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

Support Policy Summary

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

Support life-cycle policies limit what types of Microsoft product support are available for a technology based on its age and other factors. This information can influence when an organization needs to upgrade or replace a Microsoft technology, because it can be costly and risky to maintain systems on Microsoft technology without Microsoft product support.

The three current Microsoft support life-cycle policies are summarized here. The on-premises or traditional policy applies to most software purchased with perpetual licenses in Microsoft volume licensing, the primary focus of the Enterprise Software Roadmap.

On-Premises (Traditional) Policy
Level of support	Mainstream: Receive free security and nonsecurity updates, request product design and features, purchase paid support contracts.
	Extended: Receive free security updates, purchase paid support contracts that include nonsecurity updates.
Duration of support	Mainstream: Five years (from date of general

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