Microsoft ending support for a beloved best-seller on Oct. 13

Key Points:

• Google has surpassed Microsoft in office suite usage, holding a 55.88% market share compared to Microsoft's 39.07%, according to Datanyze, despite Microsoft 365 Commercial seats growing 6% in Q2.
• Microsoft will end support for Office 2021 on October 13, 2026, ceasing all technical, security, and software updates, unlike Windows 10 which received an extended support period.
• Users of Office 2021, including business and consumer versions, are advised to upgrade to Microsoft 365 or the newer Office LTSC 2024 to avoid security risks and compliance issues after support ends.
• Independent consulting warns that continuing to use unsupported Office 2021 clients increases exposure to malware, reduces cloud integration benefits, complicates support, and may affect compliance and cyber insurance.
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlights the advantages of subscription models for budgeting but anticipates a future hybrid model combining subscriptions with usage-based metering, especially due to AI-related costs.