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  • Insights

Microsoft Ignite 2020 – Exchange Updates

Joe Hoegler

2 min read

All Insights

If you are running Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016 and are still on-premises, you may be considering whether to stay on-premises or move to Exchange Online. After almost 25 years of history, there will be some significant shifts to Exchange Server.

New version of Exchange Server on-premises will be released

  • The target is the second half of 2021 and will align with new on-premises releases of SharePoint Sever, Skype for Business Server, and Project Server
  • On-premises server platforms will only be available via a subscription license – the license will entitle access to support, product updates, security, and time zone patches
  • Office will also have a new release in the second half of 2021

Next version of Exchange Server will support in-place upgrades from Exchange 2019

  • This will be supported for a period of approximately two years from release
  • The last time an in-place upgrade was supported was from Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2003 – side-by-side migrations have been required since that point
  • The goal is to ease migrations from Exchange 2019 into the subscription release
  • Microsoft recommends that all Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016 environments that plan to remain even partially on-premises upgrade to Exchange 2019 over the next year – this will prepare for an easier transition to the subscription release next year
  • Side-by-side migrations will still be supported and may be the most appropriate path for a client depending on specific factors (e.g. hardware upgrade, significant architecture change, etc.)

Next version of Exchange Server will support coexistence with Exchange 2013 through Exchange 2019

  • This has historically been only two versions back – Microsoft is keeping coexistence supported for Exchange 2013 unexpectedly

Cross-tenant migration in Public Preview

  • Currently, to migrate from one Exchange Online tenant to another one (think a merger/acquisition), mailboxes had to be fully offboarded from EXO and then migrated to the new tenant or a third-party tool was required
  • This new feature will avoid the offboard/onboard approve and mostly eliminate dependencies on on-premises components

You can read the full official announcement at https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/exchange-news-and-announcements-microsoft-ignite-2020-edition/ba-p/1662224 and learn in more detail at the Ignite session at https://aka.ms/MicrosoftIgnite2020/Exchange/Sessions/0033.

If you would like to arrange for a discussion with one of our experts, please reach out.

Author

  • Tracy

    Passionate about efficiency, and meaningful, engaging experiences.
    Over the past decade overseeing the marketing and business development efforts at Kraft Kennedy, my focus has been digital transformation, implementing data-informed strategies that align cross-functional teams with a vision for growth.
    Leveraging expertise in business process improvement, technology adoption, and transition management, I help drive initiatives that enhance organizational performance. Harnessing technology to achieve more.
    My work focuses on understanding the changing needs of law firm professionals, and developing opportunities for knowledge exchange and delivery of actionable insights from technology experts.