The End of Dynamics AX Support

The end is here for many Dynamics AX customers – Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on extended support programs for most of the remaining AX legacy solutions. While those on AX 2012 R3 still have some time remaining, it is still critical to fully understand the ramifications of Microsoft’s decision to cease supporting these versions including the end of regular non-security hotfixes, localization/regulatory updates, and future enhancements.

What does this mean for your organization? What are your options if you are not yet ready to move to a supported version? Well, there’s really no clear single answer, as it truly depends on your specific business situation and compliance/regulatory requirements – however, you do have a few options…

End Dates for Microsoft’s Extended Support:

Your Options for the End of Microsoft Dynamics AX Mainstream Support

Continuing with AX 2009 or 2012 RTM/R2

Keeping a legacy version of Dynamics AX (2009 or 2012 versions RTM & R2) is still an option, however, there will NOT be any support services or future security hotfixes provided by Microsoft.

Our Recommendation: There are many implications to consider, but at a minimum, you should begin planning your upgrade to D365. We would also recommend taking on support and advisory services from a reputable partner to keep things stable and to steer you in the right direction when it comes to upgrading.

How We Can Help: Our Help Desk Service is a frugal alternative to Microsoft support – on-demand service with low start up costs, no cancellation fees, and guaranteed response times! We’ve also helped many legacy customers secure funding from Microsoft to begin planning their upgrade to Dynamics 365.

Staying on/Migrating to Dynamics AX 2012 R3

Staying on – or migrating to – AX 2012 R3 “keeps the ship afloat”. Just keep in mind that time is your enemy. Microsoft plans to end mainstream support for this version on January 10th, 2023. 

Our Recommendation: If you have a relatively stable solution – this is no time to panic. However, keep in mind that the future of R3 is swiftly approaching the same destiny of prior versions (in 243 days, to be precise). It would be wise to take initial steps towards an upgrade to D365 even if its not on your immediate roadmap.

How We Can Help: Ready to plan your upgrade? We can submit an application to help you secure funding from Microsoft to offset costs associated with your D365 upgrade. If, however, you intend on sticking with R3 for the foreseeable future, our Help Desk Service is often preferred over the support service from Microsoft.

Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics 365

This is the “best” option. No matter how you deal with your current situation, Dynamics 365 will eventually be the answer. The clock is ticking, and now is the time to consider Dynamics 365.

Our Recommendation: Moving to Dynamics 365 is not always as simple as migrating code and data – in fact, a purely technical upgrade is rare! It’s important you select a partner with a history of successful upgrades/migrations to help you evaluate the proper methodology to get your organization on Dynamics 365.

How We Can Help: If you’re in the beginning stages of planning your upgrade a good initial step is applying for upgrade project funds from Microsoft. As a partner, our pride at Ellipse Solutions stems from our customer satisfaction. Contact us to learn more!