CSP Cloud Digest – November 2024

?? Copilot – New Billing Options On The Horizon

Changes to CSP billing and pricing!

Microsoft is announcing a flexible approach to billing – starting December 1, 2024, there will be a monthly billing option for annual Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscriptions, including Copilot for Sales and Service.

What should you know?

• The monthly billing plan for annual subscriptions will be slightly more expensive (5% more for an annual subscription), which allows you to standardize the billing system across Buy Online, CSP, and MCA-E. It's a good option for those looking for flexibility without sacrificing subscription stability.
• Additionally, starting April 1, 2025, all new and renewed monthly annual subscription plans will be priced 5% higher, allowing for unified billing structures across Buy Online, CSP, and MCA-E.
• Prices for Microsoft Teams Phone Standard and Power BI Pro/Premium Per User are also expected to update from April 1, 2025.

These changes are not only an update of price lists, but also an opportunity for a more flexible approach to settlements, which responds to the changing needs of our customers.

As a Microsoft distributor, we want to keep up to date with these changes and support you in every phase of the process. Together, thanks to our cooperation, we can adapt even more effectively to the dynamic market and achieve our customers' business goals.

More details can be found at the link: November 2024 announcements - Partner Center announcements | Microsoft Learn

?? What's New In System Center 2025

System Center 2025 will be available globally from November 1, 2024, offering the opportunity to modernize your infrastructure and improve security. The new version enables simplified management of complex environments with support for Azure Stack HCI 23H2, enhanced operational security, data retention, and authentication. It also supports Windows Server 2025, and its price will increase by 10% compared to the 2022 version. System Center 2022 will remain available and will continue to be supported.

Link to announcement: October 2024 announcements - Partner Center announcements | Microsoft Learn

???Copilot For Microsoft 365 Self-Service Purchase

Starting October 7, the option to self-purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 is available. The introduction of self-service purchasing options for Copilot means that end users licensed through the Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium business suites can purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot on their own.

End users can select the Add Copilot to your Microsoft Plan button that appears on the Microsoft 365 Copilot product page and the Compare All Microsoft 365 Plans page. Currently, purchases will be limited to one license per person.

Link to the advert.

?? Microsoft Places – New Era Of Flexible Work

?Microsoft Places will be generally available in late 2024. It's an AI-powered app that revolutionizes flexible remote work by intelligently coordinating your hybrid team's tasks to get the most out of your days in the office. It modernizes the way employees connect and improves space management with occupancy and occupancy data.

Customers with an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription will gain access to core Microsoft Places features, such as setting and updating a work schedule, viewing colleagues' plans, a new calendar, scheduling live meetings, managing hybrid RSVPs, and workplace presence.

?Users with a Teams Premium license will receive additional features such as: place finder, smart suggestions, place explorer, team guidance, space analytics, and automatic space release policies.

?Link to the announcement: October 2024 announcements - Partner Center announcements | Microsoft Learn

?? Monthly Update

?? MFA Requirements For The Azure Portal

As of October, Microsoft introduced mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users signing in to the Azure portal. We encourage you to read the latest information and implementation timeline - > Announcing mandatory multi-factor authentication for Azure sign-in | Microsoft Azure Blog

?? Deleting Unused Azure Subscriptions:

Starting in November, Microsoft will begin the process of blocking and then deleting unused Azure subscriptions. A subscription will be considered unused if ?there is no activity or resource consumption for more than 12 months. The account owner and subscription administrators will receive a notification 30 days before the ban. Once blocked, your subscription will be deleted after another 90 days.

Link to announcement: October 2024 announcements - Partner Center announcements | Microsoft Learn

??? Events

WEBINAR

Microsoft Fabric Essentials: Building Your Modern Data Platform

??? Date:?04.12.2024? ?| ???Time:?10:00?- 11:30? (GMT +2)

Discover the power of Microsoft Fabric in this comprehensive webinar designed to help you understand and leverage this game-changing data platform.

?? Register now!