A Personal Note to the Access Community

Today marks my final day at Microsoft.

After several wonderful years, I’ve chosen to participate in Microsoft’s Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) and am embarking on a new journey. It’s quite surreal to express this. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside products, communities, and individuals I truly care about. Recently, this has included my role as Program Manager for Microsoft Access, which has one of the most passionate and knowledgeable communities in technology.

Before I leave, there’s an important message I’d like to share:

Access is thriving and evolving.

A common inquiry I receive is, “Is Access going away?”

The answer is as consistent as ever:

No.

Access still comes bundled with Microsoft 365 and Office, and we continue to invest in its development. We deliver regular bug fixes, security updates, and improvements in accessibility, alongside new features. In fact, we’ve recently introduced several enhancements, such as improved zoom functionality, expanded design capabilities for forms and reports, and new features tailored for developers, with more on the way.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredibly dedicated engineering team who genuinely cares about Access and its users. I’ve witnessed the teamwork, prioritisation meetings, and customer feedback sessions that ensure Access meets the needs of businesses, governments, schools, non-profits, and developers globally. Access is a vital part of Microsoft’s productivity ecosystem, and the team is committed to keeping it relevant, reliable, and valuable for years to come.

I know many of you closely monitor the public roadmap and sometimes feel concerned during quiet periods. What isn’t always publicly shared is the extensive ongoing work: security upgrades, compliance efforts, accessibility enhancements, bug fixes, and customer-requested improvements, all essential for maintaining a product that’s been around for over 30 years in a fast-changing tech landscape.

As for the future, I’m not yet sure who will take on the role of Access PM or when that transition will take place. What I do know is that Access merits careful guidance, active community engagement, and a clear understanding of its importance. I’m optimistic that the next person in this role will bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a commitment to listening to customers, MVPs, partners, and developers who make this community special.

To our MVPs: thank you for your support, feedback, and honesty in sharing what works and what doesn’t. Many features we rolled out originated from your requests, conversations during conferences, forum discussions, and your valuable insights. Your voices have truly improved the product.

To the Access developers worldwide: I appreciate your commitment to creating solutions that matter. Whenever someone labels Access as outdated, I hear stories from organisations using it for mission-critical tasks, supporting small businesses, managing research projects, tracking inventory, or helping people be more productive. The creativity and resourcefulness within this community continually inspire me.

Lastly, thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.

It has been a privilege to contribute to the story of Access, share new features, write documentation, engage with the community, and advocate for your favourite feature requests.

While I’m moving on from Microsoft, I will always support Access and its users.

The future of Access is in your hands, and I believe it’s bright.

Thank you for your support, passion, and trust.

See you around,

Linda Cannon

Former Program Manager, Microsoft Access

Leaving Microsoft as an FTE for the last time with my Scottie dog, Bode.