Microsoft Modern Work News
Strengthen Your Security Posture & Maintain CSP Authorisation
Action Required: All indirect resellers must meet Microsoft’s mandatory security requirements to reduce risk and maintain Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) authorisation.
Key Steps:
- Provide and regularly update a monitored security contact in Partner Center.
- Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) for all admin users.
- Review privileged roles and remove inactive accounts.
Annual validation starts January 2026—ensure your organisation is ready.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: New SKUs, Bundles & Promotions
Now Available: Microsoft 365 Copilot Business SKUs and bundles, designed for SMB customers, are live in Partner Centre.
- Benefits: AI-powered productivity for SMBs.
- Requires Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, or Premium.
- Includes AI chat and agent automation for business processes.
Convenience Bundles: Streamlined options for renewals (Basic/Standard/Premium + Copilot Business).
Promotions (Dec 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026):
- Discounts available on standalone Copilot Business and bundles.
- Special offer on Microsoft Purview suite add-on for Business Premium.
Eligibility: Minimum and maximum license requirements apply. Customers must have an active Microsoft 365 Business subscription.
Microsoft 365 Pricing & Packaging Updates (Effective July 2026)
What’s Changing: Global price update for commercial Microsoft 365 suites, effective July 1, 2026.
- Impact: New and renewing customers will see new prices after July 1, 2026.
- Partner Opportunity: Encourage customers to renew before July 1 to lock in current pricing and drive upsells to higher-value suites (E3/E5, Copilot bundles).
- Tip: Successful renewals can take up to three months—start conversations early!
- Resources: Leverage available incentives and promotions to maximise value for your customers.
Security Copilot for E5 Users
- New Benefit: Microsoft Security Copilot is now available to Microsoft 365 E5 customers, with 12 new agents for enhanced security workflows.
- Rollout: Began November 18, 2025, expanding to all E5 customers soon. Partners with E5 already using Security Copilot get this at no extra cost.
- Why It Matters: Agentic AI boosts security automation and protection, seamlessly integrated into existing tools—no extra licenses or setup needed.
Monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program update
What’s new: Specialisations renamed and performance requirements realigned to integrate AI and streamline qualification.
Agentic DevOps with Microsoft Azure and GitHub (formerly Accelerate Developer Productivity with Microsoft Azure)
- ACR must come from updated substrategic pillars: Azure DevOps, GitHub Copilot, GitHub Platform, Microsoft Dev Box.
- ACR must be contributed by three customers in the last three months (threshold unchanged).
- MSX engagement requirement removed.
AI Apps on Microsoft Azure (formerly Build AI Apps with Microsoft Azure)
- ACR must align to updated pillars across Foundry, App Platform, and Data Platform categories (including Azure OpenAI, Developer Services & Platform, GitHub Copilot, Modern DB, Azure SQL Core, Fabric F SKU, etc.).
- ACR contribution rules remain unchanged, with three unique customers in the last three months from the combined pillar list.
Who’s impacted: Partners enrolled in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program.
Actions: Check your Partner Centre specialisation status and align motions to the new pillars; plan to meet the updated ACR/customer requirements.
Microsoft Entra Internet Access for GCC
What’s new: Transactable from January 1, 2026. December list entry is not transactable. Entra Private Access for GCC is available now.
Who’s impacted: All Microsoft partners working with GCC customers.
Actions: Schedule purchasing on/after Jan 1, 2026; continue with Private Access where required today.
Launch Enablement Guide (AI enhanced)
What’s new: A single, always current place for CSP and Volume Licensing launch updates + official Microsoft Learn content, with AIassisted discovery.
Who’s impacted: All partners.
Actions: Use the guide to find what’s new, what’s changing, and who’s impacted, then turn items into concrete actions for sales, ops, and customer comms.
Explore: CSP & Partner Center | Enterprise & VL Central.
Extended Service Terms (ESTs) — sandbox + upcoming automove
What’s new: Selected EST SKUs available for Partner Center sandbox testing (from Nov 3, 2025). These SKUs are for sandbox only, not for purchase.
Automove at expiration starting Apr 1, 2026 when all three are true:
- Subscription purchased on/after Apr 1, 2025.
- Expires on/after Apr 1, 2026.
- Autorenew is off.
Who’s impacted: CSP distributors and direct bill partners. Actions:
- Review EST technical docs; schedule system updates.
- Prepare for cancel at end of term (available in January).
- Brief customers ahead of term end to avoid unexpected billing.
AI Cloud Partner Program update — Learning Profiles
What’s new (from Nov 18):
- Link multiple Microsoft Learn profiles (MSA + AAD) without merging.
- Unified credential view & filtering across linked accounts.
- Cleaner navigation/UI with Partner University and Learn Linking tabs.
- Foundation for AI driven skilling recommendations.
Who’s impacted: Partners using Partner Center Learning Profiles.
Actions: Link profiles, consolidate credentials, and prepare for upcoming AI skilling features.