Microsoft has issued a clear reminder that Microsoft Access 2016 and Access 2019 — like many Office-era products — will reach official end of support on October 14, 2025, meaning security updates, bug fixes, and technical assistance stop on that date and users who remain on these versions will assume growing operational and security risk. (support.microsoft.com)
Microsoft has repeatedly urged customers to plan migrations now, saying that while the apps will continue to run, continuing to use unsupported builds exposes individuals and organizations to serious and potentially harmful security risks. The company’s official guidance explicitly notes there will be no Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Office 2016/2019 — this is a departure from past practices that offered paid ESU bridges for some Windows releases. (support.microsoft.com) (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Advantages:
Plan now, test early, and budget deliberately — those steps will convert the looming deadline from a crisis into a managed lifecycle project. Microsoft’s reminders and community reporting make one thing clear: the clock is ticking toward October 14, 2025, and the safest path is the one that gets critical systems off unsupported software before adversaries exploit the gaps. (support.microsoft.com, techspot.com)
Source: Windows Report Microsoft reminds users of looming end of support for Access 2016 and 2019
What Microsoft announced and why it matters
Microsoft’s lifecycle calendar lists Access 2016 and Access 2019 under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy with an Extended End Date of October 14, 2025. After that date Microsoft will not ship security patches, quality updates, or provide technical support for those products. This end-of-support date is part of a broader set of retirement moments that also includes Windows 10 and multiple Office-era servers and productivity products. (learn.microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com)Microsoft has repeatedly urged customers to plan migrations now, saying that while the apps will continue to run, continuing to use unsupported builds exposes individuals and organizations to serious and potentially harmful security risks. The company’s official guidance explicitly notes there will be no Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Office 2016/2019 — this is a departure from past practices that offered paid ESU bridges for some Windows releases. (support.microsoft.com) (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
What “end of support” actually means for Access users
- No more security updates: Newly discovered vulnerabilities affecting Access 2016/2019 will not be patched by Microsoft after October 14, 2025. Systems running those products will therefore become progressively more attractive to attackers.
- No bug fixes or reliability patches: Stability or compatibility issues that appear after the cut-off will not be remediated by Microsoft.
- No technical support: Phone, chat, and official Microsoft support for these specific versions will end.
- Potential service degradation: As Microsoft evolves cloud services and back-end APIs, older clients may experience reliability or compatibility problems when interacting with modern Microsoft 365 services. (support.microsoft.com) (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
The Microsoft-prescribed migration routes
Microsoft’s public guidance presents three primary migration paths for Access users:- Move to Microsoft 365 Apps (subscription-based): Microsoft highlights that Microsoft 365 Apps include the desktop version of Access alongside cloud-connected features, AI-powered services, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user for subscribers. The company positions this as the recommended route for most customers who want continuous feature updates and security. (microsoft.com)
- Adopt Office LTSC 2024 (volume-licensed, perpetual): For organizations that need a disconnected or long-term static environment, Office LTSC 2024 is available as a one-time-purchase on a volume-licensing basis and includes Access. LTSC releases receive a fixed five-year support window but do not receive feature updates beyond the initial release; they are appropriate for locked-down or regulated scenarios. (learn.microsoft.com)
- Use third-party mitigation and micropatching services: A growing market of security vendors offers in-memory micropatches and managed mitigations to extend practical security coverage for unsupported products. These are not vendor-supported by Microsoft and carry trade-offs for compliance and long-term maintenance. (0patch.zendesk.com, techspot.com)
Why Microsoft is pushing Microsoft 365 — and what you get
Microsoft’s messaging is consistent: the cloud-first, subscription model enables ongoing security, rapid feature delivery, and deeper integration with AI and cloud services. Microsoft’s marketing and support pages list the primary benefits of moving to Microsoft 365 Apps:- Continuous security updates and feature improvements — delivered automatically.
- AI-powered tools and connected experiences—including enhanced Editor experiences and cloud-assisted capabilities across Word, Excel, and Access.
- 1 TB OneDrive storage per user for cloud file access and synchronization.
