During its 18 years, SharePoint has transformed significantly. In terms of its complexity and functionality, the web-based digital platform has made huge advances from where it started as it continues to support its users in the digital workplace of today.
To gain the multiple benefits of the latest features in the current SharePoint version, existing users of the platform should weigh up a range of factors before deciding on their upgrade path of choice. This is essential when customers are making a move from the legacy versions to both SharePoint Online in Office 365 and to SharePoint.
A question of support
One of the driving factors for upgrading to a newer version of SharePoint or any collaborative platform is the support supplied by its vendor discontinuing. In 2017, SharePoint 2007 was finally retired and the two-year countdown for extended support for its successor SharePoint 2010, which commenced in October 2018, is well underway. As of 2020, customers using SharePoint versions 2007 and 2010 will no longer benefit from Microsoft support.
Support is always a finite service. SharePoint 2013 is also beyond its date for mainstream support as of April 2018 and now finds itself in the territory of extended support. In this time of extension, Microsoft will provide quick-fixes for security but there will be no feature requests or new design changes made. This means customers currently possessing solutions of a business-critical nature built on these three legacy versions of SharePoint will find themselves at risk within the following two years. To circumvent this, customers should start to plan their move to a more recent version of SharePoint either online through Office 365’s current product suite or on premise.
Users upgrading to a more current version of SharePoint can immediately benefit by reducing risk and associated costs with retaining a legacy version of SharePoint unsupported by Microsoft.
Gaining the benefit of the latest features
In a constant state of development Microsoft is always deploying new and updated features for both SharePoint 2019 and SharePoint Online alike over four specific fields of innovation. None of these are yet in extended support or out of support entirely.
These include investments in privacy and security across Office 365 and powerful and straightforward file-sharing regardless of device, as well as a platform that remains open and connected evolving SharePoint extensibility to encompass web development. Another feature is an intelligent and mobile intranet allowing team sites both business and publishing apps on desktop and mobile devices.
SharePoint 2019 has been particularly designed to offer customers the same simplicity of use SharePoint Online delivers. Both interactive and entertaining for users, this version of SharePoint provides libraries, lists, pages and modern sites that were previously only available via SharePoint Online.
By upgrading to SharePoint 2019, you will ensure your company will benefit not only from these new features, but security updates too, keeping it free from risk.
If your company is considering an upgrade, contact our team here at WM Reply. We’re on hand to answer any concerns or queries you may have.