Article
Preparing for the Future: Microsoft BizTalk End-of-Life and Why Crosser Is the Ideal Replacement
With Microsoft ending support for BizTalk Server 2020 in 2030 (and even sooner for earlier versions), organizations relying on the platform face increasing risks — from security gaps to mounting maintenance costs.
Crosser offers a modern, future-proof alternative. Designed for seamless integration between Azure services and external SaaS platforms, it enables enterprises to connect and orchestrate systems across cloud and on-premise environments. Paired with its low-code design, centralized management, and AI-enhanced workflows, Crosser goes beyond replacing BizTalk — it redefines enterprise integration.
BizTalk EOL: What You Need to Know
Microsoft has officially set the end of mainstream support for BizTalk Server 2020 to April 11, 2028, with extended support ending on April 9, 2030. For BizTalk Server 2016, extended support ends even sooner — on January 11, 2027.
As these dates approach, organizations face increasing pressure to modernize their integration strategy. Staying on BizTalk beyond its support lifecycle can lead to significant operational risks, including:
- Security vulnerabilities due to lack of updates
- High maintenance costs
- Compatibility issues with modern infrastructure and services
- Talent shortages for BizTalk expertise
Even if support deadlines seem a few years away, continuing to build new integrations on a platform nearing end-of-life results in sunk costs. It's important to start building all new integrations on modern platforms now to avoid future disruption and wasted effort.
This presents a timely opportunity to shift from legacy systems to more agile, scalable, and future-ready platforms.
Why Crosser Is a Smart Modernization Choice
Crosser emerges as a compelling alternative to BizTalk, offering a modern integration platform that’s built for the edge, cloud, and hybrid environments. Here's why Crosser stands out:
1. Low-Code, Visual Development Environment
BizTalk requires developers with specific skills and familiarity with XML, schemas, and orchestrations.
Crosser, by contrast, adopts a low-code approach that allows teams to:
- Use a drag-and-drop interface for building integrations
- Large module library with connectors and processing logic
- Rapidly prototype and deploy new workflows
- Reduce reliance on specialized developers
This democratizes integration development, enabling both IT and operational teams to collaborate effectively.
Extend the Crosser module library by building your own modules using the .NET SDK or run your C#/Python/Javascript code in pre-built code modules.
2. Centralized Orchestration and Deployment
Crosser offers a centralized control plane where you can manage, deploy, and monitor all integrations through a single web interface — whether they run on edge devices, in your private data center, or in the cloud. Key features include:
- Unified management of distributed integration nodes
- Real-time orchestration and deployment
- Version control and audit tracking
- Parametrize integrations for easy re-use
- Alerts and monitoring for operational resilience
This level of central governance makes it significantly easier to maintain control and consistency across environments.
3. Flexibility for Hybrid and Edge Architectures
Unlike BizTalk, which is inherently on-premises and complex to scale, Crosser supports modern deployment patterns:
- Cloud-only for full scalability
- Edge-to-cloud for industrial and IoT use cases
- Hybrid for organizations transitioning over time
This flexibility makes it easy to adapt to changing needs and technologies, positioning your integration strategy for the future.
4. Distributable runtime
The runtime engine for the integrations, called the Crosser Node, can be installed anywhere where processing is needed: on-premise, in your cloud environment or hosted by Crosser.
- Lightweight engine built on .NET
- Install as Docker container or Windows service
- No need for inbound connectivity through firewalls
- Manage integrations centrally, no need for local installation of drivers
- Manage multiple independent integrations on each Node
You control where your data is processed! No need to expose data outside your protective boundaries, for local use cases.
5. AI Integration for Smarter Workflows
Crosser enables organizations to embed AI and machine learning capabilities directly within their integration flows — a major leap forward from BizTalk's static, rule-based logic. This includes:
- Integrating trained AI model into real-time processing flows
- Performing on-the-fly sentiment analysis, image recognition, anomaly detection, and more
- Enhancing decision-making with predictive insights and dynamic routing based on AI outputs
- Enabling autonomous operations through AI-driven triggers and alerts
By embedding intelligence at every step, Crosser empowers businesses to go beyond automation and into hyperautomation — creating smarter, more adaptive systems.
Conclusion: Don’t Wait for 2030
The countdown to BizTalk’s end of life has already begun. Rather than waiting until the last minute, organizations should start evaluating modern alternatives that align with current and future needs.
Even if the end-of-support is a bit in the future, adding new integrations and automations to a dead platform will be sunk cost and a hybrid strategy is recommended. Start with adding all NEW integrations with a modern platform and gradually move integrations of the legacy systems to avoid risk and unnecessary cost.
Crosser offers a powerful combination of Azure integration, low-code simplicity, centralized control, AI-powered intelligence, and hybrid deployment flexibility — making it not just a replacement for BizTalk, but a substantial upgrade.
Whether you're connecting ERP systems, industrial equipment, IoT devices, or cloud APIs, Crosser provides the tools to modernize with confidence.
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