- Cross-device access and easier collaboration, plus centralized management and enterprise-grade security controls in business SKUs. (microsoft.com)
Alternatives and the trade-offs
Office LTSC 2024 — the “staying on-premises” choice
Office LTSC 2024 provides a path for customers who must avoid cloud connectivity or prefer a perpetual license model. It includes Access on Windows and is supported under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy for five years (through 2029). However, Office LTSC:- Does not receive ongoing feature updates after release.
- Lacks many cloud-backed productivity and AI features present in Microsoft 365 Apps.
- Is targeted at volume-licensed deployments (not consumer one-off purchases). (learn.microsoft.com, support.microsoft.com)
Third‑party micropatching (0patch and peers)
Third-party vendors such as 0patch have announced plans to “security-adopt” Office 2016 and Office 2019 to provide micropatches after Microsoft’s cut-off. These micropatches work by applying tiny, in-memory fixes that target specific vulnerabilities without shipping full vendor-signed installers.Advantages:
- Rapid mitigations for zero-day and post-EoS vulnerabilities.
- Little or no downtime: many micropatches do not require reboots.
- Not a substitute for vendor support: these patches are unofficial and may not cover every vulnerability or behavioral issue.
- Compliance and legal implications: regulated industries may not accept third-party patching as a compliance-equivalent to vendor patches.
- Operational overhead and vendor lock-in: deploying and managing a new security agent across fleets introduces management complexity and recurring costs. (0patch.zendesk.com, blog.0patch.com, techspot.com)
What Access users specifically should consider
1) Inventory and dependency mapping (start here)
- Catalog every machine that runs Access 2016/2019 and identify workloads: desktop databases (.accdb/.mdb), Access runtime instances, Office add-ins, and VBA macros.
- Identify data sources (SharePoint, local SQL Server, Azure SQL/MSSQL, ODBC links) and integration points. Access often acts as a front-end over external data; migrating the backend is often the critical part.
2) Assess compatibility and modernization options
- Decide whether to keep Access as the front-end desktop client while migrating data to modern, managed backends (Azure SQL, SQL Server, Dataverse).
- Evaluate moving Access solutions to Microsoft 365 + Access desktop for continued desktop form/DAO compatibility while modernizing data access.
- For organizations that must remain offline or locked down, evaluate Office LTSC 2024 and its five-year support window as an intermediate strategy. (learn.microsoft.com, techcommunity.microsoft.com)
3) Security and compliance review
- For regulated environments, verify whether running unsupported software after October 14, 2025 will violate audit or contractual obligations.
- If considering third-party micropatching, check whether micropatch-based mitigations meet internal and external compliance requirements. Many auditors expect vendor-supplied patches; third-party measures sometimes require extra documentation and compensating controls.
4) Cost modeling: subscriptions vs perpetual vs managed mitigation
- Microsoft 365 subscriptions shift budget from capital to operating expense and include continuous updates and cloud services.
- Office LTSC and standalone licenses remain a capital purchase but require future re-purchase for major upgrades.
- Third-party micropatching introduces per-device subscription or license costs; weigh these against hardware refresh and migration costs. (microsoft.com, support.microsoft.com, techspot.com)
A practical migration checklist (recommended timeline)
- Inventory all Access installations, runtimes, and dependent services (Month 0–1).
- Categorize applications by criticality: mission-critical, business-critical, and low-risk (Month 0–1).
- For mission-critical apps, run compatibility tests with Microsoft 365 Apps and Office LTSC 2024 in a sandbox (Month 1–3).
- Evaluate back-end migrations (move data to Azure SQL, SQL Server, or Dataverse) and test Access front-end connectivity (Month 2–6).
- Create a staged migration plan: pilot users → phased roll-out → decommission legacy installs (Month 3–9).
- Implement security compensating controls for any remaining legacy endpoints until fully migrated (ongoing).
