Microsoft has announced several updates for July 2026, covering products, solutions, services, partner programmes, and other key information. Here is a summary of the latest updates.
Now available: Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot SKUs
- As of 1st July 2026, the Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot SKUs are now generally available.
- Two live promotional offers are also available, creating further opportunities to scale AI adoption and build pipeline:
– New promo: Microsoft 365 Business Basic + Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: 21 USD per user per month after a 25% off promo through December 2026. No license minimum (1-300 licenses, annual subscription with annual billing).
– Extended promo: Microsoft 365 Copilot Business remains available as a standalone offering at 18 USD per user per month after a 15% promo extended through December 2026. No license minimum (1-300 licenses, annual subscription with annual billing). - Learn more by reading Microsoft’s general availability blog post
FY27 Microsoft Incentive Changes
- Read our blog post FY27 Microsoft Incentive Changes: What Resellers Need to Know and How to Protect Profitability to find out all the information about the FY27 Microsoft incentive changes.
FY27 promotions for Microsoft 365 and Copilot
- All Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5 promotions are extended until 30 September 2026. Microsoft 365 E7 promotions will be live through 31 December 2026, on annual subscription with annual or monthly billing as below table:
- New FY27 Copilot one-year promotions run until 30 September 2026. Microsoft is also launching a Microsoft 365 Business Basic + Copilot Business promotion and extending the standalone Copilot Business promotion to 31 December 2026. Both support annual subscriptions with annual or monthly billing, as shown below:
New Windows 365 CSP Promotions
- New Windows 365 promotions are available from 1 July 2026.
– Windows 365 Business includes a 25% discount until 30 June 2027.
– Windows 365 Enterprise includes a 20% discount until 30 September 2026.
– Windows 365 Flex and Government include a 20% discount until 30 June 2027.
Microsoft 365 Copilot specialisation updates
- From July 2026, Microsoft renamed the Microsoft 365 Copilot specialisation and updated the performance, skilling, and validation requirements as covered in this Partner Centre Announcement.
Introducing Copilot in 30
- From 1st August 2026, Microsoft is introducing Copilot in 30, a new CSP partner-led trial that gives SMBs a structured 30-day experience to explore Microsoft 365 Copilot Business use cases for 25 users.
- Microsoft has made available a Copilot in 30 launch kit to download that includes partner ready assets to help building a go-to-market plan.
July monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program update
- Microsoft’s July 2026 AI Cloud Partner Program update introduces several changes for partners, including the retirement of the Adoption and Change Management specialisation, updates to the Microsoft 365 Copilot specialisation, new FY27 H1 audit checklists, and refreshed skilling requirements linked to retiring certifications. It also outlines upcoming specialisation mergers, expanded audit requirements for Security specialisations, changes to AI Business Solutions performance metrics, and the planned FY27 launch of a new Agentic Security Specialisation.
- Review Microsoft’s Monthly update for more information.
Microsoft announces moving to annual local currency pricing updates for Commercial Cloud services every January
- Microsoft will move to annual local currency pricing updates for Commercial Cloud services every January, giving customers more predictable pricing while still reflecting sustained foreign exchange fluctuations. The next update takes effect on January 1, 2027, and will continue annually on that date.
- Microsoft will share detailed guidance on the January 2027 update in November 2026.
- Review Microsoft’s blog post to learn more.
Update to benefits renewal window coming
- From early 2027, the renewal window will start 30 days before your benefits offering anniversary date.
- The previous 30-day post-AD grace period no longer applies, and you must complete offer renewal by your anniversary date. If renewal is not completed, the offer and all associated benefits expire the day after the anniversary date and are no longer available unless you repurchase.
Expanded SMB track eligibility
- Microsoft is removing the Azure consumed revenue (ACR) threshold from SMB track eligibility across the three Cloud & AI Platforms solution paths that count toward Solutions Partner designation attainment.
