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.
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.
Using SharePoint 2013 after EOL can put businesses at various risks, including:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
Businesses can choose from several migration methods, including:
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.
Businesses can migrate data using various tools, such as the SharePoint Migration Tool, the SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool, and third-party migration tools.
Businesses need to validate and test the migration to ensure that all data, customizations, and workflows have been migrated successfully.
Businesses can go live once the migration is successful. It ensures that all users are trained on the new SharePoint environment.
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.