SharePoint 2013 End of Life – All You Need to Know About

SharePoint is one of the most widely used content management systems. It allows businesses to collaborate, manage, and share data within the organization. The platform has been around for more than a decade. And with the release of SharePoint 2013, businesses saw significant improvements in terms of collaboration, mobile access, social integration, and more. However, Microsoft has announced that SharePoint 2013 has reached its end-of-life (EOL). This means that it will no longer receive support, updates, and security patches. In this article, we’ll discuss what SharePoint 2013 End-of-life means for businesses and what they need to know to stay on top of their game.

What is SharePoint 2013 End-of-life?

SharePoint 2013 was released in 2012 and has since then served as a reliable content management system for businesses of all sizes. However, every software has a lifecycle, and Microsoft has announced that SharePoint 2013 has reached its end-of-life on April 11, 2023. This means that Microsoft will no longer release updates, security patches, and technical support for SharePoint 2013. Businesses that are still using SharePoint 2013 will be exposed to various security risks and vulnerabilities that can compromise their data and put their reputation at risk.

What Are the Risks of Using Sharepoint 2013 After End-of-life?

Using SharePoint 2013 after EOL can put businesses at various risks, including:

• Security Vulnerabilities: Microsoft will no longer release security patches for SharePoint 2013, which means that businesses will be exposed to various security vulnerabilities that can compromise their data.
• Compliance Issues: Regulatory compliance is a crucial aspect of businesses, and using outdated software can put them at risk of non-compliance.
• Compatibility Issues: As businesses upgrade their hardware and software, using an outdated content management system can lead to compatibility issues that can hinder their operations.
• Lack Of Support: With the end of support for SharePoint 2013, businesses will no longer receive technical support from Microsoft, which can be crucial for resolving issues and ensuring a seamless operation.

 

What Are the Options For Businesses After Sharepoint 2013 End-of-life?

Businesses that are still using SharePoint 2013 have two options. Either they should migrate to a newer version of SharePoint or switch to another content management system. Let’s discuss both options in detail.

Option 1: Migrate To A Newer Version Of Sharepoint

Migrating to a newer version of SharePoint is the most feasible option for businesses that have heavily invested in SharePoint and want to continue using it. SharePoint 2019 and SharePoint Online (Office 365) are the latest versions of SharePoint, and businesses can migrate their data, customizations, and workflows to either of these versions. Migrating to a newer version of SharePoint offers several benefits, including:

• Improved Security: The latest versions of SharePoint come with improved security features that can keep businesses’ data safe from various threats.
• Better Collaboration: SharePoint 2019 and SharePoint Online come with advanced collaboration features that can improve teamwork and productivity.
• Increased Mobility: The latest versions of SharePoint offer better mobile access, allowing businesses to access their data from anywhere, anytime.
• Seamless Integration: The latest versions of SharePoint integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft tools, such as Teams, PowerApps, and Power BI, enabling businesses to streamline their operations.

 

However, migrating to a newer version of SharePoint can be a complex process that requires careful planning, testing, and execution. Hence, businesses need to hire SharePoint migration services to ensure a seamless migration process that doesn’t compromise their data and operations.

Option 2: Switch To Another Content Management System

If businesses don’t want to migrate to a newer version of SharePoint, they can switch to another content management system that suits their needs. There are several content management systems available in the market, including:

• Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that allows businesses to chat, call, and collaborate in real-time. It comes with advanced features such as file sharing, task management, and integration with other Microsoft tools.
• Google Workspace: Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and more. It offers real-time collaboration, easy integration, and advanced security features.
• Dropbox: It is a cloud-based file hosting service that allows businesses to store, share, and access their data from anywhere, anytime. It comes with advanced security features, easy collaboration, and integration with other tools.
• Box: Box is a cloud-based content management system that allows businesses to store, share, and manage their data securely. It comes with advanced security features, real-time collaboration, and integration with other tools.

 

Switching to another content management system can offer businesses several benefits, including improved security, better collaboration, and advanced features. However, businesses need to carefully evaluate their options and choose a content management system that meets their requirements.

How To Migrate from Sharepoint 2013?

Migrating from SharePoint 2013 requires careful planning, testing, and execution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help businesses migrate from SharePoint 2013 to a newer version of SharePoint:

• Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Sharepoint Environment

Businesses need to evaluate their current SharePoint environment to identify the data, customizations, and workflows. It needs to assess third-party applications that need to be migrated.

• Step 2: Choose A Migration Method

Businesses can choose from several migration methods, including:

• In-Place Upgrade: Upgrading SharePoint 2013 to a newer version of SharePoint in the same environment.
• Database Attaches Upgrade: Upgrading SharePoint 2013 to a newer version of SharePoint in a new environment.
• Hybrid Migration: Migrating data to SharePoint Online (Office 365) while keeping the on-premises SharePoint 2013 environment.

• Step 3: Prepare For Migration

Businesses need to prepare for migration by creating a migration plan and testing the migration process. It also needs to ensure that it meets all the prerequisites.

• Step 4: Migrate Data

Businesses can migrate data using various tools, such as the SharePoint Migration Tool, the SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool, and third-party migration tools.

• Step 5: Validate & Test the Migration

Businesses need to validate and test the migration to ensure that all data, customizations, and workflows have been migrated successfully.

• Step 6: Go Live

Businesses can go live once the migration is successful. It ensures that all users are trained on the new SharePoint environment.

Conclusion

SharePoint 2013 has been a reliable content management system for businesses. But, with its end-of-life approaching, businesses need to migrate to a newer version of SharePoint or switch to another content management system. This will help you to avoid security risks, compliance issues, and compatibility issues. Migrating to a newer version of SharePoint requires careful planning, testing, and execution. Therefore, businesses need to hire SharePoint migration services to ensure a seamless migration process. Switching to another content management system can also offer businesses several benefits, including improved security, better collaboration, and advanced features.