If your business is still running Office 2016 or Office 2019, here’s something worth knowing: Microsoft has officially ended support for both. That means no more security updates, no bug fixes, and no help from Microsoft if something goes wrong.
For small businesses across Brisbane, whether you’re a tradie in Brendale, a legal firm in the CBD, or a medical practice in Albany Creek, this isn’t just an IT detail. It’s a business risk.
There’s also a financial reason to move sooner rather than later. Microsoft 365 prices are rising from July 2026, so making the switch to Office 365 Brisbane businesses trust before then could save you money.
This guide covers what the end of support actually means, what Microsoft 365 gives you in return, and how Core Computers handles the move to Office 365 in Brisbane without losing a single email.
Why Choose Core Computers for Your Microsoft 365 Migration?
Before we get into the detail, here’s the short version of why Brisbane businesses choose us:
- 35+ years serving Brisbane businesses, based in Albany Creek
- A local Northside team you can call or visit, not an overseas call centre
- Microsoft 365 specialists who handle everything from setup to ongoing support
- End-to-end migration management, including email, files, and security
- Staff training included, so your team knows how to use the new system from day one
- Ongoing local support after the migration is done
Recently, we migrated a 12-user accounting firm from old hosting to Microsoft 365 over a single weekend, with zero email downtime. That’s the standard we work to on every Office 365 Brisbane project.
What Does “End of Support” Actually Mean for Your Business?
When Microsoft says a product has reached “end of support,” it doesn’t mean the software stops working overnight. Word and Excel will still open. What stops is everything that keeps the software safe:
- No more security patches, so any vulnerabilities discovered from now on stay open permanently
- No more bug fixes for existing glitches or crashes
- No technical support from Microsoft if something breaks
In plain terms, you’re running software that’s no longer protected, and cybercriminals know it. Unsupported systems are a common target because they’re an easier way in.
There are a few other practical issues worth considering too. Newer versions of Windows and other software may stop working properly alongside older Office versions. Some industry compliance rules, particularly in finance, health, and legal, may not be met by unsupported software. And cyber insurance policies increasingly ask whether your systems are current and supported.
What Do You Actually Get With Microsoft 365?
Many Brisbane business owners think Microsoft 365 is just a subscription version of Office. It’s a lot more than that. Here’s what’s included.
Exchange Online is Microsoft’s cloud-based business email service. It gives your business a proper email address ([email protected]) that works on any device, anywhere, with everything stored securely in the cloud so nothing is lost if a computer dies. For businesses comparing cloud email Brisbane providers, this is the foundation Microsoft 365 is built on.
Microsoft Teams is Microsoft’s chat, video calling, and collaboration app. It cuts down on the constant back-and-forth of email by giving your team one place to message, video call, share files, and run meetings. For Brisbane businesses with staff working across different sites or from home, this is genuinely useful day to day.
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service for individual files. Instead of documents living on one computer (and disappearing if it breaks), OneDrive keeps everything backed up and accessible from any device.
SharePoint is Microsoft’s cloud-based document management and collaboration platform. Think of it as a shared filing cabinet your whole team can access, ideal for price lists, templates, HR forms, and project files that multiple people need.
On top of all this, Microsoft 365 includes built-in security tools like multi-factor authentication (MFA), device management, and continuous updates. Microsoft reports that MFA alone can block the vast majority of automated account compromise attempts, which is a meaningful difference for any small business handling client data.
Office 2019 vs Microsoft 365 at a glance
| Feature | Office 2019 | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Word & Excel | Yes | Yes |
| Business email (Exchange Online) | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | No | Yes |
| Cloud storage (OneDrive) | No | Yes |
| SharePoint team files | No | Yes |
| Security updates | No | Yes |
| Mobile access | No | Yes |
| Automatic updates | No | Yes |
Why Are Brisbane Small Businesses Moving to Microsoft 365?
From tradies in Brendale to accountants in the CBD and construction firms on the Northside, businesses are making the move to Office 365 Brisbane for a similar set of reasons.
Remote and flexible work is now standard. Whether it’s a bookkeeper working from home or a team member on-site, Microsoft 365 means everyone works from the same files, emails, and calendar, regardless of location.
Security improves without extra effort. Automatic updates, MFA, and built-in protection run quietly in the background, helping protect your business data without anyone needing to manage it manually.
Adding and removing staff is quick. Setting up a new team member or closing off access for someone leaving takes minutes, not days, with no licence keys to track down or software to reinstall.
