Sanction Slack within your business to those users that already have it or want it.

Cross-reference those users against the number of Skype for Business licenses.

Survey users to see who already use Slack.

Use the guidance provided by Microsoft - or the auto-upgrade facility when your time comes. There are a few options on how to deal with this conundrum: Option 1 - block Slackīlock Slack and force all users to use Microsoft Teams. Slack is famed for its favorable UI and it's likely users will petition the need for Teams when Slack is already in use. This doesn't instantly mean they will want to adopt Microsoft Teams, however. When instances of Slack exist, the upgrade from Skype to Teams is the perfect opportunity to review how your teams collaborate.įrequent users of Slack will be used to the team-based chat platforms more so than your Skype only users. We commonly refer to this extension of shadow IT as shadow messaging. The likelihood of only using Skype for chat and messaging is slim.Įven if unsanctioned, there is likely a small group - or a huge group - of Slack users collaborating in your business. If you only use Skype now, there are plenty of tools and information to support you. The resources above should help if your migration from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams is straight forward.

You may also like: Upgrading to Microsoft Teams, but also have Slack users? What to do if you have Slack and Skype for Business? Microsoft also published a dedicated Microsoft Teams overview page where you can get to know Teams more intimately. IT admins should lookout for an email from 'Plan For Change' as this appears to be the only notice given. A safe move for Microsoft to test whether their auto-upgrade facility works. Mostly, businesses with Skype for Business Online but no usage tend to have been upgraded. Some small businesses have been upgraded. We've covered the Skype to Teams auto-upgrade topic. Skype for Business end of life auto-upgrades Skype for Business Online will no longer be supported by Microsoft on July 31st 2021. It is important to make the distinction between Skype for Skype for Business. Yes, Microsoft will continue to support Skype. However, there are numerous other options for business to explore. There is no formal communication from Microsoft regarding the Skype for Business end of life date for on-premises versions of Skype for Business. Furthermore, Skype for Business Online has an end of life date of July 31st 2021. Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Teams has achieved feature parity with Skype for Business. Skype is not being discontinued but Skype for Business Online will be discontinued on July 31st 2021. Microsoft has communicated the end of life date for Skype for Business Online as July 31st 2021. There is also the option to extend the support date if you're yet to migrate away.Ĭommon FAQs include: Is Skype for Business end of life? Several Microsoft partners and customers have reported extended support dates in their Skype for Business admins portals. As such, any Microsoft partners providing Skype for Business Online solutions and add-ons will also be unsupported.īut, that's not to say every instance of Skype for Business Online has been shut off. This means Skype for Business Online will no longer be officially supported by Microsoft. According to Microsoft, we have now reached Skype for Business Online end of life date: July 31, 2021.

Skype end of life dates