End of mainstream support- what does it mean?
When you run an unsupported legacy system, you put your business at risk. Without mainstream support, you won’t get security updates, regular patches to fix bugs, and you won’ be able to request Microsoft for new features, design changes, or make any requests around warranty.
If you are using the AX 2012 R3 version and opted for Microsoft’s extended support, you will not get all the benefits of mainstream support. The extended support is only a temporary measure to help you prepare to upgrade to Dynamics 365.
The longer you stay on a legacy system, the less competitive your business will be in the marketplace. You will be incurring more costs to keep the legacy system operational and over time, you will find it difficult to find talent who can efficiently manage these systems, especially if you have third-party integrations that only support the latest cloud solutions.
Why you need AX support
Upgrading your systems is a big decision. There is an implementation cost to consider as well as the consideration of the time and energies of the business to upgrade, which is especially challenging if you have AX implementation in multiple locations that you would like to upgrade to unify the business.
While you prepare to move to Dynamics 365, your team will need help to run the AX solution smoothly. Even the most efficient and capable IT teams will need some help eventually as what previously seemed easier to manage will begin to feel overwhelming. Taking a support package from a Microsoft Partner can help relieve some of that burden.
A Microsoft Partner will also help you evaluate your current processes, plan the upgrade journey, optimize costs by identifying redundant customizations, guide you through the different licensing options, and help you plan and manage your budgets for the upgrade.
What you get when you choose AX support
When you work with a Microsoft Partner for Dynamics AX support, you will be able to:
- Optimize the Dynamics AX performance
- Prevent disruption to operations
- Prepare systems to move to the cloud
- Explore opportunities to optimize costs on licensing
- Secure your data
- Comply with regulatory requirements
The Microsoft Partner will also be able to advice stakeholders about the impact of the upgrade, costs involved, and the business outcomes you can expect, which will be based on the Partner’s experience in upgrade projects in your industry.
Basic support is just one option – consider taking Managed Services
Basic support is just one of the many options to maintain your Dynamics AX 2012 or other versions of the solution. The basic or traditional support, also called break-fix support, is a reactive approach that helps you resolve tickets whenever there is an issue. A more proactive approach is through Managed Services, a full-fledged offering that goes beyond basic support.
When you engage a Microsoft Partner for Managed Services, you will find that the proactive approach helps prevent issues from arising. The continuous monitoring of the systems and identifying of potential issues results in the team starting the diagnosis and troubleshooting much before to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt your operations.
Find out more about how Managed Services differs from basic support.
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