It scales with your business. You pay per user, per month. Grow from 8 staff to 15, and you simply add licences. If things slow down, you scale back. Businesses using cloud collaboration platforms like this often see faster document access and smoother remote collaboration as a result.
It looks more professional to clients. A branded business email address and reliable systems tell clients you’re organised and here to stay.
Microsoft 365 vs Traditional Office Licences: Which Costs Less?
This is usually the first question Brisbane business owners ask, and it’s a fair one.
With Office 2019, you paid once and owned it outright. Simple, but limited. As covered above, there’s no Teams, no cloud storage, no business email, and no ongoing updates, and you’ll eventually need to buy the next version anyway.
Microsoft 365 is a monthly subscription, but that subscription covers everything: Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Exchange Online email, and continuous security updates rolled into one predictable cost.
For a Brisbane business with 10 staff, the comparison plays out like this. Under Office 2019, you pay upfront for 10 licences but get no Teams, no cloud storage, no business email, and no security updates, and within three to four years you’ll need to buy the next version on top of separate costs for email hosting and file storage. Under Microsoft 365, one monthly cost per user covers email, cloud storage, Teams, Office apps, security, and automatic upgrades, with no separate “next version” to buy because it’s always current.
Once you factor in what you’d otherwise pay separately for email hosting, file storage, and security software, Microsoft 365 for small business Brisbane setups often work out comparable, or cheaper, for teams of 5 to 15 staff. And with prices increasing from July 2026, locking in licences now puts you in a better position for the year ahead.
What Should You Ask Before Moving to Microsoft 365?
Before any migration, it helps to think through a few key questions. We ask every Brisbane client the same ones.
- Where is your data currently stored? On one computer, a server, a shared drive, or someone’s personal Google Drive? The answer shapes the entire migration plan.
- What email system are you using? A cPanel hosting setup, an old on-premise Exchange server, or something else? This determines how complex the email migration will be.
- Do you need remote or flexible access? If even one team member works from home or from a phone, Microsoft 365 makes life noticeably easier.
- How seriously are you treating cybersecurity? If you handle sensitive client data in finance, health, legal, or construction, unsupported software is a genuine liability.
- Who will support your staff after the migration? Even the best migration needs follow-up. People need a few days to adjust, and questions always come up.
These answers help determine the right plan, timing, and level of support for your business. Our IT consulting Brisbane service starts with exactly this kind of discovery conversation, with no assumptions and no pressure.
What Happens During a Microsoft 365 Migration?
Here’s how a typical Microsoft 365 migration works when Core Computers handles it for a Brisbane small business.
Step 1: Discovery and audit. We review your current setup, including your email system, where files live, how many users you have, and which licences you need. This is where we catch surprises before they become problems.
Step 2: Licensing and tenant setup. We choose the right Microsoft 365 plan, set up your Microsoft tenant (your organisation’s Microsoft 365 environment), verify your domain, and configure email routing so your @yourbusiness.com.au address works correctly from day one.
Step 3: Data migration.This is usually the stage that causes the most concern for business owners. We migrate all emails (including sent items and folders), contacts, calendars, and files from shared drives or local storage into OneDrive or SharePoint. We’ve seen businesses lose access to years of email because a migration was rushed, so we don’t rush. Everything is verified before the old system is switched off.
Step 4: Testing. Before going live, we test email sending and receiving, calendar sync, file access, and mobile devices, resolving any issues before your team logs in.
Step 5: Staff training and support. We run short, practical training sessions covering exactly what your staff need: finding emails, accessing files from home, and using Teams day to day. Nothing overwhelming, just the tasks people actually do.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes Businesses Make During a Microsoft 365 Migration?
We’ve seen most of what can go wrong, so here’s what to watch for.
Lost emails. Migrating without first mapping folder structures can mean emails arrive in the wrong place, or disappear entirely. We audit and map everything before moving a single message.
Calendar sync issues. Recurring meetings and shared calendars can be tricky. Without proper testing, staff can turn up to meetings that never transferred, or miss ones that did.
Incorrect permissions. If folder permissions aren’t set up correctly in the new environment, staff either can’t access what they need, or can access things they shouldn’t.
Poor file structure. A migration is the perfect time to clean up years of messy file storage. Skip this step, and you simply move the chaos into the cloud.
No staff training. The biggest productivity drain after a migration usually isn’t the technology, it’s staff who aren’t confident using the new system. A short training session prevents weeks of confusion.
Which Microsoft 365 Plan Is Right for Your Business?
