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What Happens When You Run an Atlassian Data Center Instance After EOL?
The Business Case: Why Moving to Atlassian Cloud Makes Sense
In an era where agility, scalability and innovation drive competitive advantage, the way teams work with collaboration platforms matters more than ever. For many enterprises who have been relying on the Atlassian Data Center deployment model, there is a significant shift on the horizon. Atlassian has announced that Atlassian Data Center products will reach end-of-life (EOL) on March 28, 2029 — a change that signals the end of on-premises, Data Center-style licensing and the full move toward Atlassian cloud.
For organisations running Atlassian Data Center today, this isn’t simply a product update—it’s a strategic inflection point. The clock is ticking on when licenses will no longer be sold, when expansions will end, and when systems will transition to read-only. If you’re operating in a Data Center environment, now is the time to plan proactively.
When use of Atlassian Data Center stops being a default option for new organisations, and when support winds down for existing ones, many teams will feel the impact. The move away from Atlassian Data Center has several key drivers:
In short: if you’re still relying on Atlassian Data Center as your long-term platform, you’re facing the reality that your version of “future” will require change
Understanding the timeline for the Atlassian Data Center end-of-life is critical for planning, budgeting, and stakeholder alignment. Below are the major dates:
It’s vital to mark these dates in your internal roadmap. Delaying until the last moment may force rushed migrations, unplanned costs or operational disruption.
When the cut-off comes for Atlassian Data Center, organisations will face several outcomes:
In short: staying on Atlassian Data Center after EOL is not a viable long-term strategy.
As you plan ahead for Atlassian Data Center end-of-life, you have distinct strategic options — each with pros and cons.
This is the primary path Atlassian is steering customers toward. Benefits include: global scale, automatic upgrades, tighter integration across tools, built-in AI and modern architecture. Organisations using Atlassian Data Center can tap migration programmes like FastShift and Solution Design Acceleration.
For organisations with strict compliance, regulatory or security constraints (e.g., government, defence, high-data-sovereignty sectors) a phased migration may be needed. Atlassian has committed to “extended maintenance by exception” beyond March 28, 2029 for some customers.
Some customers may examine vendors or platforms that offer self-managed, hybrid or sovereign cloud options if they feel standard cloud doesn’t align with their requirements. (E.g., some commentary in the market comparing Atlassian’s strategy to other tools).
Choosing the right path means assessing tools, data, culture, governance and compliance — not just checking a migration box.
To make your move from Atlassian Data Center smooth and low-risk, here’s a pragmatic roadmap:
Audit current Data Center usage: number of users, projects, apps (Marketplace apps), integrations, customisations. Identify any heavy-use apps or custom plugins that may not yet have cloud equivalents.
Understand how your Atlassian Data Center renewal schedule aligns with the EOL timeline. Assess cost differences between staying and migrating to Atlassian cloud. Avoid paying double-licensing by planning ahead.
For teams in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government), confirm data residency, identity management, encryption, audit logs and control frameworks. These may drive a more cautious migration path.
Decide whether to move in phases (e.g., user subset or one product at a time) or as a big-bang. Leverage Atlassian’s programs (FastShift for >1000 users, etc.)
For your Atlassian Data Center deployment, many third-party apps may require review: Are they cloud-ready? Are there feature gaps? Will data migration be seamless?
Your teams are used to Data Center admin, management, and workflows. Migration to the cloud means process changes, user training, and new governance. Start early.
As you move, track your metrics: downtime, user adoption, cost savings, and incident rates. Use insights to adjust the remainder of your migration.
From Empyra’s perspective (as an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner), helping clients transition off Atlassian Data Center toward cloud unlocks tangible benefits:
In many cases, the decision to stay on Atlassian Data Center becomes a cost risk rather than a cost saving. The question is not just “when do we migrate?” but “can we afford not to?”
At Empyra, we understand that migration isn’t just about moving data—it’s about transforming how teams work. If you are using Atlassian Data Center today, we’re here to walk you through:
We believe the move off Atlassian Data Center is an opportunity — not just a compliance exercise. It’s a moment to re-think your collaboration stack, to streamline operations, eliminate technical debt, and elevate how your people deliver value.
The deadline on Atlassian Data Center may still feel distant, but the journey begins now. Waiting until the final year introduces risk: higher cost, tighter timelines, limited partner availability, and potential disruption. By planning early, acting now, and making strategic decisions with clarity, you can turn this phase-out into a catalyst for innovation—not a burden.
Your next chapter begins with readiness. If you’re using Atlassian Data Center, let’s talk about how to make your migration to the cloud smooth, cost-effective, and aligned with your growth strategy.