As of 2025, many users around the world continue to rely on Microsoft Office 2016 for day-to-day productivity. However, with official support from Microsoft having ended in October 2020, a growing question looms: Is Office 2016 still safe to use in today’s cybersecurity landscape?
According to cybersecurity experts, the short answer is—not entirely.
“Without ongoing security updates, Office 2016 is increasingly vulnerable to new threats,” says Lian Roberts, a senior analyst at InfoSec Global. “Hackers are always looking for unpatched software. Running unsupported applications is like leaving your front door unlocked.”
While Office 2016 remains functional and popular due to its one-time purchase model and familiar interface, its lack of zero-day vulnerability patches, integration with cloud-based security, and modern authentication support make it a weak link in enterprise and even personal cybersecurity chains.
Organizations still using the suite are advised to take strict precautions—such as firewall isolation, email sandboxing, and network monitoring—or better yet, migrate to newer alternatives like Office 2021 or Microsoft 365, which include real-time protection and cloud-powered features.
Additionally, compatibility issues are surfacing more frequently in 2025, particularly with new Windows updates, file formats, and collaborative tools. “If you’re prioritizing security, support, and productivity, sticking with Office 2016 is no longer a sustainable long-term option,” Roberts adds.
In an age where cyber threats evolve daily, experts urge users to think beyond cost and convenience—and upgrade to supported versions of Microsoft Office to ensure data security, compliance, and peace of mind.
