Microsoft Ends Support for Windows 11 and Office Versions; Alternatives Exist

Microsoft is set to officially end support for its popular Office 2021 suite and specific business editions of Windows 11 starting October 13. This move marks a significant shift, impacting thousands of companies in Poland and necessitating crucial decisions regarding their software infrastructure.

The tech giant's decision is a natural progression in the product lifecycle, but its scope will affect a broad range of users. Beyond the flagship Office suite, key operating system editions are being phased out. Support for Windows 11 version 24H2, despite its technical issues, will cease on October 4. The educational version, Windows 11 SE, will also stop receiving updates in October, followed by corporate and school editions of Windows 11 23H2 in November.

While the prospect of losing security updates is concerning, experts suggest that companies do not need to rush into costly cloud migrations. Instead, they can explore alternative strategies to manage IT modernization expenses effectively. For many businesses, Office 2021 is considered the last stable, perpetual license software, free from mandatory AI tools. After October 13, these applications will continue to function but will lose critical security patches, technical support, and compatibility guarantees, leaving users vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Microsoft is naturally encouraging businesses to adopt cloud-based subscription services like Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise versions. However, this is not the only option. IT managers and CFOs facing this deadline are advised not to panic. As Jan Lewandowski, partner manager at Forscope, notes, the end of support can be an opportunity to strengthen an organization's IT strategy, especially if immediate subscription models are too expensive or do not align with the actual needs of employees who primarily use the software for basic tasks.