Software Lifecycle Policy for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance + Operations (on-premises)
Article
This article outlines the lifecycle and support policies for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance + Operations (on-premises) releases.
Modern Lifecycle Policy
Finance + Operations (on-premises) software is covered by the Modern Lifecycle Policy. The Modern Lifecycle Policy rules products and services that are serviced and supported continuously. For more information about this policy, see Modern Lifecycle Policy.
Licensed customers must regularly update their deployment of the Finance + Operations (on-premises) software. The servicing policy requires that you maintain the Software Assurance (SA) or the Enhancement Plan and it requires that you deploy the update releases provided through the continuous service updates. To check for the most up to date status on the lifecycle of the product you can check the lifecycle page Dynamics 365 for Finance + Operations (on-premises).
Note
If you want to use the Fixed Support Lifecycle Policy (5+5), you must downgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3. If you instead lapse on your SA or the Enhancement Plan, you will only be eligible for the perpetual license rights to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 and must uninstall Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance + Operations (on-premises).
On-premises software update policies
As a customer, you are in full control of your on-premises deployments and must actively follow this policy. You are in control of installing updates in your on-premises environments.
Microsoft supports your deployment of Finance + Operations (on-premises) software only if you keep the deployed software current according to this policy.
Critical fixes and noncritical updates are handled in the following way:
Critical fixes – Critical fixes include security fixes and any fixes that are required to support reliability and availability. Critical fixes will be made available in the latest platform update version.
Non-critical updates – Customers must update to the most current Finance + Operations platform and financial reporter version to deploy noncritical updates.
Every service update release has a specific expiration date after which the release isn't entitled to receive support.
Continuous combined releases (Application and Platform)
With Continuous service updates, application and platform are released together. The One Version schedule specifies the dates for early access, public release, and expiration of the release.
* Expired version. All customers must be on the latest version of Finance + Operations according to the Modern Lifecycle Policy.
Older application releases
Note
Older platform releases have passed the expiration date and are no longer supported. Extension requests cannot be logged since January 1, 2019.
Customer who are not following the Modern Lifecycle Policy and the Continuous service updates may not be entitled to receive support after the expiration date of the deployed application version. Expired versions will be removed from LCS at some point where after servicing and deployment of such versions from LCS may not be possible.
* All customers must be on the latest version of Finance + Operations. The deadline for this requirement was April 30, 2019. In the transition to Continuous service updates, we had given exemptions for customers who had unfulfilled extension requests that had been submitted to Microsoft. Those customers could stay on version 7.3 until April 2020. For more information, see One Version service updates FAQ.
Older platform releases
Note
Older platform releases have passed the expiration date and are no longer supported. Extension requests cannot be logged since January 1, 2019.
The world of enterprise resource planning (ERP) is continuously evolving and helping customers scale up in productivity and streamline their operations. The evolution of finance and operations encourages customers to upgrade their earlier Microsoft Dynamics AX versions to the finance and operations cloud service.