October 14, 2025 marks the end of the era for Skype for Business Server, including its 2015 and 2019 versions. From this date, Microsoft will stop providing security updates and technical support for these solutions. If you’re still using these servers, it’s crucial to consider a transition to more modern tools like Microsoft Teams, which has largely replaced and surpassed Skype for Business’s functionality.
Why is this transition important?
With the end of support, continuing to use Skype for Business Server would expose your organization to security and compliance risks. Security updates, essential to protect against vulnerabilities, will no longer be available. What’s more, new features and enhancements will no longer be integrated into the platform, rendering it obsolete over time.
What are your options?
- Migrate to Microsoft Teams: Teams offers unified communications and collaboration capabilities superior to Skype for Business. By adopting Teams, you can benefit from an enhanced meeting, calling and collaboration experience, while remaining within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Hybrid coexistence: If you have specific needs that require Skype for Business Server to be maintained, you can opt for a hybrid configuration. This allows you to use Skype for Business Server in parallel with Teams, offering a smoother transition.
- Migrate to Skype for Business Server SE: If you want to keep a server on site and not migrate immediately to the cloud, you can migrate to Skype for Business Server Standard Edition (SE). The SE version is a simplified solution designed for smaller or less complex environments. It enables instant messaging, presence, conferencing and telephony functions to be deployed for local users.
Planning and support
Microsoft offers tools to facilitate this transition, such as the Assisted Upgrade program, which helps migrate users from Skype for Business to Teams. You should also consult the resources offered by Microsoft, such as the FastTrack program, to ensure a smooth migration. If you need personalized technical support, you can call on professional services such as Solulan for example😉, to guide you through the migration process.
It is therefore imperative that you prepare your migration plan now to avoid any interruption in service and to guarantee the security of your communications after the end of support for Skype for Business Server.
