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Microsoft will make IPv6 standard for Exchange Online later this year

Microsoft will make IPv6 standard for Exchange Online later this year

Microsoft will enable the IPv6 protocol by default for all domain names managed through Exchange Online from Oct. 1, 2024. However, there will be opt-out options for users who want to continue working only with IPv4.

According to a communication sent to M365 admins from Microsoft, later this year, the IPv6 Internet protocol will be enabled by default for Exchange Online. This will then apply to all accepted domain names that use the e-mail service to pull in incoming e-mail.

The tech giant says this move is necessary to improve the quality of Exchange Online and comply with local laws and regulations. Earlier, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will have increased support for IPv6.

Technical implications

The technical implications are that after enabling IPv6, both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses will respond to an MX record query. This query occurs when someone tries to send an e-mail to a user.

Microsoft is asking customers to prepare in advance for the arrival of IPv6 by creating white- or “allow” lists for their network environments to accept IPv6 endpoints, just as they do for IPv4. Customers can get the list of these IPv6 endpoints here.

Opt-out options

The tech giant realizes that not all companies will be able or willing to switch to IPv6 immediately from Oct. 1 and will want to apply their own timeline for the transition. To that end, an update will come in September explaining opt-out options.

Microsoft also warns that the move to IPv6 will bring stricter authentication requirements for companies.

Read more: AWS promotes IPv6 by putting a price on IPv4 as of 2024