Skype for Business is retiring on July 31st 2021 - What to expect
Over two years ago, Microsoft announced that Skype for Business Online would be retired on July 31, 2021. Now that we are a mere three months from that date, Microsoft is providing more details and information for moving existing Skype for Business customers to Microsoft Teams. It’s important to note that the retirement of Skype for Business Online does not affect the Skype consumer service or Skype for Business Server. These services will continue to operate as normal.
If you are unfamiliar with Microsoft Teams, it is more than just a new chat application. Teams is a communication solution for chatting, meeting, calling, and collaborating with people inside and outside of your organization. It even includes an interface for file storage and app integration across Microsoft 365. You can learn more about Microsoft Teams here or check out our blog on creating SharePoint team sites directly in Microsoft Teams.
What happens on July 31st?
Skype for Business Online will officially be retired. This means that current customers will have through July 31st to transition users to Teams or an instance of Skype for Business Server. Any third party services that integrate with Skype for Business Online will not be supported after July 31st.
Microsoft encourages customers to begin as soon as possible. Organizations that begin using Teams right away can run Skype for Business Online at the same time. This coexistence mode will allow your users to get used to using Microsoft Teams and accelerate a finalized transition to the new system.
Assistance with upgrade to Teams
Microsoft has begun to reach out to Skype for Business customers to schedule Microsoft-assisted upgrades to Teams. If you haven’t been contacted by Microsoft there are self service tools available to make the upgrade. As a certified Microsoft Partner, we can also help you make the transition and assist users with onboarding and training within Microsoft Teams. Get in touch with us below to begin that process.
Resources for transitioning to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has put together a great list of resources for helping you get started with the transition process to Microsoft Teams. Check out their documentation below:
Get started with Microsoft Teams
If you are unsure how your organization should begin transitioning to Microsoft Teams, our Microsoft 365 Technical Team can provide assistance with licensing, project planning, and training. Get in touch with us to schedule a call to get started.