Didn’t Skype for Business Expire? What’s SfB Subscription Edition?

On 1st July 2025, Microsoft announced the general availability of the all-new Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE.

But wait.

Didn’t Skype retire just a few months back? Then, what does this new announcement mean? Is Skype back? If you have doubts like this, then read through this write-up.

Here, I have compiled all the updates from official announcements. This, in my opinion, will allow IT administrators and other relevant stakeholders to figure out what the new SfB SE is.

Before you make the final decision on whether to deploy or avoid it, let us study more about this new Skype Server variant.

What is the New Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE? A Re-branded CU9!

On the surface, the Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE is the next chapter of Microsoft’s on-premise unified communication platform.

However, under the hood, there are no new features, security updates, or any other code changes that would qualify this new Skype for Business Server Subscription version as a true upgrade.

This is not a mistake but a deliberate strategy on the part of Microsoft to make the shift “Low Risk”.

Also Read: Why Did Microsoft Teams Chat Disappear?How to Fix It & Recover Chat

Earlier, whenever a new version would drop, it went something like this.

Microsoft would take a codebase from two years prior, add and remove features, change prerequisites, and then port over security fixes.

All of this meant that the RTM(initial release) would be very different from the previous version and too risky to update. So many IT administrators would delay the upgrade as long as possible (usually until the CU1 or CU2).

With this new release, Microsoft has changed the process entirely. This time, they took the latest stable release code, i.e., Skype for Business Server 2019 CU8HF1, and simply updated the name and license agreement.

So there are no new features(or removal of old features). Moreover, both the installation prerequisites and hardware requirements remain the same. This naturally leads to the obvious question.

Why Did Microsoft Release a New On-Premises Server?

It’s natural for readers to think this. For the past few years, Microsoft has had a Cloud-first approach. With Teams becoming such a popular platform, it might be counterintuitive to release an on-premise system like Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE.

This was my thinking as well before I realised that Microsoft serves globally across many different industries.

Many of which are also governments, financial institutions, healthcare providers, etc.

Microsoft is aware that regulatory compliance and data residency laws prevent these customers from adopting the cloud. Moreover, no version of Teams can stay on an isolated local server.

So this release is not for every organization but for the niche users who want a continuously supported and updated environment for enterprise voice, instant messaging, and meetings hosted on their own server.

This made many businesses that were using the SfB Server 2015 or 2019 variant extremely happy. It meant they could continue with the locally managed unified communication systems after October 14, 2025 (which is also the EOL date for the Exchange Server 2016 and 2019)

Now that we understand where this service fits in Microsoft’s product line, let’s check out what it offers.

What Changes With this New Skype for Business Subscription Edition SE?

By deploying the Skype for Business SE, Microsoft is shifting from the old model of permanent purchase to periodic payments.

Everything is changing, including how the product is managed, licensed, and maintained.

The new model provides more predictable budgeting for organizations and ensures Microsoft can fund continuous development and support for the platform.

Also, as it was announced in an earlier statement that there will be a new pricing update. We see this in the form of a 10 % increase in July 2025.

This is done so that Microsoft can have a continuous revenue stream to deliver new upgrades and maintain what is now termed as an “Evergreen” product.

How to Upgrade to the Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE?

If you are already using the Skype for Business Server 2019 version, then all you need to do is an in-place upgrade.

No need to buy new hardware, your existing infrastructure will work. Just download the new file and install it as per the official instructions.

Moreover, here the entire organization upgrades to the new system simultaneously. Admins don’t have to do the repetitive task of upgrading every user individually.

Which means no downtime or interruptions.

However, this simple shift is only for organizations that are on the 2019 version. Many still operate the older 2015 edition. Those people will have to first perform a more traditional side-by-side migration to the 2019 version. Then, continue the upgrade to SE. Hardware/software changes are required.

For a particular period (from now until the Skype for Business non-subscription server expires on October 14, 2025), Microsoft allows you to maintain a coexistence of the two editions.

You can keep a mix of the new Subscription Edition servers running alongside the old 2019 and 2015 servers. So upgrade can be split into phases and is easier to do, especially for those who are on the 2015 edition. Remember this digital bridge is temporary and will expire alongside the year-numbered versions.

Final Thoughts: The Future of On-Premises Communication

The Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition SE represents a thoughtful evolution of Microsoft’s product strategy.

In a way, it allows many valuable customers who can’t move to the cloud to remain firmly on-premises.

This release provides a stable, modern, and continuously supported platform for organizations that need it most. In a way, we can say that Microsoft is not reviving the old platform but modernizing what’s already present.