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AWS Workspace Bundle Office Obsolescence

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Hi, currently the available Microsoft Office versions for an AWS Workspace Bundle are Office 2016 Pro Plus and Office 2019 Pro Plus and both are reaching End of Support in October 2025. I am aware of the Manage Application feature that allows to add Office 2021 LTSC post Workspace creation, but it's not quite what it's needed in my case. Is there any change of a Bundle with a newer Office version pre-installed coming soon? Or can it be requested to AWS?

asked a year ago686 views
1 Answer
-1

You're correct that Microsoft Office 2016 and 2019 versions currently available in AWS WorkSpaces bundles are approaching their Extended End Date in October 2025. After this date, while existing WorkSpaces with these Office versions will continue to function, there will be no support or security updates available for these Microsoft Office packages.

AWS has not officially announced any new bundles with newer Office versions pre-installed. However, AWS typically aims to provide up-to-date solutions for its customers. While there's no guarantee, it's possible that AWS may introduce bundles with newer Office versions in the future, given the approaching end-of-support dates for Office 2016 and 2019.

In the meantime, AWS recommends upgrading existing WorkSpaces or custom images to the latest versions of Microsoft Office, such as Microsoft Office 2021. This can be done using the Manage Applications feature you mentioned, or by creating a custom image with the newer Office version installed.

If a pre-installed bundle with a newer Office version is crucial for your use case, you could consider reaching out to AWS support or your account representative to express your needs. While AWS doesn't typically make commitments based on individual customer requests, feedback from customers can influence their product roadmap.

It's also worth noting that for organizations with specific needs, AWS offers options like Bring Your Own License (BYOL) for Microsoft Office, which allows for more flexibility in software versions and management. However, this option typically starts at a minimum of 100 users.

Given the current situation, it's advisable to plan for a transition strategy that works best for your organization, whether that involves using the Manage Applications feature, creating custom images, or exploring BYOL options if applicable.
Sources
Amazon WorkSpaces FAQs | Persistent Desktop Virtualization
Upgrade WorkSpaces to latest Microsoft Office version | AWS re:Post
Step 7: Add Microsoft Office to your BYOL image in Amazon WorkSpaces - Amazon WorkSpaces

answered a year ago
AWS
SUPPORT ENGINEER
reviewed a year ago

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