What Happens When BizTalk Reaches End of Life in 2028?
Microsoft has announced that BizTalk Server will reach its end of life in 2028. For many organizations, BizTalk remains the core of their integration solutions, and they face a question: Should we continue using an unsupported platform, or is it time to start the journey towards a future-proof integration solution?
In this article, we'll explore what happens when BizTalk reaches its end of life, what risks are associated with keeping it, and how you can best prepare for a smooth transition to a modern integration platform like Azure Integration Services.
Risks of Staying with BizTalk
When BizTalk reaches end of life, Microsoft will discontinue support, updates, and bug fixes. This means no technical support, no security updates, and Microsoft won't fix any issues that arise after 2028. In other words, it becomes an uncertain and inefficient solution for critical integrations.
Continuing to use an unsupported platform brings several risks, including:
Security Risks
Without security updates, the system becomes vulnerable to new threats. Cyberattacks and data breaches become particularly significant risks when you no longer receive protection from official updates. Additionally, the lack of security improvements can make it difficult to meet regulatory requirements and industry standards for data protection.
Compatibility Issues
After 2028, BizTalk will become increasingly difficult to work with new systems, applications, and technologies. This can lead to bottlenecks in integration processes and limit your organization's flexibility, which in turn can affect your ability to adapt to market changes and slow down your growth.
Costly Disruptions
Without technical support, resolving issues or outages internally can be both expensive and time-consuming. Without rapid Microsoft support, problems can escalate, affecting your critical business processes and leading to missed deadlines, supply chain delays, and negative impacts on customer relationships.
Lost Competitiveness
Holding onto outdated systems hinders innovation and flexibility, making it difficult to meet customer expectations in rapidly changing markets. Organizations that have already moved to more modern integration solutions benefit from faster processes, better data insights, and increased ability to scale their operations. The risk is falling behind competitors who leverage technological advancements and business opportunities offered by modern platforms.
Moving to Azure
Organizations using BizTalk face a choice: select a new integration platform or accept the risk of continuing with an unsupported solution. When it comes to choosing a new integration platform, Azure Integration Services is a natural progression. Azure offers a modern, cloud-based architecture that takes on many functions handled by BizTalk while adding flexibility, scalability, and the ability to work proactively with integrations. Azure Integration Services includes services like Logic Apps, API Management, Service Bus, and Event Grid, allowing you to create a comprehensive and future-proof integration workflow. Additionally, Microsoft provides tools and support to simplify the transition from BizTalk.
What Does a Successful Migration Look Like?
Moving from BizTalk to Azure Integration Services requires planning and the right skills.
- Map Your Current Integrations
Start by making an inventory of all integrations running in your BizTalk environment. This helps you identify which parts need to be recreated or updated in Azure. - Create a Migration Strategy
Then evaluate which migration strategy works best for you – should you move step by step or make a complete transition? This depends on the complexity of your current environment. - Use the Right Tools and Expertise
Microsoft and its partners provide tools and resources that simplify migration. As a Microsoft partner, Epical can help you ensure a smooth and cost-effective migration by providing the necessary expertise and tools for a successful transition. - Build for the Future
See migration as an opportunity to modernize your integration strategy. Take advantage of the features offered by Azure Integration Services to create a more efficient and scalable environment.
