EXCHANGE SERVER SUBSCRIPTION EDITION (SE)

Overview

Exchange Server Subscription Edition is the Microsoft email server. Users can access their email, as well as calendar and contact information from Outlook, from Outlook on the web, or from a mobile device through a variety of apps.

From a licensing perspective it’s governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy which means two important things. Firstly, you need to be running a Cumulative Update that is currently supported by Microsoft. Secondly, you need to have purchased either Exchange Server SE Server and CAL licenses with Software Assurance and keep it active, or be making use of the Extended Use Rights you get when you buy Microsoft 365 E3, E5, or E7 licenses through an EA or the MPSA. These allow you to install the latest version of the Exchange Server software, and give the Microsoft 365 E3/E5/E7-licensed users rights to access it. Users licensed for these through CSP, however, aren’t allowed to access the Exchange Server software installed via Extended Use Rights.

Lifecycle information

Products that are governed by the Modern Lifecyle Policy don’t usually have a published end date – Microsoft just give a minimum of 12 months’ notice before ending support. However, for Exchange Server SE Microsoft have committed to an earliest possible End Of Support date of December 31, 2035.

History

Microsoft confirmed in May 2024 that the next version of Exchange Server would be a Subscription Edition (SE) and this was made available in July 2025.

In April 2025, Microsoft announced that there would be a 10% price increase for Exchange Server from July 1, 2025. Originally there was going to be a 15% increase in the Core CAL Suite price, and a 20% increase for the Enterprise CAL Suite at the same time, but in June 2025 this was moved out to August 1, 2025.