Skype for Business Server is Microsoft"s on-premises solution online communication and collaboration in enterprise environments. This is one problem that Microsoft Teams has still not been able to solve since it can only be deployed online, which recently prompted Microsoft to extend Skype for Business Server"s life through a Subscription Edition (SE). Now, the Redmond tech firm has released some updates for Skype for Business Server.
The August 2025 Hotfix Updates (HUs) for Skype for Business Server sports a new feature that enhances the overall security posture of the product. Basically, IT admins can now configure a Dedicated Hybrid Application that ensures secure, reliable, and hybrid communication and integration with Exchange Online.
Previously, Skype for Business Server leveraged a Shared Service Principal that was managed by Microsoft and was used to authenticate and access Exchange Online in certain hybrid scenarios. But with the latest updates now released, Microsoft is recommending organizations to implement customer-managed Dedicated Hybrid Application within their Microsoft Entra ID tenant. The Redmond tech giant has warned that if IT admins delay doing this, they will lose access to hybrid features, as they will be discontinued.
For those curious, the following editions and versions of Skype for Business Server provide support for Dedicated Hybrid Application:
| Server Version | Minimum Build |
|---|---|
| Skype for Business Server 2015 | 6.0.9319.881 |
| Skype for Business Server 2019 | 7.0.2046.553 |
| Skype for Business Server SE | 7.0.2046.820 |
That"s not the only breaking change being cautioned about either. Microsoft has noted that the latest HUs also include updates for the Skype Meetings Application. So unless this fix is installed, this particular software will stop working after October 15, 2025.
IT admins can find relevant and detailed change logs here:
- Skype for Business Server 2015 CU13 (KB3061064)
- Skype for Business Server 2019 CU8 (KB4470124)
- Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (SE) RTM (KB5065372)
IT admins managing Skype for Business Server 2015 have also been told to run the add_sfbassets.ps1 script after installing these HUs if they want the Skype Meetings Application to continue working correctly. This particular script can be located on the Skype for Business 2015 Download Center.