Microsoft Office 2016/2019 End of Support: What It Really Means for Your Organization

Most organizations already know that Windows 10 and Exchange Server are reaching end of support, but many don’t realize Microsoft Office 2016 and 2019 officially ended support on October 14, 2025. And for many teams, Office isn’t just software, it’s where work happens. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint… they’re the tools we use every single day to communicate, collaborate, and stay productive.

That’s why this shift matters. It’s not just an IT update, it impacts your people, your data, and your ability to operate securely and confidently.

What End of Support Really Means (In Human Terms)

When Microsoft says “end of support,” here’s what’s actually happening:

No More Security Protection

Your Office apps stop receiving fixes, patches, and updates.
No matter how careful your team is, outdated software becomes an easy target for attackers, especially ransomware and macro-based threats.

No More Microsoft Help

If something breaks, crashes, or behaves strangely, Microsoft support can’t assist.
Your IT team is left troubleshooting blind.

Higher Security & Compliance Risk

Organizations in regulated industries, such as education, healthcare, finance, government, may face audit issues or compliance gaps just by running unsupported Office versions.

Growing Compatibility Problems

Over time, Office 2019 will stop playing nicely with:

• Windows 11

• OneDrive

• Teams

• Microsoft 365 cloud services

• Third-party add-ins your staff rely on

This can create friction in your workflows and downtime for your team.

Why This Matters for Your People

This isn’t just about versions, it’s about experience.

When your team opens Excel and something doesn’t sync…
When Outlook crashes right before a meeting…
When files won’t open the way they used to…

It slows everything down. The human cost is real:
lost time, rising frustration, stalled collaboration, and more work for your IT staff.

Humanizing IT means preventing those pain points before they hit.

Your Upgrade Path: What Comes Next

Depending on how your organization prefers to manage software, you have three solid options:

1. Microsoft 365 Apps (Subscription)

Best for teams that want continuous innovation and the most secure, collaborative experience.

• Always up to date

• Includes core Office apps + Teams

• Real-time collaboration and OneDrive integration

• AI features like Microsoft Copilot

• Included with plans like Business Premium or Standard

This is the path most organizations are taking today.

2. Office 2024 (Perpetual License)

A one-time purchase for teams that prefer traditional software models.

• No subscription

• Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote (Outlook in Home & Business)

• Security updates through October 2029

• No new features after purchase

This works best for organizations with stable needs and limited cloud use.

3. Office LTSC 2024

Built for specialized environments that need long-term stability and limited connectivity.

• Ideal for regulated, manufacturing, or air-gapped systems

• No cloud dependency

• Long-term support without feature changes

The Risks of Staying Put

Staying on Office 2019 after October 14, 2025 means exposing your organization to:

• Security vulnerabilities (no patches, higher attack risk)

• Compliance violations

• Integration failures with modern tools

• Operational downtime and increased IT load

• Fewer productivity features and no AI advancements

Unsupported software adds friction to everyday work, and that’s exactly what we’re here to prevent.

The Bottom Line

Continuing to use Office 2019 is a bit like driving without insurance: it works… until it doesn’t. And when something goes wrong, the cost, financially and operationally, is much higher.

Upgrading doesn’t just check a compliance box. It protects your people, your data, and the smooth, human-centered experience your organization deserves.

Matrix Integration can help your team choose the right path, plan the rollout, and make the transition seamless, so your people can keep working without disruption.