Blog Layout

End For Skype For Business Is Just Around The Corner

sccomputerguys • May 17, 2021

If you're still using Skype for Business at your firm, be advised that Microsoft recently sent another friendly reminder out to all users of the service. The reminder says that it's going away as of July 31, 2021, so you'll need to complete your migration to Microsoft Teams (or an instance of Skype for Business Server), or have some other solution in place by then if you don't want to suffer any business disruptions.

In Microsoft's most recent blog post about the matter, they drew customer attention to a number of key changes, which include:

  • Services that integrate with Skype for Business Online will not be supported beyond the July 31, 2021 retirement. This includes support for third-party audio-conferencing providers, Skype for Business Online Cloud Connector Edition, hybrid voice configurations, and Skype Meeting Broadcast.
  • Customers will not be able to move online users out of Teams Only mode after retirement.
  • Coexistence modes enable customers to operate Skype for Business Server/Teams side-by-side experiences until they are ready to move users to Teams Only.
  • Users can be moved directly from Skype for Business Server to Teams Only after configuring Skype for Business hybrid with Microsoft 365 or Office 365.

The company also announced that in the weeks ahead, they'll begin scheduling Microsoft-assisted upgrades. These are for firms utilizing "cloud-only" or hybrid deployments as a last-mile transition service and are scheduled to begin in August.

Needless to say, big changes are afoot. If Skype for Business has become an entrenched part of life at your company, then it's time to kick your transition plans into high gear, because one way or the other, Skype for Business is coming to an end, and the deadline is looming. If there's a silver lining to be found, it lies in the fact that Teams really is a great alternative, the predictable grumbling about having to switch notwithstanding.

You May Need To Replace Old Cisco VPN Routers

By sccomputerguys • 22 Jul, 2022
Do you own one or more of the following products made by Cisco? The RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall The RV130 VPN Router The RV130W Wireless-N Multifunction VPN Router The RV215W Wireless-N VPN ...

Some Requested Features May Be Coming To Microsoft Teams

By sccomputerguys • 21 Jul, 2022
Do you use Microsoft Teams?  If so, you'll be thrilled to know that the Redmond Giant is continuing to pour resources into improving the software with a specific focus on audio and ...

It May Be Time To Update Your Business Logo

By sccomputerguys • 20 Jul, 2022
Corporate branding can be worth its weight in gold and certain images are absolutely iconic.  The Golden Arches, the Nike "swoosh," and Apple's Apple all come to mind. Logo images give companies ...

Researchers Find New CPU Security Vulnerability

By sccomputerguys • 19 Jul, 2022
Remember the Heartbleed scare we had a couple years back?  It was a nasty side-channel attack that was somewhat exotic and difficult to pull off, and it was absolutely devastating and sent ...

Ransomware Hackers Have Set Their Sights On Exchange Servers

By sccomputerguys • 18 Jul, 2022
Microsoft Exchange servers are once more in the crosshairs of hackers around the world.  Most recently, hacking groups have been specifically targeting them to deploy BlackCat ransomware. As is common among ransomware ...

The Surprising Ways Mobile Technology Impacts Our Lives

By sccomputerguys • 16 Jul, 2022
If you grew up in the days before the internet, it's absolutely staggering to think of all the ways that mobile technology has changed our lives (and mostly for the better). Remember ...

Edge Will Replace Internet Explorer After It Is Gone

By sccomputerguys • 15 Jul, 2022
It may seem as though Internet Explorer is the browser that will not die, but according to Microsoft, it is now a step closer to breathing its last virtual breath. Microsoft has ...

New Panchan Botnet Targets Linux Servers

By sccomputerguys • 14 Jul, 2022
If you're involved with IT Security at any level and if your network includes Linux servers, keep a watchful eye out for the new Panchan botnet. It first appeared in the wilds ...

How To Protect Your Company With Cybersecurity Awareness

By sccomputerguys • 13 Jul, 2022
These days, companies spend significant sums of money to protect themselves from cyber criminals.  The threat matrix is vast, and attacks can come from almost any quarter. That is why many companies ...

Data Breach Hits One Of America’s Largest Healthcare Providers

By sccomputerguys • 12 Jul, 2022
Do you receive healthcare of any kind from Kaiser Permanente?  If so, be aware that they recently published a data breach notification indicating that an unidentified attacker accessed an email account that ...
More Posts
Share by: