Sage CRM 2026 R1 introduces a series of important implementation improvements focused on strengthening the security, stability and resilience of the platform.
As a Security and Compatibility release, this version continues Sage’s ongoing investment in protecting customer environments and aligning Sage CRM with modern infrastructure and security standards.
Strengthening the Platform
Security is not delivered through a single feature. Instead, Sage CRM 2026 R1 brings together a set of targeted improvements across the application stack, infrastructure components and supporting technologies.
These updates are designed to:
- Reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities
- Improve system stability under real-world usage
- Align Sage CRM with current security best practices
- Support secure deployment in increasingly restrictive IT environments
Independent security testing has also been carried out as part of this release cycle to validate platform resilience and identify areas for further hardening.
Core Security Enhancements
Several updates have been made directly within the core Sage CRM application.
Improved Password Enforcement
- Greater consistency in enforcing password policies
- Reduction in edge cases where password rules were not applied correctly
This ensures more predictable and secure user authentication behaviour across the system.
Exchange Integration Security Improvements
The Microsoft Exchange integration has been enhanced to improve both reliability and security.
- Improved handling of Exchange Online service responses
- More robust validation of connection data
- Streamlined permission requirements
Reducing the number of required permissions helps organisations apply tighter access controls, particularly in environments using Zero Trust security models.
Application Server and Infrastructure Hardening
A key focus of this release is the modernisation and hardening of underlying platform components.
Apache Tomcat Upgrade
- Updated from earlier versions to Apache Tomcat 9.0.112
- Includes fixes for known vulnerabilities (including CVE-2025-48984)
- Improves stability of REST services, dashboards and integrations
Additional benefits include:
- Improved resource management under sustained load
- Better alignment with supported Java standards
- Increased reliability of core CRM services
Modernised Java and Reporting Stack
Sage CRM 2026 R1 continues the modernisation of its Java-based components:
- Updated PDF generation engine (Apache FOP 2.11)
- Improved memory handling and processing efficiency
- Better stability when generating multiple reports concurrently
While primarily a performance improvement, these changes also contribute to overall platform stability and reduce operational risk.
Addressing Security Vulnerabilities
As part of ongoing maintenance, Sage CRM 2026 R1 resolves identified security issues within third-party components.
- Remediation of vulnerabilities in bundled infrastructure components
- Replacement of outdated libraries with supported versions
- Continued alignment with secure software supply chain practices
These updates help ensure that Sage CRM deployments remain compliant with modern security expectations.
Supporting Secure Deployment Practices
Modern IT environments are increasingly adopting stricter security controls, including:
- Egress filtering and restricted outbound connectivity
- Zero Trust networking principles
- Strong identity and access management policies
The improvements in Sage CRM 2026 R1 support these approaches by:
- Reducing unnecessary permissions
- Improving robustness of integration endpoints
- Ensuring predictable behaviour under constrained network conditions
What This Means for You
The security and hardening improvements in Sage CRM 2026 R1 deliver tangible benefits for customers and partners:
- Stronger protection against vulnerabilities and threats
- Improved system stability under load and during integration
- Simplified security configuration through reduced permission requirements
- Better alignment with modern IT security standards
These changes may not always be visible in the user interface, but they are critical in ensuring that Sage CRM remains a secure and dependable platform for your business.
Looking Ahead
Sage CRM 2026 R1 lays the groundwork for continued investment in security, platform modernisation and future innovation.
As organisations continue to adopt cloud-connected services, AI-driven capabilities and increasingly complex integrations, maintaining a secure and resilient foundation is essential.
This release ensures that Sage CRM is ready for that future.