Skype for Business Server SE Is Generally Available

Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (SE) became generally available July 1, 2025. Like SharePoint Server SE and Exchange Server SE, this version shifts Skype for Business Server to a Modern support life-cycle in which Skype for Business Server SE will receive ongoing Cumulative Updates (CUs) rather than future new versions, and customers must maintain Software Assurance (SA) on their licenses to obtain support and CUs. Customers have only a few months to move to Skype for Business Server SE if they want to remain in a supported configuration.

For customers already on Skype for Business Server 2019 with the latest CUs and hotfixes (CU8HF1), Skype for Business Server SE can be applied as a CU. Although the licensing requirements and version numbers have been changed, no features or installation prerequisites have been removed or added. Skype for Business Server SE can coexist alongside Skype for Business Server 2015 and 2019, which can help customers looking to migrate their installations instead of upgrading in place. However, Microsoft has stated that a future CU or hotfix will disable the coexistence feature, requiring customers to shut down any Skype for Business Server 2015 and 2019 servers running in the same environment as SE servers. No timeline has been announced for future CUs or their features, but CU1 is likely to arrive no later than mid-2026.