Skype for Business Online Changes Affect Clients

• Changes planned for Skype for Business Online during July 2019 could require immediate customer action.
• Recent Skype for Business or Lync client versions will be required for connectivity.
• Microsoft-certified Skype for Business IP Phones will require firmware updates to sign in to Office 365.
• Licensing changes will end the availability of Skype for Business Online stand-alone plans.

Skype for Business client applications using the older 3DES encryption cipher will be unable to connect to Skype for Business Online after July 10, 2019, and implementation of newer authentication protocols on the service will require updates to most Skype for Business IP Phones by July 1, 2019. Additionally, Skype for Business Online stand-alone Plan 2 licenses will no longer be available for new or renewing subscriptions, further restricting access to the service in favor of Microsoft Teams.

3DES Deprecation Will Break Older Clients

Effective July 10, 2019, customers will no longer be able to connect to Office 365 services using 3DES ciphers for encryption in transit. Skype for Business Online is among the services impacted by this change. Older Skype for Business client software and devices that rely on 3DES will no longer be able to connect to Skype for Business Online and must be replaced or updated. Affected clients include the following: