When you move to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, whether on cloud or on premise, ensure your understand the requirements to keep your system updated. The Modern Lifecycle Policy covers products and services that are serviced and supported continuously.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/30881/modern-lifecycle-policy
The Finance and Operations online service and the Finance and Operations (on-premises) software are covered by the Modern Lifecycle Policy. Licensed customers must stay current with updates to the Finance and Operations online service or the Finance and Operations (on-premises) software in accordance with the following servicing and system requirements:
•Starting with the release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations version 1611, application versions are supported for three years from the initial date of a major release, as specified in Table 1 later in this topic.
• Platform versions are supported for one year . Platform versions maintain backward compatibility. . Critical fixes and non-critical updates are handled in the following way:
Critical fixes – Microsoft may provide a customer with a hotfix for their current platform version of Finance and Operations, or a fix may be provided in the latest platform version of Finance and Operations, at its discretion.
Non-critical updates – Customers must update to the most current Finance and Operations platform version to deploy non-critical updates.
On-premises software update policies
On-premises deployments
The customer is in full control of its on-premises deployments and must follow this policy. The customer is in control of installing updates in its on-premises environments. Microsoft will support the Finance and Operations (on-premises) software through December 31, 2027, at a minimum, but only if the customer keeps the deployed software current according to this policy.
The Finance and Operations (on-premises) software is licensed and supported under the Modern Lifecycle Policy. This policy requires that the customer maintain Software Assurance (SA) or the Enhancement Plan, and that it deploys updates . Customers who want to use the Fixed Support Lifecycle Policy (5+5) must downgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3.
When a customer lapses on SA or the Enhancement Plan, then it will be eligible only for the perpetual license rights to AX 2012 R3 and must uninstall the Finance and Operations (on-premises) software.
The initial release of the Finance and Operations (on-premises) software will be based on Platform update 8 and the July 2017 update of the application.
For details of what changed with which each update see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/get-started/what’s-new-changed.
Be aware also if deployed on premise of related products like SQL, Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, Visual Studio, Sharepoint etc that may also need to be upgraded.
Note that both Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 support will end in 2018
Here are some products for which support will end in 2018 start planning:
The following list represents some of the products reaching end of support in the next year. For a comprehensive list of Microsoft products and their lifecycle policy timelines, please search the Microsoft Lifecycle Product Database.
Products Under the Modern Policy Moving to End of Support:
The following products, governed by the Modern Policy, have announced end of support for 2018. There will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates.
Products Under the Modern Policy Moving to End of Support
Effective end dates are shown against each>
Microsoft Azure Mobile Engagement March 31, 2018
Parature, from Microsoft
Microsoft Dynamics Marketing May 15, 2018
Adxstudio Portals v7 October 9, 2018
Fixed Policy Products Moving to End of Support:
The following products will be reaching end of support in 2018. There will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates.
Microsoft Dynamics C5 2014
Microsoft Expression Encoder
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, all editions
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, all editions
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Phone Edition
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
Microsoft PlayReady Server Software Development Kit v. 2.0
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007
Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011
Windows Embedded Device Manager Software Development Kit
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise, released in November 2015**
Windows 10 Mobile, released in November 2015**
January 9, 2018
FAST Unity 2.5 April 1, 2018
Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, all editions
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008, all editions
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008, all editions
Microsoft System Center Capacity Planner 2007
Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition
Windows Embedded CE 6.0
April 10, 2018
FAST Featured Content 1.3
FAST Recommendations 2.2 April 23, 2018
FAST ESP 5.2 May 9, 2018
FAST ImPulse 5.0 July 1, 2018
Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008
Microsoft Search Server 2008, all editions
StorSimple 5000/7000 Series
Windows Web Server 2008
July 10, 2018
FAST ESP 5.3 July 16, 2018
FAST Recommendations 2.5 October 8, 2018
Lync for Mac 2011
Lync Meeting room
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization
Microsoft Expression Blend 2
Microsoft Expression Design 2
Microsoft Expression Encoder 2
Microsoft Expression Studio 2
Microsoft Expression Web 2
October 9, 2018
FAST AdMomentum 3 November 2, 2018
Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway, Medium Business Edition November 12, 2018
FAST ImPulse 5.1 December 18, 2018
Products Transitioning from Mainstream to Extended Support: The following products will be moving from Mainstream Support into Extended Support over the next year. Extended Support lasts for a minimum of 5 years and includes security updates at no cost, and paid non-security updates and support. Additionally, Microsoft will not accept requests for design changes or new features during the Extended Support phase.
Products Moving from Mainstream to Extended Support
Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.1 for Remote Desktop Services
Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.1 for Windows Desktops
Microsoft Application Virtualization Hosting 5.1 for Windows Desktops
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2
Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Software Development Kit
Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Tools for Applications Software Development Kit
Service Bus for Windows Server
Windows 8.1, all editions
Workflow Manager 1.0
Workflow Manager Client 1.0
Workflow Manager Tools for Visual Studio 2012
January 9, 2018
Exchange Server 2013, all editions
Microsoft Access 2013
Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management 4.0
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013
Microsoft Excel 2013
Microsoft HPC Pack 2012
Microsoft HPC Pack 2012 R2
Microsoft Lync 2013
Microsoft Lync Phone Edition
Microsoft Lync Server 2013, all editions
Microsoft Office 2013
Microsoft Office Web Apps Server 2013
Microsoft OneNote 2013
Microsoft Outlook 2013
Microsoft PowerPoint 2013
Microsoft Project 2013, all editions
Microsoft Project Server 2013
Microsoft Publisher 2013
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
Microsoft Visio 2013
Microsoft Word 2013
Skype for Business 2015
April 10, 2018
Microsoft Lync 2013 Software Development Kit April 20, 2018
BizTalk Server 2013, all editions
BizTalk Server 2013 R2, all editions
Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring 2.0
Windows Embedded 8 Standard
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Enterprise
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro
July 10, 2018
Microsoft Audit and Control Management Server 2013
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Parallel Data Warehouse
Windows Embedded Compact 2013
Windows Multipoint Server 2012, all editions
Windows Server 2012, all editions
Windows Server 2012 R2, all editions
Windows Server Update Services for Windows Server 2012
Windows Storage Server 2012, all editions
Windows Storage Server 2012 R2, all editions
October 9, 2018
** = Windows 10 follows the Windows as a Service (WaaS) lifecycle.
