As SAS continues to innovate with its modern analytics platform, SAS Viya, many organizations are wondering what the future holds for SAS 9.4. The good news? SAS 9.4 isn’t going anywhere just yet.
In fact, the next maintenance release—SAS 9.4 M9—is expected to arrive in June 2025, and it brings with it a reassuring promise: Standard Support will continue for five years from the release date. That means SAS 9.4 M9 will be supported well into 2030, giving organizations plenty of runway to plan their next steps.
What’s New in SAS 9.4 M9?
While M9 isn’t introducing headline-grabbing new features, it still delivers a host of valuable improvements that make it a worthwhile upgrade. Each maintenance release is designed to enhance the platform’s stability, security, and usability—and M9 is no exception.
You can expect:
Flexible Upgrade Paths
One of the strengths of the SAS 9 platform is its flexible upgrade process. Whether you prefer an in-place upgrade—which updates your existing system without starting from scratch—or a fresh installation with a full migration of your current setup and data, SAS 9.4 M9 supports both approaches.
This flexibility helps minimize disruption and allows organizations to adopt the new release in a way that best fits their infrastructure and timelines.
Looking Ahead
SAS has committed to a quarterly release cycle, ensuring that even as SAS 9.4 matures, it continues to evolve. These regular updates will bring ongoing improvements and refinements, helping organizations stay aligned with changing business needs and technology standards.
So, while SAS Viya represents the future of analytics, SAS 9.4 remains a robust, secure, and supported platform for the foreseeable future.
Curious to learn more? Get in touch with the team at Katalyze Data — we’d love to hear from you!