Is Skype for Business Server’s Subscription Edition built for high-stakes businesses?

Microsoft retired Skype for Business (SfB) Online in 2021 and will end support for SfB Server 2015 and 2019 in October 2025. 

Mainstream support for both SfB Server 2015 and 2019 has ended, which means users are no longer receiving new releases, new features, or important updates. 

Extended support for SfB Server 2015 and 2019 ends on October 14, 2025. 

• Starting from this date, there won’t be any security updates or new features available, leaving your organization potentially exposed to vulnerabilities. 
• However, as per the recent roadmap update from Microsoft, you can continue to use SfB by switching to Subscription Edition (SE). 

What can SfB users do about the end of life?

Microsoft recommends organizations to either migrate to Microsoft Teams or switch to Subscription Edition.

• Microsoft Teams does not support self-hosted deployments. Hence, if you are not comfortable exposing sensitive information to third parties, you need to look for self-hosted, air-gapped solutions that give you complete control over your data.
• The Subscription Edition might be enticing to organizations who want to continue using SfB Server, but it’s not without implications. It’s a step backwards for organizations that need a dependable, reliable, and future-ready communication infrastructure. 

If you are considering the new Subscription Edition, it’s important that you carefully assess your options before making a decision. In this blog, let’s analyze what the Subscription Edition involves and why it may not necessarily be the ideal match for your business.

Is this edition built to meet the future needs of regulated organizations? 

Industries that are regulated, such as defense, government, and financial markets need the highest standards of security, privacy and compliance. Therefore, decisions about Subscription Edition go beyond feature and cost considerations for these organizations. 

For Skype for Business users, the "price of uncertainty" with Subscription Edition is high, from operational risks to potential security vulnerabilities. 

The time to rethink SfB alternatives is now; because waiting only increases costs, disruptions, and leaves you vulnerable without the control that on-premise solutions offer.

Why this edition falls short for regulated industries?

Here’s why the SfB Subscription Edition might not be the best choice for these sectors:

No significant upgrades

‍The Subscription Edition is basically Skype for Business with a new name, offering no major updates. While the SE will offer regular updates and security patches, it won't address the underlying limitations of SfB Server itself. If your organization requires advanced features or improvements, you’re barking up the wrong tree. 

Unpredictable updates and timelines

‍Regulated industries need a reliable platform to achieve their operational goals and meet regulatory standards. The SfB Subscription Edition has already been delayed, with Microsoft pushing the release to early Q3 2025—almost two years later than expected. This edition has no clear future roadmap for updates. Such uncertainties can only cause delays, disrupt operations and long-term planning.

Complicated upgrade path

‍Transitioning to the SfB Subscription Edition involves multiple steps, starting with upgrading from SfB 2015 to SfB 2019, installing CU8, and then upgrading to Subscription Edition in 2025. Extended support ends next October, but Subscription Edition is not available until Q3 2025. This tight timeline is a huge concern to plan migrations and transitions. 

High Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

‍Subscription models often end up costing more than perpetual licenses due to ongoing payments. The pricing for SE is still unclear, adding more uncertainty to budgeting. Plus, your existing SfB licenses won’t transfer, so you’ll need to buy new SE licenses, increasing costs further. Alternatively, you could explore Microsoft’s Software Assurance for added benefits, but that still means additional costs.

Complex licensing terms

‍Microsoft’s licensing structures are complex and frequently change. While the terms for SfB Subscription Edition are yet to be disclosed, they’re likely to be just as complicated and unpredictable as the SE of other Microsoft products such as Exchange Server and SharePoint Server, which poses a challenge for regulated industries that require clear and straightforward licensing. 

AD Schema changes

‍Upgrading from SfB 2015 to SE requires changes to the Active Directory schema, which can complicate things and disrupt your existing infrastructure.

Possible internet requirement

‍It seems the Subscription Edition may require an internet connection for activation, making it unsuitable for air-gapped environments that restrict internet access, or for organizations that need to operate in 100% disconnected mode for utmost security. 

‍Lack of future-proofing

‍The Subscription Edition doesn’t have a clear long-term plan. Regulated industries need solutions that can adapt to future tech and security needs. Without a forward-looking strategy, businesses might end up switching platforms later, leading to disruptions, higher costs, and compliance issues. The lack of a long-term vision could mean costly migrations down the road.

So, what’s next? 

In summary, while the SfB Subscription Edition brings new features and ongoing support, its unpredictability, complicated upgrade process, high costs, and potential disruptions make it less suitable for regulated industries. 

Organizations in these sectors need to carefully assess these factors and explore alternatives that better meet their security and operational needs.