Updated: July 15, 2020 (November 7, 2016)

Exchange Server Overview

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Exchange 2016 became generally available in Oct. 2015. Exchange 2013 SP1 is now required for Exchange 2013 support. Exchange 2010 Mainstream support ended in Jan. 2015, and that version is now in its Extended support phase. Exchange Server 2007 SP3 has one year remaining on Extended support.

New features and enhancements in Exchange 2016 include the reduction to a single primary server role, better search performance, security and compliance additions, improved mechanisms to keep database replicas synchronized, more efficient site recovery, and support for the Resilient File System (ReFS) introduced in Windows Server 2012. The Web-based client included with Exchange 2016 (now called Outlook on the web) includes new features such as automatic attachment storage in SharePoint Online, SharePoint Server 2016, or OneDrive for Business. Exchange 2016 also supports new features that are available in Outlook 2016.

Exchange 2016 supports coexistence with Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2013 servers in the same deployment.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now