{"id":71041,"date":"2026-01-21T12:54:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/?p=71041"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:29:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:29:37","slug":"microsoft-azure-devops-server-moves-to-modern-lifecycle-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/microsoft-azure-devops-server-moves-to-modern-lifecycle-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Azure DevOps Server moves to Modern Lifecycle Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Modernize your on-prem DevOps without moving to the cloud<\/strong>: On December 9, 2025, Microsoft released the <strong>newest version<\/strong> of <strong>Azure DevOps Server<\/strong>. This release marks an important shift: Azure DevOps Server no longer carries a version number and is now delivered under the <strong>Modern Lifecycle Policy<\/strong>. This gives organizations a continuously supported, always-current, self-hosted DevOps platform.<\/p>\n<p>This is great for customers who need to keep development and delivery infrastructure <strong>on-premises<\/strong> due to compliance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/microsoft-copilot-for-microsoft-365-data-residency\/\">data residency<\/a>, or network isolation requirements. The new release strengthens the <strong>long-term future of Azure DevOps Server as a secure, reliable, and regularly updated solution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-71046\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1664\" height=\"1003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server.avif 1664w, https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server-500x301.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server-800x482.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-DevOps-Server-1536x926.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1664px) 100vw, 1664px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>DevOps Server: modern &amp; continuously updated<\/h2>\n<h3>Modern Lifecycle Policy<\/h3>\n<p>Instead of multi-year version jumps as before, Azure DevOps Server now receives <strong>continuous updates<\/strong>. As long as you stay on a supported build and meet servicing requirements, you receive new features, security fixes, and performance improvements automatically.<\/p>\n<h3>Aligned with Azure DevOps Services<\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft has aligned the self-hosted product more closely with its cloud counterpart, ensuring that on premises customers benefit from the <strong>same innovations that appear in Azure DevOps Services<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Direct upgrade paths<\/h3>\n<p>You can <strong>upgrade from:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/microsoft-azure-devops-server-2022-available\/\">Azure DevOps Server 2022<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/microsoft-products-transitioning-to-extended-support-2025\/\">Azure DevOps Server 2020<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Azure DevOps Server 2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2015 or newer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Since <strong>TFS 2015 reached end of extended support in October 2025<\/strong>, upgrading ensures continued security and compliance.<\/p>\n<h3>Platform and reliability improvements<\/h3>\n<p>This new release includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Support for <strong>SQL Server 2025<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Localization updates<\/li>\n<li>Fixes for dashboards, webhook accuracy, Work Item Tracking, and Agent Pool behavior<\/li>\n<li>Stability and UI improvements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-71042\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/media\/2026\/01\/SCHNEIDER-IT-MANAGEMENT-2026-01-21-Update-Microsoft-Azure-DevOps-Server.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"351\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>How to buy Azure DevOps Server?<\/h2>\n<div>\n<h3>Buy Visual Studio<\/h3>\n<p>Visual Studio subscriptions include <strong>one server license<\/strong> plus a <strong>user CAL<\/strong> for the subscriber.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Visual Studio Professional<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Visual Studio Enterprise<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Buy Azure DevOps<\/h3>\n<p>Buying through Azure entitles you to use both <strong>Azure DevOps (cloud)<\/strong> and <strong>Azure DevOps Server<\/strong>, giving you the flexibility to move to the cloud when you&#8217;re ready.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Azure DevOps Basic<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Azure DevOps Basic + Test Plans<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Classic Purchasing<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to buy or renew traditional server licenses or CALs for Azure DevOps Server, Windows, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/microsoft-windows-server-2025-secure-scalable-and-ai-ready\/\">Windows Server<\/a>, order through your <strong>authorized Microsoft software reseller<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Azure DevOps Server &#8211; New Server License<\/strong><br \/>\nOpen License part number: <strong>125-00214<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Azure DevOps Server &#8211; New CAL for One User<\/strong><br \/>\nOpen License part number: <strong>126-00371<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ &#8211; Azure DevOps Server<\/h2>\n<h3>Is Azure DevOps Server the right choice for my organization?<\/h3>\n<p>Azure DevOps Server remains the best choice for teams that want:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Full control over infrastructure and data<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>On-premises DevOps workflows<\/strong> without cloud dependency<\/li>\n<li><strong>Predictable security updates and feature improvements<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Compatibility with existing pipelines, boards, repos, and test tools<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Who should upgrade?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Organizations <strong>still using Team Foundation Server (TFS) or older Azure DevOps Server versions<\/strong>. Upgrading ensures your system stays secure, supported, and compatible with modern tools.<\/li>\n<li>Industries that must keep their <strong>development platform on premises<\/strong>. For example, companies with strict compliance, data residency, or security rules that do not allow cloud services.<\/li>\n<li>Enterprises running <strong>internal Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI-CD) pipelines<\/strong>. These are automated processes that build, test, and deploy software. Upgrading keeps these systems stable and future proof.<\/li>\n<li>Teams that <strong>cannot use the cloud-hosted Azure DevOps Services<\/strong>. If cloud adoption is not possible, this release gives you the newest features in an on-premises environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>What is the Modern Lifecycle Policy?<\/h3>\n<p>The Modern Lifecycle Policy means the product is supported <strong>as long as you stay current<\/strong> with required updates. There are no fixed end dates for support cycles on this release.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Is Azure DevOps Server replacing Azure DevOps Services?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Azure <strong>DevOps Services<\/strong> remains the <strong>cloud offering<\/strong>. Azure <strong>DevOps Server<\/strong> is the <strong>self-hosted<\/strong> version for organizations needing <strong>on premises<\/strong> DevOps.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>More information<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Announcement: <a href=\"https:\/\/devblogs.microsoft.com\/devops\/announcing-azure-devops-server-general-availability\/\">https:\/\/devblogs.microsoft.com\/devops\/announcing-azure-devops-server-general-availability\/<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Release notes: <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/azure\/devops\/server\/release-notes\/azuredevopsserver?view=azure-devops-server\">https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/azure\/devops\/server\/release-notes\/azuredevopsserver?view=azure-devops-server<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Microsoft licensing: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/software\/microsoft\/\">https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/software\/microsoft<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/contact\/\"><strong>Contact SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT<\/strong><\/a> to optimize your Azure DevOps licensing today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Modernize your on-prem DevOps without moving to the cloud: On December 9, 2025, Microsoft released the newest version of Azure DevOps Server. This release marks an important shift: Azure DevOps Server no longer carries a version number and is now delivered under the Modern Lifecycle Policy. This gives organizations a continuously supported, always-current, self-hosted DevOps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":33016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[248],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-microsoft-azure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71041"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71053,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71041\/revisions\/71053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schneider.im\/lu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}