- Final cutover and retirement of unsupported Access versions before or on October 14, 2025 where possible. If not feasible, decide whether to use a micropatch vendor as an interim measure and document compensating controls (Month 9–12). (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Enterprise-level considerations
Don’t underestimate third‑party risks
Third-party micropatching can fill critical gaps quickly, but enterprises must perform vendor risk assessment, integration testing with existing endpoint management solutions, and legal/compliance reviews. Micropatches modify process memory at runtime — an advanced technique requiring careful validation in sensitive or high-availability environments.Plan for custom code and add-ins
Many organizations rely on custom macros, COM add-ins, or third-party integrations with Access. Migration projects must include:- Code scanning and refactoring (VBA → .NET or modern web-based front-ends where warranted).
- Regression testing — especially around data integrity and transactional behavior.
- Change management and user training for new workflows.
Licensing and procurement
- Enterprise Microsoft 365 licensing can be complex; consult Microsoft Sales Support for upgrade incentives and volume discounts when planning migrations.
- Office LTSC requires volume licensing agreements and is often a better fit for specialized on-premises scenarios. (microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
Security posture: measurable risks of staying on Access 2016/2019
- Unsupported software is a known attack surface: adversaries prioritize targets that will not receive vendor fixes.
- Cyber-insurance and regulatory frameworks increasingly penalize unpatched or unsupported endpoints — expect higher premiums or non-compliance flags.
- Legacy clients can exhibit compatibility problems with modern authentication and encryption protocols over time, increasing operational friction. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
How credible are third‑party mitigation claims?
Vendors such as 0patch have documented histories of producing in-memory micropatches for legacy Microsoft products and have publicly stated plans to security-adopt Office 2016 and Office 2019 after Microsoft’s cut-off. Independent reporting by mainstream tech outlets has covered 0patch’s offerings, pricing tiers, and roadmap for post-EoS coverage. That said, micropatching is a complement — not a drop-in replacement — for vendor security updates. Organizations should treat these services as temporary mitigations while they complete an orderly migration. (support.0patch.com, techspot.com, blog.0patch.com)Recommendations — a concise risk-first playbook
- If you can migrate now, do it. Prioritize mission-critical Access solutions and migrate data to managed backends or to Microsoft 365 Apps where feasible.
- If you cannot migrate by the deadline, isolate and harden. Segment legacy machines, restrict network access, and apply compensating controls (application whitelisting, advanced endpoint detection) to reduce exposure.
- Assess third-party micropatching only with due process. Use micropatches as a stopgap when migration cannot be completed on schedule, after security, legal, and operational evaluations.
- Consider Office LTSC 2024 for locked-down use cases. Where ongoing cloud features are not required, LTSC offers a supported, perpetual option with a finite support window through 2029. (learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
Why Access users cannot ‘just ignore’ the calendar
It’s tempting to believe that because Access databases continue to open the day after a support cut-off, the issue is merely administrative. That perception misses the reality: security ecosystems evolve, threat actors adapt, and compatibility with modern services degrades over time. Microsoft’s lifecycle deadlines are not arbitrary; they free the vendor to modernize secure back-ends and invest in new platform capabilities — while obliging customers to keep critical software on supported versions to remain secure and compliant. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)Final verdict: measured urgency, practical choices
The Access 2016 and Access 2019 end-of-support deadline on October 14, 2025 is firm and consequential. For many small businesses and home users, moving to Microsoft 365 Apps will be the most practical way to preserve continuity, receive ongoing security updates, and gain cloud-connected features. Organizations with strict offline requirements should evaluate Office LTSC 2024 or a staged migration to modern architectures. Third-party micropatching offers a valuable tactical option for buying time, but it is not a strategic substitute for migration.Plan now, test early, and budget deliberately — those steps will convert the looming deadline from a crisis into a managed lifecycle project. Microsoft’s reminders and community reporting make one thing clear: the clock is ticking toward October 14, 2025, and the safest path is the one that gets critical systems off unsupported software before adversaries exploit the gaps. (support.microsoft.com, techspot.com)
Source: Windows Report Microsoft reminds users of looming end of support for Access 2016 and 2019