Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) has gone through significant evolution since its inception as CQ, continually enhancing its capabilities. With the introduction of AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS) in 2020, Adobe has pivoted towards cloud-based solutions, while gradually phasing out support for older on-premises versions. Here, we outline the history of AEM releases and their respective support timelines, focusing on the latest updates and future direction. In this article we will share you the History of AEM Versions and Support Timeline based on Adobe’s Documentation.
1. History of AEM Versions and Support Timeline
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) has undergone significant development since its early days as CQ. Here’s a brief overview of its versions and their support timelines:
CQ 5.4:- Released on February 22, 2011
- Ended core support on February 22, 2014
- Ended extended support on February 22, 2016
CQ 5.5:- Released on February 25, 2012
- Ended core support on February 25, 2015
- Ended extended support on February 25, 2017
AEM 5.6:- Released on February 8, 2013
- Ended core support on February 8, 2016
- Ended extended support on February 8, 2018
AEM 6.0:- Released on May 22, 2014
- Ended core support on May 31, 2017
- Ended extended support on May 31, 2019
AEM 6.1:- Released on May 28, 2015
- Ended core support on May 31, 2018
- Ended extended support on May 31, 2020
AEM 6.2:- Released on April 21, 2016
- Ended core support on April 30, 2019
- Ended extended support on April 30, 2021
AEM 6.3:- Released on April 26, 2017
- Ended core support on April 30, 2020
- Ended extended support on April 30, 2022
AEM 6.4:- Released on April 4, 2018
- Ended core support on April 30, 2021
- Ended extended support on April 30, 2023
- AEM 6.5:
- Released on April 8, 2019
- No end date for core or extended support announced yet
Click here to view the official end of support, Adobe Matrix – https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/support/programs/eol-matrix.html
2. Transition to AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS)
As Adobe continues to support AEM 6.5, the focus is increasingly shifting towards AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS). AEMaaCS, launched in 2020, offers modern cloud-native capabilities, including seamless updates and scalable infrastructure. This shift is aimed at providing a more flexible and cost-effective solution compared to traditional on-premises installations.
3. Key Points for AEMaaCS
- Continuous Updates: AEMaaCS ensures users always have access to the latest features and security updates without manual intervention.
- Scalability and Flexibility: The cloud infrastructure allows for easy scaling based on business requirements, eliminating the need for managing physical servers.
- Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): By removing the need for dedicated hardware and maintenance, AEMaaCS can reduce overall costs associated with content management.
Organizations currently using older on-premises versions of AEM should consider migrating to AEMaaCS to benefit from these modern capabilities. For further details on support lifecycle and migration strategies, refer to Adobe’s official support documentation.
