November 11, 2024
Monthly update: Important actions partners need to take to secure the partner ecosystem
Important capabilities and updates to improve your security posture and protect your customers’ tenants are now available.
- Date: November 11, 2024
- Workspace: General
- Impacted audience: Direct-bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers transacting through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and with advisors
MFA requirements for Azure portal – As of October 2024, Microsoft now enforces multifactor authentication (MFA) for all users signing into Azure portal. Review the latest information and timeline.
MFA requirements for Microsoft 365 admin center: On February 3, 2025, Microsoft is going to start enforcing MFA for all users who access the Microsoft 365 admin center portal. Review the latest information and timeline.
Key Announcements from Microsoft
Introducing Copilot Insights in Microsoft 365 Lighthouse
Key Announcements from Microsoft:
Flexible Billing Options for Microsoft 365 Copilot and Standardised Monthly Billing:
To make budgeting easier, Microsoft is introducing more flexible billing options while maintaining consistency for annual pricing.
- No changes to annual upfront pricing
- Annual upfront payment prices remain unchanged.
- Monthly billing for annual Copilot subscriptions (5% premium):
- Starting December 1, 2024, customers can choose monthly billing for annual subscriptions on Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot for Sales, and Copilot for Services.
- This option includes a 5% premium compared to paying upfront for the year.
- Standardised monthly billing adjustment:
- From April 1, 2025, all monthly billing on annual subscriptions (e.g., Microsoft 365, Office 365, Dynamics 365) will include a 5% adjustment over the annual upfront rate.
| Annual Upfront | No Price Change |
| Annual Monthly (CoPilot) | 5% increase for CoPilot December 1, 2024 |
| Annual Monthly (All Products) | 5% increase April 1, 2025 |
- Learn more about the pricing updates in the Microsoft Partner Blog post
- End Of Support Reminders: Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and support for Office 2016/2019 along with a dozen other products will officially end. See the guide for renewals and toolkit for Office upgrades.
- Copilot + Agents: Microsoft has announced new advancements in AI with ten additional agents to streamline workflows.
- Nonprofit Discounts: Microsoft is offering a 15% discount on Microsoft 365 Copilot for eligible nonprofits. Great for conversations with your nonprofit clients—be sure to invite them to Copilot Quickstart Trainings.
Partner Opportunities:
- Intune CSP Awards: Microsoft will be recognising partners who sell 200+ Intune Suites with an invitation to an exclusive event at its Redmond, WA, headquarters
- New Copilot Insights: Now in Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, offering key insights to help drive customer engagement. Learn more about this feature.
Microsoft CSP News
- Forrester TEI Case Study: Find out how Microsoft 365 Copilot drives up to 353% ROI for SMBs.
- Copilot Getting Started promotion: Microsoft is offering a 15% discount through December 31. Access resources to support your customers with this promotion.
Updated Secure Productivity CSP Briefing Content: Take advantage of the newly refreshed Secure Productivity CSP Briefing to help customers learn how safely running their businesses from anywhere with a secure, comprehensive, AI-powered cloud solution is more important than ever.
Introducing Copilot Insights in Microsoft 365 Lighthouse: We’re excited to announce the rollout of Copilot Insights within Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, which will empower partners not only to identify customers ready for Copilot, but also to provide key insights for current Copilot users, helping to ensure healthy usage and adoption.
Upcoming Microsoft Events
Be sure to register for the latest upcoming digital and in-person events in Modern Work.
- November 14 – H2 CSP Acceleration Event at 9:00 AM, PT or 6:00 PM, PT
- November 19-21 – Microsoft Ignite
- December 2-4 – Converged Communications Partner Sales Bootcamp
- December 2-5 – ESPC24
- December 3-4 – Frontline Worker Partner Technical Bootcamp
- December 9-11 – Cloud Endpoints Partner Technical Bootcamp
- December 10 – Level Up CSP: Renew and Upsell Sales Bootcamp
- December 11 and 12 – Level Up CSP: Renew and Upsell Technical Bootcamp
- Throughout FY25 – Microsoft AI Partner Training Day
Stay up to date with on-demand sessions, our Partner Pulse e-newsletter, and the Modern Work website.
Don’t miss the Copilot Getting Started promotion for 15% savings, available through December 31!
