Microsoft Announces End of Support for Dynamics GP – What’s Next?

Microsoft has officially announced an update about the future of Dynamics GP (Great Plains), and it’s important news for many businesses that still rely on this system for their financial and operational needs.

Starting January 15, 2025, Microsoft has officially extended the end date for product support and updates for Dynamics GP to December 31, 2029. This change gives businesses more time to prepare and ensures they can meet their payroll and tax requirements through the entire 2029 calendar year.

Earlier, support was going to end on September 30, 2029, but security updates were still going to be available until April 30, 2031. While the new support end date gives you a few extra months, the end date for security patches remains unchanged — April 30, 2031.

So what does this mean for your business? Let’s break it down step-by-step.

What is Dynamics GP?

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a well-known business management solution that has helped thousands of companies manage accounting, payroll, inventory, and other business tasks. Originally known as Great Plains, GP has been part of the Microsoft family since the early 2000s and was especially popular among small and medium-sized businesses.

Over the years, Microsoft has shifted its focus to cloud-based solutions like Dynamics 365 Business Central, which offer more flexibility, better security, and continuous updates.

What Does “End of Support” Mean?

When Microsoft announces the end of support for a product, it means they will no longer provide regular updates, including:

• New features

• Performance improvements

• Bug fixes

• Non-security updates

However, security patches will still be provided until April 30, 2031. These patches are important to protect your data and systems from known vulnerabilities, but no other changes or support will be offered.

So while you can technically continue using Dynamics GP after 2029, you will be doing so without any Microsoft support—unless it’s a security-related fix before April 2031.

Why Did Microsoft Extend the Date?

The decision to extend support from September to December 31, 2029 was made to help businesses meet their year-end payroll and tax filing obligations. Many companies use GP for these tasks, and Microsoft wanted to make sure businesses have the support they need to finish the full 2029 fiscal year without disruption.

This gives you a clear timeline to plan your next steps and make smart decisions about your technology future.

Why It’s Time to Think About Moving to the Cloud

While Dynamics GP has served many companies well for years, it is now becoming outdated compared to modern, cloud-based systems. Microsoft is encouraging customers to move to its newer solutions, especially Dynamics 365 Business Central, which is a cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.

Here’s why moving to the cloud makes sense now more than ever:

• No more infrastructure headaches: No need to maintain physical servers or hardware.

• Always up to date: Cloud systems are updated automatically by Microsoft.

• More secure: Cloud platforms offer advanced security features.

• Scalable: Easily grow your system as your business grows.

• Access your system anytime, anywhere, from any device.

• Lower total cost of ownership: Reduce maintenance and IT support costs over time.

What Happens If You Stay on Dynamics GP?

If you choose to stay on Dynamics GP, keep in mind:

• After December 31, 2029, no more product updates or fixes (except for security).

• After April 30, 2031, no security updates will be provided.

• Support from Microsoft and most partners will slowly phase out.

• You could face risks like non-compliance, performance issues, or cyber threats.

While your system won’t stop working on those dates, using outdated software can bring serious business risks — especially if it handles sensitive financial or payroll data.

How Tech Venture Can Help

With this support ending in 2029, we make sure that businesses like yours are migrated to the cloud for a better experience — removing all infrastructure maintenance costs and enhancing the performance of the system.

At Tech Venture, we’ve helped dozens of companies successfully transition from Dynamics GP to cloud-based solutions like Dynamics 365 Business Central. We handle the entire process for you, including:

• Data migration

• Process analysis and optimization

• User training

• Ongoing support

We understand your current system, your business processes, and your future goals. Our team works closely with you to make sure the move is smooth, stress-free, and cost-effective.

When Should You Start Planning?

The earlier, the better. Here’s a suggested timeline:

• 2025–2026: Evaluate options and create a migration plan

• 2026–2027: Start testing and migrating data

• 2027–2028: Begin using the new system alongside GP

• 2029: Finalize transition and retire GP

• 2030–2031: Continue with the new system while staying secure and supported

By planning now, you avoid last-minute rush, data loss, or business disruption.

Final Thoughts

The end of Dynamics GP support is a strong reminder to start planning for the future.While you still have time until 2029 (and security until 2031), this is the perfect opportunity to modernize your business systems and get ahead of the curve.

Migrating to the cloud isn’t just about staying supported — it’s about unlocking new capabilities, cutting costs, and improving performance across your organization.

Need help getting started?
Let Tech Venture guide you through the process. Our experts are ready to design a migration plan tailored to your business. Let’s future-proof your operations together.