One of the world’s leading collaboration and document sharing platforms, millions of businesses and their users rely on Microsoft SharePoint as a central pillar of their IT foundations.
As a result of its business-critical status, many organisations continue to operate with established on-premises SharePoint sites powered by SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, avoiding the upheaval and potential business risk of migration to modern alternatives, including public cloud deployments.
However, with the End of Support (EoS) deadline for these legacy software platforms looming on 14th July 2026, those who are yet to make plans for migration face the prospect of one of their most important infrastructure components operating without ongoing updates.
What does End of Support mean in reality?
Those familiar with other legacy Microsoft platforms and OS versions will already know that Microsoft operates with finite support windows for its products. As new versions and software iterations are released, Microsoft is unable to continue supporting these alongside its legacy platforms and will designate a nominated end of support date for older products. For SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, this comes to pass next summer. From this point on, those operating with these software versions will no longer receive feature updates, security patches, bug fixes or technical assistance.
If you continue to run with your existing on-premises environment beyond this point, it’s important to note that your server will continue to function as normal, at least in the short-term. But the absence of updates, and in particular security enhancements, will become an issue over time.
Without regular updates and patches, you’ll likely see the performance of your software degrade over time, while a lack of new compatibility features and integrations will also limit flexibility and opportunities for innovation.
The increased risk of cyber breach is the biggest challenge, however. Like many web-server based platforms, SharePoint is an attractive target for exploit by cyber criminals. The cessation of security patches and updates will leave one of your most valuable IT assets increasingly exposed to emerging attacks. Those in highly-regulated sectors that handle sensitive business data may also find that they are no longer compliant with industry standards such as ISO 27001 or GDPR.
We see SharePoint migration as a business opportunity
While any SharePoint migration is a significant undertaking, the approaching EoS deadline means this requirement needs to be a priority.
However, this doesn’t have to be seen as an unwanted IT headache. At Advania, we see the EoS milestone as the ideal opportunity to review your server strategy, assess what you have today and identify areas where security can be strengthened, technology modernised, and governance streamlined.
Undertaken proactively and strategically, your migration can become a catalyst for modernisation across your organisation that builds solid foundations for years to come.
Finding the right migration opportunity
The two options made available by Microsoft are to migrate your data either to SharePoint Online or SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SPSE).
That process can be complex, especially if your environment includes custom workflows, integrations or third-party applications. Importantly, you shouldn’t think about a migration as simply moving files from A to B. It’s about rebuilding confidence in your data environment – keeping metadata intact, improving content structures, and ensuring governance policies are watertight from day one.
Handled correctly, each option presents a chance to optimise and lay stronger foundations for the future.
1. Move into the fast lane with SharePoint Online
For many organisations, the most strategic choice is to migrate to SharePoint Online (SPO).
Built in Microsoft 365 cloud, SPO offers continuous updates, built-in security and frictionless integration with other tools like Teams, Office and Power Automate. You’ll benefit from the lower infrastructure costs and increased scalability associated with public cloud and have access to Microsoft’s full innovation pipeline.
Yes, refactoring complex customisations can take time, but the payoff is a modern, resilient, cloud-based platform designed for growth. A thoughtful move to SPO doesn’t just replace what you had, it opens the door to a more flexible way of working.
2. Stay in control with SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SPSE)
If keeping data in house is critical for regulatory or policy reasons, SPSE helps you modernise without making the leap into public cloud.
SPSE offers a familiar environment for existing applications and integrations, while updating your infrastructure to today’s security and support standards. It protects data sovereignty, gives you more control, and aligns with modern Microsoft servicing, without the need for a full rebuild.
The key lies in careful planning: ensuring your governance and compliance practices evolve alongside the platform to smooth the migration process.
Expertise that makes your migration seamless
We understand that taking the plunge with one of these options and moving to a new SharePoint platform can feel daunting.
That’s why our SharePoint specialists are here to help to guide you through every stage of a migration programme, from initial assessment right through to user adoption and training.
Our experienced consultants, developers and migration engineers combine deep technical expertise with a people-first mindset, making sure your transition is secure, structured and seamless.
We can help you with:
- Migration readiness assessments that analyse the source environment and identify the complexities and challenges involved in a migration.
- Strategy and roadmap workshops that shape the right cloud or on-premises path for your business.
- Technical consultation sessions which provide a free-of-charge opportunity to discuss migration approach or challenges and where our expertise could assist.
Whatever your next step, our goal remains the same. To protect your data, maintain business continuity and help your organisation adopt the right SharePoint future with confidence.
Don’t wait for the deadline to arrive
July 2026 is only a few months away, and successful migrations take time to plan, test and deliver. Taking a proactive approach now will help your business reduce risk, avoid the implications of EoS, and unlock the benefits of your new SharePoint platform sooner.
Talk to our experts today to start planning a secure, sustainable path to your next platform.
