On 13 October 2026, Microsoft will officially end support for Office 2021. If your organisation is still running it, this is the moment to start planning your next move – not because MS Office 2021 will stop working overnight, but because staying on unsupported software quietly increases your risks with every passing month.
What "end of support" means
Once Microsoft Office 2021 reaches its end-of-support date, Microsoft will no longer provide:
- Security updates – newly discovered vulnerabilities will remain unpatched indefinitely
- Bug fixes and product improvements – the software will be effectively frozen in its current state
- Technical support – if something breaks, Microsoft won't be there to assist you
The risks of staying on unsupported software
It’s tempting to think "It still works, so why worry?". But running end-of-support software introduces risk on several fronts:
- Security exposure: unpatched vulnerabilities become an increasingly attractive target the longer they stay unfixed. Attackers actively scan for organisations still running outdated, unsupported software, since these are known, easy targets.
- Compliance risk: many regulatory and industry frameworks, including requirements tied to NIS2, expect organisations to run supported, actively maintained software. Continuing to use unsupported applications can put your compliance posture at risk.
- Compatibility issues: as file formats, integrations and collaboration tools evolve, older Office versions gradually fall out of step with what your partners, clients and cloud services use.
- Operational risk: without technical support, any issue you hit becomes something your internal team must solve alone, often without documentation or vendor guidance.
Of course, none of this will happen overnight. However, the risks increase the longer outdated software remains in use, which is precisely why proactive planning is far more effective than waiting until issues arise.
You can find information about the EU NIS2 Directive requirements for organisations on this page, and a more detailed overview specifically for Bulgarian clients is available here.
What to do: your main upgrade paths from Microsoft Office 2021
There are two natural directions to move on from MS Office 2021, depending on how your organisation prefers to license and use software:
Office LTSC 2024: For organisations preferring traditional perpetual licensing
Microsoft Office LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) 2024 is the direct successor to Microsoft Office 2021 for organisations that want to own their software outright rather than subscribe to it. It's available in Standard and Professional Plus editions, and it's the right fit if your organisation:
- Prefers a one-time purchase over ongoing subscription payments
- Runs in environments with limited or no internet connectivity, such as specialised or regulated workstations
- Wants to keep using familiar desktop apps without shifting to a cloud-first workflow
Microsoft 365: For businesses preferring the latest updates and cloud services
Microsoft 365 is Microsoft's cloud-based productivity platform, bundling the latest versions of Office apps with services like Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. It's a strong fit if your organisation wants:
- Continuously updated apps, so you're never facing an end-of-support deadline again
- Built-in collaboration and cloud storage, with everything accessible from anywhere
- Scalable plans that grow with your business, from a small team to a large enterprise
Within Microsoft 365, the plan you need depends largely on company size and how much of the cloud ecosystem you want to use, ranging from Business Basic (cloud apps and storage) and Business Standard (full desktop and cloud experience) up to Enterprise-tier plans with advanced security and analytics for larger organisations.
Type of Microsoft licences offered: Understanding your licensing options
Regardless of which product path you choose, the licensing method is equally important. DCD-IT offers three distinct licensing options for Microsoft products, each designed to meet different needs:
Licensing via CSP Program: flexible and subscription-based
CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) program is Microsoft's subscription licensing model, built for flexibility. It covers Microsoft 365 plans (both Business and Enterprise tiers) along with a wide range of other cloud services and select perpetual apps. With CSP, you get:
- Monthly, annual or 3-year payment flexibility
- Centralised licence management, with easy transfer of ownership and simple hardware changes
- A single point of contact – like DCD-IT – for purchase, deployment and ongoing support
- The ability to scale your licence count up or down as your team changes
CSP is an ideal option for organisations that prioritise flexibility and a wide range of services without the burden of long-term commitments, all while benefiting from predictable, centrally managed licensing.
OV Volume Licensing: cost-effectiveness for more stable deployments
Open Value (OV) is Microsoft's volume licensing program, covering products like Office LTSC 2024 Standard and Professional Plus. It requires a minimum of 5 seats and runs on a 3-year agreement including Software Assurance (support, training and upgrade rights). OV gives you perpetual usage rights – once the 3-year term ends, you keep the software, though Software Assurance benefits require renewal.
OV volume licensing is a great fit for organisations with a consistent number of devices that seek the reliability and support offered by a structured multi-year agreement.
CPO licences: the budget-conscious option
CPO (Certified Pre-Owned Software) is a legally recognised way, under EU law, to acquire already used or surplus licences of products like MS Office LTSC 2024 or older versions no longer sold as new. Benefits include:
- Savings of up to 80% compared to buying new licences
- The same user rights as the original licence owner
- Access to product versions that may no longer be available through standard channels
- Full documentation and legal compliance, so you don't need to worry about audits
CPO is worth exploring if budget is a primary concern, or if your organisation specifically needs an older, discontinued product version.
Not sure which Microsoft option is right for you?
Between two product paths and three licensing models, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on your organisation's size, budget, infrastructure and readiness for cloud adoption.
That's exactly where DCD-IT steps in. Our team can:
- Review your current licence portfolio and IT setup
- Assess your business requirements and plans
- Recommend the best combination of product and licensing model
- Provide a no-obligation quote along with migration guidance
Reach out to DCD-IT to plan your transition away from Office 2021 with confidence – well ahead of the October 13, 2026 deadline.