Not all Microsoft 365 plans are built the same. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Microsoft 365 Personal / Family is designed for individuals and families, with Office apps and personal OneDrive storage. It isn’t suitable for business use as there’s no business email, shared team storage, or admin tools.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a good starting point for small teams. It includes Exchange Online email, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, but doesn’t include desktop Office apps, with everything running in the browser. It’s the lowest-cost option.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard is the most popular plan for small businesses. It includes everything in Basic plus full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Most Brisbane businesses with 5 to 50 staff end up here.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the full-featured plan, with advanced security, device management, and compliance tools. It suits regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and legal, or businesses with stronger cybersecurity needs.
Not sure which plan fits your business? Working this out before committing to anything is exactly where our IT consulting Brisbane team can help.
Why Work With a Local Microsoft 365 Migration Partner in Brisbane?
There’s no shortage of providers offering Microsoft 365 setup. But there’s a real difference between working with someone who understands Brisbane businesses and a remote provider who treats your migration as a ticket in a queue.
Local support means faster response times, including in person if needed, not just email or a chatbot. We understand the realities of Brisbane businesses, from the industries to the pace to the practical constraints. And face-to-face training is genuinely more effective for most small business teams.
We’re not going anywhere. Core Computers has been based in Albany Creek for over 35 years, and we’ve helped businesses throughout Brisbane North, including Albany Creek, McDowall, and surrounding Northside suburbs, move to Microsoft 365 with minimal disruption.
Whether you need ongoing small business IT support Brisbane after your migration, or a full end-to-end project, we approach every engagement the same way: understand your business first, build the right solution second. We don’t lock you into contracts you don’t need, and we don’t upsell what won’t help. Businesses needing ongoing support after migration often combine their business email setup Brisbane with our managed IT services for full peace of mind.
📞 Book a Microsoft 365 Consultation → corecomputers.tech/contact-us/
Frequently Asked Questions About Office 365 in Brisbane
Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s cloud-based subscription service, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. Unlike a one-time Office purchase, it stays up to date, includes business email, and works across all your devices, with plans for individuals, small businesses, and larger organisations.
Because Office 2016 and Office 2019 support has ended, leaving those systems without security updates. Microsoft 365 provides continuous updates, professional email, cloud storage, and remote access, all of which help small businesses in Brisbane run more securely and efficiently.
Microsoft 365 Business plans are priced per user, per month, with Basic, Standard, and Premium tiers offering different features. Prices are increasing from July 2026. For current Australian pricing and a recommendation suited to your team size, contact Core Computers.
For most Brisbane businesses with five or more staff, yes. It replaces the cost of separate email hosting, file storage, and security software, while adding Teams and continuous updates. The real question isn’t whether to switch, but which plan suits your team and how to migrate without disruption.
A migration involves auditing your current systems, choosing the right licences, setting up your Microsoft tenant and domain, migrating emails, contacts, calendars, and files, testing everything, and training staff. Done properly, the process causes minimal disruption to daily operations.
For a small business with 5 to 20 staff, a properly planned migration typically takes one to two weeks from start to finish. The actual cutover, where your team switches over, usually happens over a weekend so everyone is up and running on Monday with minimal disruption.
Yes. When a migration is planned and executed correctly, emails, contacts, and calendars move across without data loss. The key is thorough auditing and testing beforehand. Core Computers verifies all data before decommissioning the old system to make sure nothing is missed.
Yes. Your existing @yourbusiness.com.au address carries over to Microsoft 365 through domain verification. Staff keep the same email addresses, only the system hosting them changes, and the switch is invisible to clients and suppliers.
The Right Time to Move Is Before You Have a Problem
Office 2016 and Office 2019 support has ended. That’s not a scare tactic, it’s a fact. With Microsoft 365 prices rising from July 2026, the window to move at current rates is closing.
For Brisbane small businesses, whether you’re a professional firm, a tradie, a medical practice, or a construction company, the real question isn’t whether to move to Microsoft 365. It’s how to do it without disruption, without losing data, and without spending a day on hold with an overseas support line.
That’s where Core Computers comes in. As a Brisbane North IT services provider with over 35 years of experience, we handle the entire Office 365 Brisbane migration process, from discovery and licensing through to email migration, file migration, testing, and staff training. We’re local, we’re practical, and we won’t lock you into anything you don’t need.
If you’re ready to move forward with your business email setup Brisbane project, or you’d simply like to understand your options, contact Core Computers and book a consultation.