Migrating Your Legacy SharePoint Workflows

Both SharePoint Server 2016 and SharePoint Server 2019 reached end of extended support on July 14, 2026. From that date, Microsoft no longer releases security updates, cumulative patches, or provides technical support for either version. For organizations still running farms on these platforms, the implications are immediate and practical. Unpatched vulnerabilities will accumulate over time, compliance frameworks that require supported software will flag the exposure, and the safety net of vendor-backed technical support no longer exists. The question for most organizations is not whether to act, but which migration path makes the most sense given their specific requirements and constraints. 

For organizations with complex workflow automation built on these platforms, the migration challenge extends well beyond infrastructure. Workflows created with SharePoint Designer represent years of accumulated business logic encoded in a tool that Microsoft has deprecated. Third-party workflow engines built for on-premises SharePoint have similarly moved to end their support. At the same time, cloud migration is not the right answer for every organization.  

In regulated industries including government, defence, healthcare, and financial services, data sovereignty requirements and internal security policies frequently make SharePoint Subscription Edition the preferred destination over SharePoint Online. The preference to keep data within a controlled, on-premises environment is a legitimate and well-supported governance choice.  This is supported by Microsoft's own product roadmap accommodates through its actively maintained Subscription Edition platform. 

For organizations making the move to SharePoint Subscription Edition, SnapOn Software's workflow engine provides a modern path for rebuilding legacy workflows within the on-premises environment. The authoring interface is designed to feel familiar to anyone who has previously built workflows in SharePoint, while using a contemporary architecture that does not depend on external services for execution. All processing runs within the customer's own environment, preserving data sovereignty and maintaining the security posture of the implementation. Business users with workflow experience can take ownership of the tooling without requiring deep development skills, making the transition operationally accessible across the teams who depend on these processes most.  

For organizations navigating the SharePoint end-of-support deadline, the combination of a purpose-built workflow engine and an experienced delivery practice provides a structured and lower-risk path forward. Moving from a deprecated platform to one that is actively maintained and security-patched is not just a compliance necessity — it is the foundation for building workflow automation that can continue to evolve alongside the business, rather than remaining frozen in a tool that has reached the end of its supported life.