Urgent Microsoft Dynamics GP Update Forces a Need to Upgrade

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Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains has been a tried-and-true system for many businesses all over the world for years. But since the release of Microsoft’s cloud accounting solution, Dynamics 365 Business Central, many have wondered what the fate of Dynamics GP would be. When will we be forced to upgrade GP? When would support end? How much longer would they have to think about the future of their accounting team? 

Then Microsoft released a blog on August 29th titled “Basic authentication is being deprecated, is your Microsoft Dynamics GP Exchange email ready?”. Now, we had notified our customers weeks ago that these changes were coming but many Microsoft partners did not. 

The following statement sent some into a frenzy: 

“We are approximately a month away from the deprecation of Basic authentication in Exchange Online/Office 365. This becomes permanent on October 1, 2022 and will cause our existing Exchange emailing in Microsoft Dynamics GP to fail.” 

Without proper planning how do you prepare for a change that you now know is only a month away? This is an update a large group of GP users (everyone running a version prior to 18.3.1173) will need to do to keep their systems running like normal. Without the required update, logins will fail, and emails will not be able to be sent from your Great Plains system. 

The Cost of Pushing off Cloud 

So, what does this mean for you? Well, first it means an upgrade. Scheduling meetings with your Microsoft partner (If you have one, if you don’t, we would love to help!), Planning a last-minute update, or if you are a bit behind it could go further. To move to the latest version of Dynamics GP, those on much older versions will require server upgrades. This means new hardware and time to set it up and transfer all of your data over. This could take your accounting down and waste valuable time. 

None of this is fun and can get really expensive. The data backup and IT support alone can cost thousands of dollars a year on top of upgrades and emergency services. With hardware costs at an all-time high, no one wants to replace an in-house server right now. What are your options? 

The Next Step in Microsoft Accounting Software 

Now it’s time to cool things off. Yes, you can upgrade GP. Again, we would love to help you if you don’t have a Microsoft partner or are struggling with your current one. There is work that goes into these upgrades, but they can be done before any major changes go into effect. GP is still scheduled to have support through 2028 and beyond for current versions. At Alta Vista, we also have no plans to end GP support for our customers new or old. 

But many companies, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic have realized that they need to be more agile. Several of our customers found that remote access was crucial when they couldn’t get to their office and onto their server. This was compounded by GP’s messy relationship with VPNs. These customers chose to make the move to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. 

The Difference is in the Cloud 

With Dynamics Business Central you get secure access to your system from wherever you have an internet connection. Microsoft’s mobile app provides the interface and functionality you are used to from your phone or tablet. This makes pulling reports or answering those last-minute questions while you’re at the coffee shop a breeze. Remote access has been the most exciting feature for recent cloud adopters.

The cloud transition also frees your business from the weight of in-office hardware. No more server upgrades or emergency backups in case your system fails. And costs drop even further with automatic updates. Business Central updates 2 times a year without intervention, ensuring that you don’t need to scramble to make sure your processes stay up-to-date and working. Stop calling your IT company and make the call to move your accounting team forward.  

If you would like more information on how to upgrade GP and how to take the next step, please reach out! You can give us a call at 855.913.3228 or shoot us an email at info@altavistatech.com. You can even fill out our simple web form and someone will get back to you within 1 business day. At Alta Vista Technology, we take pride in being part of your solution.