Microsoft CSP Partner Program Updates - November & December 2024

Ravi C. K.

18 Dec 2024 — 6 min read

Microsoft CSP Partner Updates

November 2024 Microsoft Partner Center Announcements

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What are the key updates for Microsoft partners?

Microsoft is prioritizing security enhancements for partners and customers. Key updates include:

Migrate to enhanced CSP billing reconciliation APIs by January 21, 2025: To ensure uninterrupted service, migrate to the new asynchronous APIs for billing reconciliation in Partner Center by January 21, 2025.

Microsoft 365 Copilot CSP Getting Started 15%-off promo extension: Now Available until April 1, 2025.
Flexible billing for Microsoft 365 Copilot is now available: The monthly billing option for annual subscriptions is priced 5% higher than the annual billing (upfront payment).
Mandatory multifactor authentication (MFA): Enforced for Azure portal logins since October 2024, and for Microsoft 365 admin center logins starting February 3, 2025.
Removal of unused Azure subscriptions: Subscriptions inactive for over 12 months will be blocked and deleted after 90 days, starting December 2024. Account owners will be notified 30 days before blocking.
Deprecation of graph.windows.net audience tokens: To enhance security, Partner Center API interactions are being updated. Partners must transition to using api.partnercenter.microsoft.com audience tokens. The transition starts in early February 2025 and will be fully enforced by May 2025.
Security Requirements API (Beta): Provides partners with direct access to crucial security compliance data.

What changes are happening to billing reconciliation APIs in the Partner Center?

Partners must migrate to the new asynchronous v2 APIs for billing reconciliation by January 21, 2025, to avoid service disruptions. These APIs offer faster download times and reduced latency, particularly for large data volumes. Legacy APIs will return error messages after this date. Instructions for migrating to the new APIs are available in the Partner Center documentation.

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If you need help with the migration or to leverage Hybr CSP Billing, contact the Hybr CSP Billing Team experts via the request form.

Yes, the Microsoft 365 Copilot CSP Getting Started 15%-off promotion has been extended until April 1, 2025. This allows partners more time to take advantage of this offer and provide value to customers during the key Microsoft 365 renewal quarter.

What is the Partner Center Technical Corner blog series?

The Partner Center Technical Corner blog series provides in-depth information on new Partner Center features, security updates, and recently released capabilities. The December edition highlights the new Partner Center AI assistant (preview), security updates, and a recap of newly available features.

What are the key changes to the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program?

New benefits: Over 20 in-demand product licenses will be available starting January 22, 2025, including Microsoft 365 Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and GitHub Enterprise.
The transition from legacy benefits: Microsoft Action Pack, Learning Action Pack, and legacy silver/gold benefits will no longer be sold after January 22, 2025. Partners are encouraged to transition to new partner benefits packages or Solutions Partner designations.
New and updated specializations: Several specializations are being updated, including a new Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization, renaming and updating of the AI and Machine Learning in Microsoft Azure, and Building and Modernizing AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specializations.
AI assistant plugins: New AI assistant plugins for the Microsoft Action Pack program and prepurchase scenarios are available or coming soon.

What is Microsoft Places and how can partners transact it?

Microsoft Places is an AI-powered workplace solution now generally available. It enhances flexible work by simplifying the coordination of in-person gatherings and providing insights into occupancy and utilization trends.

Partners can transact Microsoft Places through various SKUs, including Microsoft 365 subscriptions for core features and Teams Premium licenses for enhanced functionalities.

What flexible billing options are available for Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Starting December 1, 2024, a monthly billing plan for annual subscriptions of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales, and Microsoft 365 Copilot for Services will be introduced. This option will be priced 5% higher than the annual upfront payment option.

What are the upcoming changes to autofit ratios for Azure M-series VMs?

On December 6, 2024, Microsoft will update the instance size flexibility ratios for Azure Reserved Instances (RIs) for M-series VMs. This change aims to optimize reservation discounts within instance size flexibility groups, leading to better resource utilization and performance efficiency. Partners utilizing M-series VMs should review the details of this change before December.

