As part of Infor’s ongoing commitment to transparency and product excellence, the Infor SunSystems Product Lifecycle Policy provides customers with a clear roadmap of how each product version is supported over time.
For finance teams relying on SunSystems to power critical accounting and reporting processes, understanding these lifecycle stages is key to maintaining compliance, stability, and support continuity.
Below, we break down what the policy means, which versions are affected, and the practical steps your organisation can take to stay ahead.
What the Lifecycle Policy Means
There are three applicable stages of Maintenance during the product lifecycle of a release: Mainstream Maintenance, Extended Maintenance, and Sustaining Maintenance.
Each phase determines the level of support, updates, and compliance coverage your organisation receives.
Here’s how they differ:
| MAINTENANCE CATEGORY | DURATION | PRODUCT FIXES | THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATIONS | ACCESS TO SUPPORT RESOURCES | MAINTENANCE PRICING |
| Mainstream Maintenance | General availability (GA) date of replacement version plus a minimum of three (3) additional years; Mainstream Maintenance will be available for a minimum of four (4) years after the GA date | Severity 1 (critical)and Severity 2 (high)fixes, updates, and regulatory and statutory enhancements for released localizations of the product, as determined by Infor; Severity 3 (medium) fixes to be provided in future releases at Infor’s discretion | Yes | Access to Infor Support Portal, Knowledge Base, Infor Concierge, and Infor Support Staf | Standard Maintenance pricing |
| Extended Maintenance | End of Mainstream Maintenance plus two (2) additional years | Severity 1 (critical) only;regulatory updates to be included at Infor’s discretion; no regulatory enhancements will be offered; no new updates; a minimum service pack may be required | No | Access to Infor Support Portal, Knowledge Base, Infor Concierge, and Infor Support Staf | Standard Maintenance pricing plus 20% premium, unless otherwise determined by Infor |
| Sustaining Maintenance | Available at Infor’s discretion following the end of Extended Maintenance | Access to pre-existing fixes only; no new product fixes, updates, or regulatory enhancements; products to be made available for download or delivery solely at Infor’s discretion | No | Access to Infor Support Portal, Knowledge Base, Infor Concierge, and Infor Support Staf | Standard Maintenance pricing plus a premium, at Infor’s discretion |
In summary:
- Mainstream Maintenance is the most comprehensive level, offering full updates, fixes, and certifications with third-party software.
- Extended Maintenance provides limited support—primarily critical fixes (Severity 1 issues)—and comes with an additional premium fee.
- Sustaining Maintenance is the final stage, offering access to existing fixes only, without any new updates or enhancements.
Infor typically provides several years of Mainstream Maintenance from the general availability (GA) date of each version, followed by optional Extended and Sustaining Maintenance periods.
Which Versions Are Impacted
According to the most recent lifecycle schedule, Infor SunSystems 6.4—released in December 2020— has no end-of-maintenance dates currently planned.
However, older versions such as 6.3, 6.2, 6.1.1, and 6.1 are approaching the end of their support window. These versions will reach the close of both Mainstream and Extended Maintenance on 31 December 2025.
Earlier releases, including SunSystems 4.x and 5.x, as well as Query & Analysis 10.x and 11.1/11.2, reached end of maintenance on 27 September 2024. These versions are now beyond their official support window, meaning no further updates, fixes, or regulatory enhancements are being issued.
The information in the following table provides an overview of the services included in the three Maintenance categories:
| SUMMARY OF COMPONENTS | MAINSTREAM MAINTENANCE | EXTENDED MAINTENANCE | SUSTAINING MAINTENANCE |
| Access to new major releases | |||
| Access to Infor Support Portal | |||
| Access to Infor Support Staff | |||
| Upgrade scripts | |||
| Updates and fixes | S1-critical only | Pre-existing only | |
| Localizations—tax, legal, and regulatory enhancements/updates2 | |||
| Certification with new versions of specific third-party products, as determined by Infor (this includes IBM® i OS releases) |
- If there are any discrepancies between this summary/overview and the applicable version support schedule, the information in the applicable version support schedule controls the level of Maintenance provided by Infor.
- Localisations may include:
- Language translations
- Functional changes to adapt software for a particular country
- Regulatory/statutory updates
The decision as to which regulatory and statutory updates to include in Infor’s products, if any, will be determined by Infor in its sole discretion. Infor shall also solely determine which language translations to offer, if any, and when and if products will be updated to reflect adaptations for a particular country.
Business Risks of Not Upgrading
Failing to upgrade before the end of maintenance introduces several operational and compliance risks that can directly impact your finance function:
- Security vulnerabilities: Without ongoing updates, systems become more exposed to potential threats and cyberattacks.
- Compliance issues: Expired versions may not receive tax, legal, or regulatory updates, putting financial reporting accuracy at risk.
- Reduced system compatibility: Older versions may not work seamlessly with modern operating systems, databases, or third-party tools.
- Higher long-term costs: Extended and Sustaining Maintenance require premium fees but deliver limited benefits compared to full support.
- Limited support availability: Access to Infor Support Staff and the Knowledge Base remains, but product fixes are restricted to existing versions.
- NIS2 Cybersecurity Directive Compliance: The EU’s NIS2 Directive now enforces stringent cybersecurity standards, which started on October 18, 2024. Older SunSystems and Query & Analysis versions are not NIS2 compliant and will no longer receive updates.
Upgrading is not just a technical necessity. It’s a strategic decision that safeguards operational resilience, compliance, and future scalability.
Recommended Next Steps
Infor encourages all SunSystems customers to proactively plan their migration strategy. You have two key pathways:
1. Upgrade to SunSystems 6.4
This version delivers up-to-date functionality and remains fully supported. Upgrading ensures continuous access to:
- Regular product fixes and enhancements
- Certification with new third-party software versions
- Ongoing tax and regulatory updates
2. Move to Infor SunSystems Cloud
Transitioning to Infor SunSystems Cloud, the latest and cloud version of the system, offers powerful long-term advantages and flexibility, including:
- Automatic, continuous updates—no manual upgrades required
- Enhanced security and compliance built into the platform
- Scalable performance to meet evolving business needs
- Lower total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to on-premises maintenance
- 24/7 cloud maintenance and support
- Access to all Infor SunSystems modules for one price
Infor offers Transitional Support for customers migrating from on-premises licences, providing limited support for the old system during the transition period (up to 18 months).
Stay Informed and Plan Ahead
By staying current with the latest Infor SunSystems release or migrating to the cloud, your organisation can ensure compliance, security, and performance continuity well into the future.
To explore the full details of maintenance categories, timelines, and support entitlements, you can download the complete Infor SunSystems Product Lifecycle Policy or contact us for assistance.
