What Does Dynamics NAV End of Support Mean for Your Business?

Overview

This post explains what Dynamics NAV end of support means in practice, and which NAV versions have already lost it. It also covers the security, compliance and insurance risks, and the options open to you.

Key Takeaways

• Your NAV system keeps running after end of support, but Microsoft stops issuing security fixes for it.
• NAV 2013, 2015 and 2016 are already out of extended support. The most recent to go was NAV 2016, in April 2026.
• Extended support for NAV 2017 ends in January 2027, and NAV 2018 follows in January 2028.
• Cyber Essentials requires software to be licensed and supported, so an unsupported NAV system can put your certification at risk.
• Some cyber insurance policies exclude claims linked to unsupported software, so check your wording.
• Moving to Business Central, online or on-premises, puts you back on supported software.

What Dynamics NAV End of Support Means in Plain Terms

Your NAV system does not switch off when support ends. It keeps running, but Microsoft stops maintaining it.

In practice, that means:

• Security patches stop. Any new vulnerability in your version stays open for good.
• Bug fixes stop. Microsoft will not correct functional errors in the software.
• New features stop. Your version stays frozen while Business Central keeps developing.
• Official escalation stops. Your partner can no longer raise support cases with Microsoft for that version.

Nothing breaks overnight. Instead, the system gets riskier to run with every month you stay on it.

Which NAV Versions Are Already Out of Support?

Microsoft gives each NAV version two support phases. Mainstream support covers bug fixes and features, while extended support covers security updates only.

Every NAV version has already lost mainstream support. If you run NAV 2016 or earlier, you receive no security updates at all. NAV 2017 users have until January 2027, and NAV 2018 users until January 2028.

Not sure which version you run? Your IT team or current partner can confirm it in minutes.

The Security Risk

Unpatched vulnerabilities do not go away. Attackers find them, share them and exploit them, and your ERP is an attractive target.

NAV holds customer records, financial transactions, supplier details and often payroll data. Once security updates stop, any weakness found in your version stays open. The risk builds gradually, but it keeps building.

The Compliance and Insurance Risk

UK GDPR Article 32 requires you to protect personal data with appropriate technical measures. Running software that no longer receives security fixes makes that harder to defend.

Certification raises the same question. The NCSC’s Cyber Essentials requirements state that software must be licensed and supported. You must remove unsupported software from devices, or isolate it from the internet. For that reason, an unsupported NAV system can put your certification at risk at renewal.

Insurance catches people out too. Some cyber insurance policies require covered systems to run supported software. If a breach happens on an unsupported NAV system, your insurer may challenge the claim. Check your policy wording now, not after an incident.

What Your Options Are

You have four realistic routes.

• Move to Business Central online. This is the most common route. Business Central is the successor to NAV, shares its functional roots and receives two major updates a year. Our Migrate from NAV page explains how we run these projects.
• Move to Business Central on-premises. If cloud hosting does not suit you, Business Central still runs on your own servers. You get supported software without changing your hosting model.
• Stay on NAV with a dated plan. This is a legitimate short-term position. “Not now” needs a date attached, otherwise you defer the risk without managing it.
• Use a partner support arrangement as a bridge. Some partners offer structured support while you plan. Treat it as a bridge rather than a destination, because it cannot restore Microsoft security patches.

Whichever route you choose, the upgrade path matters. Every NAV upgrade now passes through Business Central version 14 and then version 25 before it reaches the current release. Our guide on how to upgrade Dynamics NAV to Business Central sets out the path for each version.

What This Means for Your Business

If you run NAV 2016 or earlier, you are already exposed, so start planning now. NAV 2017 users have about three months before security updates stop in January 2027.

For NAV 2018, you have more time, but not much. An upgrade with several version steps takes months, so a project that starts late in 2027 leaves little margin. Our post on why NAV migrations need a specialist covers what to look for in a partner. Next, our NAV data migration guide explains how your history moves across.

Talk to Tecvia About Your NAV Version

Tecvia helps UK businesses move from Dynamics NAV to Business Central, from first review to go-live support. Get in touch with Tecvia for a clear conversation about your version and setup, or book a free Systems and Process Review.

Once you move, our Business Central support team keeps your system current as Microsoft releases updates. Distributors can see how Business Central handles their operations on our Distribution & Wholesale page, and our Business Central features page covers the wider system.