October 2026 is shaping up to be a busy month for administrators as it heralds the end of several big products, along with the retirement of components that could mean sleepless nights for the ill-prepared.

After the demise of Windows 10 in October 2025, sysadmins might have hoped for some respite from Microsoft's ax, but 2026 will see the demise of more beasts.

First, there's the end of support for Office LTSC 2021, which means everything from Access 2021 to Word 2021 is for the chop. A move to LTSC 2024 is required to keep the support lights burning, or - and we don't doubt that this is Microsoft's preference - a switch to Microsoft 365.

M365 isn't a great option for organizations steering clear of the cloud. The on-prem version is very much a snapshot of where things were at release (although security patches keep flowing).

Speaking of on-premises, Windows Server 2022 will drop out of mainstream support on October 13, 2026. Extended support will linger until 2031. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reach the end of the road on the same date. Windows 11 23H2 for enterprise and education will get until November 10 to tidy up their affairs.

As for the more minor products? Publisher 2021 will wrap up decades of the Microsoft Publisher brand in October. First appearing as a desktop publisher for Windows 3.0 in 1991, it has had an inexplicably long life, which will come to an end once and for all in a few short months. And unlike the rest of the Office 2021 LTSC suite, there won't be anything to replace it (or its annoyingly proprietary file format).

There are also services due for the chop that might cause headaches for those that fail to prepare. Entra ID Sign-In risk policies, formerly known as Identity Protection, is being retired on October 1, 2026. Microsoft wants admins to migrate to Conditional Access, and make sure their policies cover user and sign-in risk. Not done the update? Then risk protection will go away after the retirement date.

A Register reader remarked, "Given how many orgs use O365 I can't see how disabling sign-in protection might go wrong."

October 2027 looks quieter, with only SQL Server 2017 gasping its last. However, with the coming October loaded with already announced terminations, getting the corporate house in order well ahead of time would be prudent. ®