customer service manager skype microsoft

Preparing Your Business for the End of Life of Skype for Business

As Microsoft announces the end-of-life for Skype for Business, businesses that rely heavily on this platform need to take immediate action to ensure a seamless transition to Microsoft Teams. With the deadline approaching fast, it's essential to invest in training and prepare your organization for a direct upgrade to Teams Only mode.

Although some familiar features from Skype for Business will be available in Teams, such as chat, video conferencing, and voice calls, users may still require support during the transition period. To minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth migration, it's crucial that businesses plan carefully for this change.

One option is to implement a gradual upgrade by running both Skype and Teams in parallel using one of the co-existence modes. However, with the short timescales involved, this approach may not be practical for most organizations. Instead, it's recommended that customers focus on a direct upgrade to Teams Only mode as soon as possible.

Skype for Business Online will no longer receive updates or security patches after its retirement date, which is set for July 31, 2021. Mainstream support for Server customers will be available until January 2024, and extended support will be available until October 2025. After this date, the platform will no longer be accessible.

Businesses using the on-premises version of Skype for Business, specifically Skype for Business Server 2019, are not affected by this announcement at present. However, it's still important to plan ahead and prepare for potential changes in the future.

In conclusion, businesses that rely on Skype for Business Online need to take immediate action to ensure a successful transition to Microsoft Teams. With the deadline fast approaching, investing in training and planning a direct upgrade to Teams Only mode is essential for minimizing disruptions and ensuring business continuity.

Customer service manager skype microsoft