stable, lower‑risk option for enterprises that can’t move to the cloud yet because of:

• Regulatory or data residency constraints.
• Existing infrastructure investments they want to maximize.

2. Migrate to SharePoint Online

This path provides a strong and flexible long‑term value, such as:

• Reduced IT overhead.
• Automatic updates and built‑in security.
• Better collaboration for hybrid/remote teams.
• Integrations with the entire Microsoft 365 suite.

3. Use the Deadline to Explore New Platforms

For organizations reevaluating their stack or seeking specialized functionality, options may include:

• Dedicated knowledge management platforms.
• Intranet or digital workplace solutions.
• Industry‑specific content platforms.
• Multicloud or hybrid collaboration environments.

Some companies will move to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE) to retain on‑premises control under a modern lifecycle. Others will adopt hybrid patterns for data sovereignty. But for most, SharePoint Online (SPO) offers greater resilience, risk reduction, and business value. 

What to Do Next: A Pragmatic 6‑Step Plan

The clock is ticking. Start planning now to avoid costly downtime and missed opportunities.

1. Assess your current environment. Audit servers, site collections, custom workflows, permissions, redundant/obsolete/trivial (ROT) content, and sharing patterns. Use pre‑migration assessment tools to surface blockers early.
2. Choose your modernization path. Default to SPO for cloud-first digital transformation unless data residency or application constraints require SE or hybrid solutions. Document exceptions and planned compensating controls up front.
3. Establish your timeline. Migration can take anywhere from three months to two years, depending on the complexity; earlier planning helps ensure smoother execution.
4. Map workflows and integrations. Classify information architecture, retention/labeling, sharing policies, and role‑based training. Use dashboards and automated reporting for executive and audit alignment.
5. Pilot first, then scale. Test your approach with a representative pilot group. Refine your cutover plan, communications, and governance model before expanding in waves.
6. Prepare users and administrators. Ensure training, communication, and post‑migration support are built into your execution plan.

Organizations that act now reduce risk, simplify their collaboration stack, and prepare for modern capabilities across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Partners can help enterprises as consultants and advisors to move early and deliberately, rather than reacting under pressure as the deadline approaches. 

De-Risk and Accelerate Your Move

MSPs, distributors, and partners can play a critical role in planning, migration, governance, and ongoing support — ensuring change is manageable, secure, and aligned with business objectives. They can deliver real value in:

Simplicity That Shortens Time‑to‑Value

• Pre‑migration analysis and planning. This phase is where you inventory information architecture, size, customizations, and risk areas, so you can scope, schedule, and sequence migrations with eyes wide open.
• Straightforward execution. Drag‑and‑drop moves, reusable policies, incremental cutovers, and real‑time dashboards mean your team spends less time wrestling with tools and more time delivering milestones.
• Flexible delivery. Organizations must be provided with an option to choose whether self‑managed, assisted, or fully managed work for them, depending on internal capacity ahead of the deadline. 

Completeness and Granularity — Nothing Gets Left Behind

• Broad source coverage. From legacy SharePoint to Teams, file sharing, and more — use one platform to consolidate your content into SPO, reducing tool‑chain complexity.
• Full‑fidelity moves. Migrate permissions, metadata, versions, and configurations with granular filters, taking only what matters (down to lists, libraries, web parts, and views).
• Performance at scale. High‑speed migrations leverage Microsoft‑recommended APIs and patterns.

Seamless Experience for Admins and End Users — Before, During, and After Migration

• Zero/low‑impact cutovers. Keep environments online and use incremental passes to minimize downtime. Users move with their context intact, reducing help‑desk volume.
• Transparent reporting. Executive‑level and granular progress reports keep stakeholders aligned; automated notifications reduce status‑chasing.
• Identity‑first migrations. New capabilities help align who your users are with what they work on, smoothing tenant consolidations and permissions continuity, which is critical for access governance and AI‑readiness.

With the right preparation and partner support, organizations can turn a mandatory transition into a meaningful modernization opportunity.

Start your modernization journey with AvePoint Confidence Platform.