Details and Key Actions

Security Enhancements and Mandatory MFA

Microsoft continues to prioritize security with new solutions, an industry-leading bug bounty program and innovations in its AI platform unveiled at Microsoft Ignite 2024.

Key Actions:

Mandatory MFA enforcement: Azure portal: Enforced since October 2024.
M365 admin center: Enforced starting February 3, 2025.
Removal of unused Azure subscriptions: Beginning December 2024, inactive subscriptions will be blocked and deleted after 90 days. Partners and account owners will be notified 30 days before blocking.
Deprecation of graph.windows.net audience tokens: Partners must transition to api.partnercenter.microsoft.com audience tokens for Partner Center API interaction by May 2025.
"A new version of the generatetoken API will be available and will ONLY accept api.partnercenter.microsoft.com audience tokens for both usertoken and app only scenarios. Partners must make this change before the end of April 2025."

New Resources:

Microsoft Security Copilot: Available for Admin On Behalf Of (AOBO) in Partner Center.
Security Requirements API (Beta): Provides direct access to security compliance data.
Securing the Channel Journey Map: Guides partners on their Zero Trust journey.

CSP Program Updates and Billing Changes

Significant updates to the CSP program include billing API migrations, new offers, and the discontinuation of legacy programs.

Key Actions:

Migrate to enhanced CSP billing reconciliation APIs by January 21, 2025: "Partners must migrate to these new APIs before January 21, 2025, to avoid service disruption."
Leverage the Microsoft 365 Copilot CSP Getting Started 15%-off promo: Extended until April 1, 2025.
Review the updated CSP Program Guide.

Resources:

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If you need help with the migration or to leverage Hybr CSP Billing, contact the Hybr CSP Billing Team experts via the request form.

New Features and Offers:

Flexible billing for Microsoft 365 Copilot: Monthly billing option for annual subscriptions available starting December 1, 2024.
Price values visible in Partner Center checkout: Increased transparency for partners.

Important Dates:

Get Licensing Ready website retirement: January 1, 2025.
Technical enforcement of EOS for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Enterprise Suites with Teams: October 1, 2024.
Standardized billing structure with a 5% price increase for monthly billing of annual subscriptions: April 1, 2025.
Price updates for Microsoft Teams Phone and Power BI: April 1, 2025.

Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Updates

New designations, specializations, and AI-powered tools are being introduced to empower partners in the AI space.

Key Highlights:

New benefits starting January 22, 2025: Over 20 in-demand product licenses, including Microsoft Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and GitHub Enterprise.
Transition from Microsoft Action Pack (MAPS), Learning Action Pack, and legacy silver/gold benefits: Stop selling on January 22, 2025.
New and Updated Specializations: Security SMB Path: New thresholds available.
Analytics on Microsoft Azure: Merging with Data Warehouse Migration specialization in the first half of 2025.
AI and Machine Learning in Microsoft Azure: Renamed to "AI Platform on Azure" with increased performance requirements and expanded product offerings.
Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure: Rebranded as "Build AI Apps on Azure" with similar changes.
Partner Center AI assistant plugins: Available for MAPS program.
Launching in mid-December for prepurchase scenarios.

Other Important Announcements

Manage joint planning leads from Microsoft sellers: New feature in the Referrals workspace starting January 15, 2025.
Fundraising and Engagement updates: SKU dependency removed for Volunteer Engagement and Volunteer Management, and Azure services updated to .NET 8.
SPARK Propensity data for FY25 Solution Plays: Available in Partner Center Insights to identify high-propensity customers.
Microsoft Places general availability: AI-powered workplace solution now available.
Lifecycle state values returned by Partner Center availabilities APIs: Improved API functionality.
Autofit ratio changes for Azure M-series VMs: Effective December 6, 2024.
More intuitive error messages for SaaS Fulfillment APIs v2: Launching November 8, 2024.
15% discount for eligible nonprofits on Microsoft 365 Copilot: Available starting November 1, 2024.