SMTP AUTH will soon no longer work on MS Excange

Microsoft is Retiring Basic Authentication for SMTP AUTH in Exchange Online
The new deadline for total shutdown is April 30, 2026.
If you send email through Exchange Online using SMTP AUTH and Basic
Authentication, big changes are coming:

March 1, 2026 – Microsoft starts rejecting a small % of Basic Auth connections.
April 30, 2026 – 100% of Basic Auth connections will be rejected.

Why?
Basic Auth sends usernames and passwords in a way that’s easier for attackers to steal. Microsoft is moving everyone to OAuth, a modern, more secure login method which is good.

What you need to do:
If your app or device supports OAuth – switch now or check other email service provider solutions
If not – and if you do not want to be in the Microsoft cloud because your email client does not support OAuth, look around for independent more flexible cost effective SMTP solutions supporting TLS 1.2, 1.3, STARTTLS and other secure transactions.

This is about digital prepping…