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Dynamics AX Support End of Life - Discover Your Upgrade Options

Updated: June 11th, 2025 by Ivan Farafonov

Dynamics AX support winds down. The latest version, Dynamics AX 2012 R3, stopped receiving security patches on January 10, 2023. Microsoft will no longer provide updates and official support for these versions. It is becoming a cause for concern for system users, as

performance issues arise;
the software becomes vulnerable to threats;
there is a lack of modern data management tools.

What should you do next to stay afloat? In this article, we will look at Dynamics AX end-of-life upgrade options, their features, and the costs associated with them to determine the most relevant option for you.

Microsoft AX Support Lifecycle

Let’s start with an overview of the Microsoft Dynamics support lifecycle. In general, Microsoft adheres to a standard support lifecycle policy for its products, including the Dynamics AX line. It lasts 10 years and is divided into two main phases:

Mainstream Support

It is the period during which the product receives new features, bug fixes, and security updates. Users can also contact Microsoft support if they have additional questions or issues. All of this is covered by the basic license.

Extended Support

After Mainstream support ends, the product enters the Extended support phase. During this time:

regular security updates continue;
critical bug fixes are possible, but under limited conditions;
support through Microsoft is unavailable.

For different versions of Dynamics AX, the situation looks like this:

Dynamics AX Version	End of Mainstream Support	End of Extended Support
Dynamics AX 4.0	October 11, 2011	October 11, 2016
Dynamics AX 2009	October 9, 2018	April 12, 2022
Dynamics AX 2012	October 9, 2018	April 12, 2022
Dynamics AX 2012 R2	October 9, 2018	April 12, 2022
Dynamics AX 2012 R3	October 12, 2021	January 10, 2023

As you can see, all versions of the software have reached the end of their official support cycle. The last of them, AX 2012 R3 end of life in January 2023. This means that the system is considered completely obsolete.

AX End-of-Life Support - What Does It Mean in Practice?

Dynamics AX end of life means the company loses critical support from the developer at all levels: security, technical, and technological. At this point, the system ceases to be a reliable tool and gradually becomes a limiting factor.

Without new patches, compatibility with modern platforms, and official support, you may find yourself in a situation where any update, integration, or even maintenance becomes problematic, expensive, and unstable. Below, we will look at what happens in practice and what consequences this has for you.

Limited Compatibility

Over time, Dynamics AX may become incompatible with modern operating systems, databases, browsers, office applications, and other IT infrastructure components. It complicates integration with new services, business process automation, and overall environment modernization. In some cases, using such systems requires the preservation of outdated servers or environments, which limits scalability.

Risk of Reduced Performance

Outdated software becomes less efficient over time. Its architecture is not optimized for modern data volumes and changing business processes. It leads to reduced performance, unstable system operation, and the need for workarounds. As a result, user efficiency may decrease, while the risk of failures increases.

Compliance Issues

Some industries have strict requirements for data protection, user activity logging, reporting forms, etc. Systems without active support often do not comply with updated standards or do not have the ability to configure the necessary reporting or logging. It creates obstacles during audits, obtaining certifications, or working in regulated markets.

Cope with all the issues with our Dynamics AX support services!

Dynamics AX Support Options

Despite the end of the official support cycle, there are ways to stay updated while maintaining the integrity and integrity of your data and tools. We have reviewed three main scenarios with their advantages and risks.

Renewal and Delay

The first option is the renewal and delay strategy. It is implemented when a company is not ready to switch to Dynamics 365 immediately. Instead, it remains on the current version of Dynamics AX (2009 or 2012) and continues to pay for the Microsoft Enhancement Plan. The annual payment is 16% of the full retail price of the license.

Advantages of the Scenario

Discounted upgrade to Dynamics 365 in the future. The company retains the right to switch to Dynamics 365 under the Software Assurance program. It allows upgrading without having to repurchase licenses. This is a great opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars in the future.
More time for planning. This strategy allows you to gain another year or two to develop a migration strategy, evaluate platforms, prepare a budget, and assemble a team. It is critical if you don’t have the resources to make a decision right away.
Partial access to support. Although official AX support is ending, you will receive limited updates. You can also contact Microsoft partners who provide separate technical support for active AX customers.

Risks

Along with the benefits, there are several risks you may encounter. The main one is that if you stop paying for the Enhancement Plan, you will eventually have to purchase new licenses at 100% of the cost to transition to Dynamics 365. A few more drawbacks include:

This option does not solve the issue of an outdated platform. It just postpones the moment when migration will be necessary.
Even with the Enhancement Plan, AX 2009/2012 does not receive regular security or compatibility updates, so you will have to rely on internal resources or third-party partners.
The money you invest does not add new functionality to the system, but only guarantees access to a beneficial upgrade in the future. Therefore, if you are not planning to migrate, it is worth considering another option.

Choose This Option If…

Migration to Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

The next scenario involves a complete transition to a cloud system. In this case, the company abandons the Dynamics AX environment and switches to the Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations ERP platform.

