
Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 available starting October 1
Office LTSC 2024 is the latest on-premises edition of Microsoft’s core productivity applications, tailored for use in isolated or restricted settings. It’s accessible to organizations via volume licensing agreements.
Organizations who will or are already using the new Office LTSC 2024 are to note that Office LTSC 2024 differs from the Office version available through Microsoft 365 plans, known as Microsoft 365 Apps. Tailored for offline environments, Office LTSC 2024 lacks cloud-supported features and does not receive feature updates post-launch.
If your organization already uses Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise or business, Office LTSC 2024 is unnecessary. Microsoft 365 Apps encompasses all the capabilities of Office LTSC 2024 and offers numerous additional features.
What is the support duration for Microsoft Office LTSC 2024
Office LTSC 2024 will be supported for five years under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy and, like earlier versions, can be deployed alongside Microsoft 365 Apps. This allows customers to manage hybrid environments more efficiently using a unified set of tools.
According to Microsoft, the Fixed Lifecycle Policy pertains to numerous commercial and select consumer products available through Volume licensing. It offers:
– A clearly defined support and service timeline established at the product’s launch.
– A five-year minimum support for Mainstream.
– An additional Extended Support phase.
Why is Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 supported for five years?
Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 is supported for 5 years because it is considered a Long-Term Servicing Channel version of Microsoft Office. This means that it is designed not to receive features updates for a long while compared to other versions of Microsoft Office.
The main reason behind this extended support period is to cater to organizations that require stability and consistency in their software. These organizations often use critical business applications built on top of Microsoft Office, and they cannot afford frequent updates or changes.
By having this longer stability period, Microsoft ensures that these organizations can continue using the same version of Microsoft Office without any major disruptions or compatibility issues. It also gives the organizations enough time to plan and prepare for any necessary upgrades or transitions to newer versions. This is particularly important for businesses that have strict policies and regulations regarding software updates and changes.
What apps are included in Microsoft Office LTSC 2024?
Office LTSC 2024 features Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access (exclusive to Windows). However, Microsoft Publisher is not included in this version. Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 versions are available as a one-time purchase, requiring no subscription commitments. Each license permits installation on a single device, and internet connectivity is not necessary.
Do you need Office 2024 or Office LTSC 2024 if you have Microsoft 365?
No, you don’t. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that guarantees uninterrupted access to the most up-to-date productivity tools. It includes all the features of Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024, plus additional collaboration, productivity, and security enhancements that aren’t available in Office 2024 or Office LTSC 2024.
What distinguishes Microsoft 365 subscription plans from a one-time purchase of Office LTSC 2024?
Microsoft 365 subscription plans offer versions of applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Access (Access is available on PC only). These apps can be installed on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, and Android phones. Microsoft 365 also provides services such as 1 TB of cloud storage and Microsoft chat and phone support. Subscribers benefit from receiving the latest app versions and automatic updates.
On the other hand, Office LTSC 2024 offers a one-time purchase, providing classic versions of applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for a single PC or Mac. It does not offer the additional services included with a Microsoft 365 subscription. One-time purchases lack upgrade options, meaning that to access the next major release, you must pay the full price for the new version.
Talk to our independent Microsoft licensing team of experts about using Office LTSC 2024
Start planning on how to adopt to the new Office LTSC 2024 such that your budget and routine operations do not grind to a halt. As technology continues to evolve your organization grows, it’s important to have a long-term plan in place to ensure that your organization’s software needs are met. Our independent licensing experts can help you create a roadmap to look at your future upgrades or renewals, saving you time and money in the long run.
Working over the years with various organizations we understand that tailored solutions go a long way to meet the needs of organizations. Every organization has unique requirements and workflows and when our team works with your organization, we look at your needs and recommend how to solve them effectively. We will further guide you to optimize your current Microsoft license set up to potentially save costs and further improve efficiency.