Updated: July 11, 2022 (September 17, 2019)

Exchange Online Versus Exchange Server

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

Exchange Online can reduce cost, improve scalability, and reduce risk compared with upgrading Exchange Server on-premises.
Exchange Online end users will get most Exchange Server capabilities plus improvements for filtering and team collaboration.
Management and compliance differences and limits require preparation and will offset some benefits.

Exchange Online offers Exchange Server e-mail, calendar, contacts, and task management hosted by Microsoft. It is sold both by itself and as part of Office 365 suites of services. Organizations considering an upgrade to Exchange Server on-premises could get cost, scalability, and risk management benefits by migrating to Exchange Online instead, and they will get similar but not identical capabilities. However, differences between Exchange Online and Exchange Server on-premises could limit the benefits. This report lists factors for management to consider when deciding whether to move from Exchange Server on-premises to Exchange Online and some risks to watch for after committing to the move.

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