Key Benefits

Unified system with constant updates. Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is a cloud platform that is regularly updated by Microsoft without user intervention. Quarterly updates include new functionality, interface improvements, modified accounting or planning algorithms, and security enhancements. This allows you to get a modern ERP without additional investment.
Enhanced security and compliance. Cloud architecture ensures a high level of cybersecurity. Users automatically receive patches that consider current requirements for personal data processing, auditing, and financial reporting.
Extensive integration options. Dynamics 365 F&O integrates with products such as Power BI, Power Automate, Microsoft Teams, and Excel. It opens up new opportunities for analytics, business process automation, communication, and collaborative data work.
Scalability & flexibility. The cloud model allows you to adapt the system to your business needs: add new users, expand functionality, integrate third-party services, or restrict access by region. This is especially convenient for companies that are growing, entering new markets, or have a distributed structure.
Reduced infrastructure costs. Since Dynamics 365 F&O runs in the cloud, you don’t need to invest in local servers, hardware upgrades, or backups.

Risks

As for the risks, they are related to the need for investment for the transition and the long time required to create new settings. More disadvantages include:

The transition to Dynamics 365 F&O is a complex project that requires significant initial investment. Costs include licenses, consulting, configuration, staff training, data migration, and integration with third-party systems.
Transferring data from Dynamics AX to the cloud environment is challenging. The data needs to be cleaned, reconciled with new structures, and checked for accuracy. In addition, some older modules may not be compatible with the new system, so some functionality has to be recreated.
Dynamics 365 F&O is significantly less flexible in terms of deep customization compared to AX 2009 or AX 2012. Microsoft actively limits the ability to change the core of the system to maintain stability and ensure automatic updates. This means some specific business processes have to be implemented using additional solutions.

Choose This Option If…

If you are looking to migrate from AX to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, consider our AX to D365 upgrade services. Our experts are ready to assess your current settings, prepare new infrastructure, and transfer your data. This way, you get a new & powerful software hassle-free.

Continue AX Support with Third-Party Providers

It is a strategy under which you agree with independent service providers after the Dynamics AX 2012 R3 end of support. Such companies specialize in servicing legacy versions of ERP and provide technical support, bug fixes, security updates, consulting, and even support for custom modules. It allows you to stay on a familiar platform without the risk of complete loss of support.

Advantages

Short-term savings. Outsourced support is significantly cheaper than large-scale implementation of a new system or maintaining a large internal IT team. This allows you to avoid the high costs associated with immediate migration or purchasing new licenses.
Maintaining a stable IT infrastructure. You continue to work in a familiar environment without changing key business processes, retraining employees, or redesigning custom solutions. This is especially important for manufacturing companies with tightly integrated systems.
Flexible support. Unlike standard Microsoft support, third-party providers offer personalized service, taking into account the specifics of the customer’s customizations, infrastructure, and business requirements.
More time for planning. This option gives you an extra year for strategic planning, including determining where to go next, preparing a budget, choosing a platform (D365 or other), and analyzing user needs. It allows you to avoid hasty decisions.

Risks You May Face

The following are some of the disadvantages of this strategy:

Even with the support of the provider, you are working in a system that does not have certified protection and updates from the developer.
Third parties do not have full access to the platform’s internal code or future changes to Microsoft products. It means that adding new functionality, integrating with modern services, or implementing new analytical solutions may be difficult.
The quality of service can vary greatly depending on the company. Insufficient experience or lack of resources can lead to delays, poor support, or unstable system performance.
Continuing support allows you to postpone transformation, but does not solve the problem of outdated architecture. Over time, this leads to decreased productivity and loss of competitive advantage.

Choose This AX Support Option If…

If you choose this option and are looking for a third-party provider for technical and functional AX support, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can hire Microsoft Dynamics AX developer or an entire team of specialists who will focus on supporting your system. Moreover, we adapt to your industry and offer local assistance, including Microsoft Dynamics AX support in the USA and other countries. As a result, you get a reliable assistant on your side who will help keep your processes afloat.

Cost Associated with Different Support Options for Dynamics AX

Each Dynamics AX support strategy entails different levels of costs, both direct and hidden. That is why the choice of model depends on your budget, long-term goals, and the level of business dependence on the ERP system.

Let’s take a closer look at the estimated costs for each scenario:

Support Strategy	Estimated Annual Cost (USD)	Includes
Renew & Delay	$15,000 – $30,000	Microsoft Enhancement Plan
Third‑party support	$40,000 – $100,000+	Technical helpdesk, custom patching, security updates via external provider
Migration to Dynamics 365 F&O	$400,000 – $1,000,000	License subscription, implementation & training, Azure/cloud costs

In the short term, it may seem more profitable to maintain the existing system or connect third-party providers. However, over the years, the costs of technical debt, security, reduced productivity, or loss of compatibility can increase significantly. Conversely, although migrating to Dynamics 365 F&O requires an initial investment, it provides a predictable cost structure and reduces future risks.

Final Words

As a result, although AX software support has ended, you have several Dynamics AX end-of-life upgrade options. You can migrate to a more modern system or stay with your current settings with the help of an additional license or third-party service providers.

If you are still unsure about which strategy to choose, contact us. We will assess the status of your settings and offer the best option for your software.

Looking for the best support options for Dynamics AX?

By Ivan Farafonov

I'm passionate about sharing my extensive experience in Microsoft and Dynamics 365 technologies. Beyond the technical realm, I excel in recruiting and building high-performing teams, ensuring every project is executed with precision and collaboration. As a contributor to HireDynamicsDevelopers, I share my insights on maximizing Dynamics 365’s potential, blending technical expertise with strategic team development. My passion lies in both technology and fostering talented professionals to achieve outstanding results.