- Partners can now qualify for the SMB track across the Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), and Infrastructure (Azure) solution paths if at least 80% of their customer base is in the SMB or small, medium, and corporate-corporate (SMC-C) segments.
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence (MDTI) reaches end of life 1 August 2026
- Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence (MDTI) standalone SKU reaches end of life on 1 August 2026.
- MDTI capabilities are now included at no extra cost in the Microsoft Defender portal for customers with Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Sentinel, with no migration action required as the feature is already available to them.
Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication for MFA to be retired
- 1 September 2026:
– Passkeys become the default authentication experience.
– Users enabled for SMS or voice authentication will be automatically targeted for passkey registration prompts.
- 18 September 2026:
– Pricing, commercial terms, and a list of supported telecom providers will be shared.
- 30 October 2026:
– Admins may select and configure a supported telecom provider through the Microsoft Security Store.
- 1 February 2027:
– Microsoft will retire its own SMS and voice delivery services for MFA in Microsoft Entra ID.
– Organisations that still require SMS or voice MFA will need to use a customer-managed telecom provider via the Microsoft Security Store.
- After 1 February 2027:
– Users whose only MFA method is SMS or voice will be required to register a passkey before they can continue signing in.
– Microsoft states there will be no opt-out from this enforcement.
Windows 365 GPU Frontline Select 256 GB SKU available on 1 August 2026
- The Windows 365 GPU Frontline Select 256 GB SKU was temporarily unavailable for new CSP purchases while system configuration updates were completed. From 1 August 2026, it will be available to purchase in CSP without restrictions.
Azure reservation exchange policy update
- Starting 1 February 2027, Azure reservation exchanges are not available for services covered by savings plans.
- Impacted customers start receiving action-recommended notifications on 30 July 2026, from Microsoft.
Partner Code of Conduct update
- Effective 1 August 2026, Microsoft is updating the Partner Code of Conduct (PCoC) to clarify partner compliance expectations.
- Review the updated Partner Code of Conduct terms.
Coming soon: Updated Partner Centre verification experience for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and Cloud Solution Providers
- From 28 July 2026, Partner Centre will introduce a modernised experience for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and Cloud Solution Provider programmes, streamlining partner vetting with an updated look and a more consistent verification flow.
Introducing the new Copilot Studio building experience
- The new Copilot Studio experience is now available in public preview. Built on a new core using the latest coding-harness technology, it simplifies authoring and helps agents and workflows deliver more consistent, reliable results.
New Agentic Apps Power Platform + Copilot Studio partner practice guide
- This end-to-end guide helps Microsoft partners build, scale, and monetise a low-code and agentic AI practice.
- Download the guide from HERE
Updated Business Central learning materials now available
- Stay up to date faster with the Business Central Launch Edition (BCLE) 2026 release wave 1 deck and video series. The deck provides flexible “what’s new” slides for presenting the latest Business Central capabilities to customers, while the videos offer comprehensive training to help you stay aligned and ready to deliver value from the latest release wave.
- Download the BCLE 2026 release wave1 deck and watch the BCLE 2026 release wave 1 videos.
Specialisation skilling updates
- Microsoft is retiring multiple certifications between 30th June and 31st August 2026, and introducing new AI-focused replacements.
- For all the details review the Microsoft Partner Centre announcement.
Scheduled and Recent Events:
- 4th – 7th August – Build Frontier Firm productivity with Work IQ, Copilot & agents
- 11th – 14th August – Accelerate Agentic AI
- 19th – 20th August – Microsoft Fabric Workshops
- On-demand – Frontier Transformation Engineer Summit
- On-demand – Cloud & AI Endpoints Partner Technical Bootcamp
- On-demand – Converged Communications Partner Sales Bootcamp
- On-demand – Agentic AI + Copilot, Partner Skills Accelerator
- On-demand – Level UP Sales & Technical CSP bootcamps
For more information
If you would like to discuss any of the above, please speak to your Business Development Manager, call us on 0345 249 3303 or email us at partners@infinigate.cloud, and we will be happy to chat through any of your questions.