With the start of a new month, Microsoft has announced a series of updates in May 2025. This blog will detail the changes to products, solutions, services, partner programs, and other pertinent information. Let us discuss the latest news and updates.
Requirement updates for CSP partners
- Starting October 1, 2025, updated eligibility requirements for CSP authorization will be applied to direct bill partners, distributors, and indirect resellers.
Three-year subscription terms for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 coming to CSP
- Microsoft 365 Three-year SKUs will be launched on June 1, 2025
- M365 E3 (with and without Teams)
- M365 E5 (with and without Teams)
- Microsoft Teams Enterprise standalone
- Microsoft 365 E5 Add-on Three-year SKUs will be launched on July 1, 2025
- Microsoft 365 E5 Security Add-on
- Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance Add-on
- 10% discount promotions will be available on June 9, 2025, for M365 E3/E5 and July 1, 2025, for E5 Security/Compliance Add-ons that apply to only new-to-offer customers.
Please read our blog post, which details the key information about the enhancements to the CSP Program designed to accelerate partner growth as highlighted above.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grant discontinuation
- M365 Business and Office 365 E1 grants will be discontinued for nonprofit customers upon next renewal date or after July 1, 2025
- Up to 300 granted licenses of M365 Business Basic will still be available.
- Discounts of up to 75% are available on various nonprofit offers, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1.
Monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program updates
- SMB path for Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure) is available.
- Launch of the new Azure Specialization V. Next for Build AI Apps.
- Updates to Infrastructure and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure Specialization.
May Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) monthly updates
- Partner launch calendar, Partner journey maps and CSP Bimonthly newsletter have all been updated.
- Registration link for monthly CSP Community Q&A sessions is HERE
- Registration link for monthly CSP Program & Licensing session is HERE
The Microsoft Partner Agreement is being updated, effective October 4, 2025
- The Microsoft Partner Agreement (MPA) is being updated, effective October 4, 2025
- The updated terms will apply automatically. No action, signature, or acknowledgment by partners is required.
Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) partner attestation blocking changes
- Beginning October 7, 2025, Microsoft will block orders for net new customer purchases, unless the customer directly accepted, or the partner attested using an enhanced API.
- The new API will be available in sandbox on April 11, 2025, for partners to begin integration and testing.
- Partners who are using the current attestation process, or are having their customers directly accept the MCA, will not need to reaccept those MCAs after October 7, 2025.
- Only net new customers, for which you want to attest, will be impacted by the changes.
Reminder: Important actions partners need to take to secure the partner ecosystem
- Microsoft is enforcing MFA for Azure portal.
- Microsoft is enforcing MFA for Microsoft 365 admin center.
- Deprecation of graph.windows.net API audience tokens.
Reminder: Changes to Partner of Record (POR) assignment for CSP resellers is coming
- Beginning June 2, 2025, both the API and UI will check if the reseller is in compliance with the reseller’s authorisation terms.
- To avoid disruption of service, indirect resellers must:
- Have a valid CSP authorization and an active tenant as described in Cloud Solution Provider program overview.
- Be associated with a valid PLA ID.
- Be located in the same geographic region as the indirect provider CSP region.
Windows 365 Global 20% promotional offer
- Global promotional offer of 20% off all Windows 365 subscriptions for net new Windows 365 customers, starting May 1, 2025, and running through October 31, 2025.
- Review Windows 365 landing page to learn more about Windows 365
New and updated Secure Productivity resources
- Resources include partner opportunity resources, pitch decks, and guides available on the links below:
New and updated Cloud Endpoints resources
- Resources include partner opportunity resources, pitch decks, and Forrester Total Economic Impact (TEI) studies for Windows 365 and Windows 11.
Office EOS Campaign in a box
- With support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 ending on October 14, 2025, Microsoft have built ready-to-launch campaign to help partners.
- What is included in EOS Office Power Play Toolkit
- A step-by-step Execution Guide (includes Cloud Ascent targeting)
- 6 Social media posts
- 6 Customize-and-send emails
- Infographics highlighting key value props
- Move to Microsoft 365” customer-ready pitch deck
- Download the EOS Office Power Play Toolkit
Exploring the human-agent collaboration era: M365 Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release
- A blog post by our colleague Toby Ip discussing the Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release.
Dynamics 365 Business Central Pricing Update
- Microsoft announced a pricing update for Microsoft Dynamics 365
Business Central that will go into effect on October 1, 2025
- Review Microsoft Partner Alert detailing pricing update.
Dual revenue recognition for Business Applications CSP partners
- April 7, 2025, Microsoft announced CPOR (Claim-based Partner of Record) Revenue Recognition experience was expanded to include Business Applications CSP subscriptions.
- The expansion will allow Business Applications (BA) partners to receive credit for their work, which contributes to their Solution Partner Designation.
Scheduled and Recent Events:
- June 4-11 – Level up your skills with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agents Sales and Technical Bootcamps
- Multiple dates across June – Microsoft 365 Copilot QuickStart Training for end users
- On demand – Agents – Partner Skilling Opportunities (Sales) and Microsoft AI Agents Day for Partners
- On demand – SMB sales bootcamp
- On demand – Copilot partner bootcamp for sellers
- On demand – Low code sales bootcamp
- On demand – (Technical Pre-Sales) Better sell Copilot with Microsoft 365 Business Case Builder & more
- On demand – Unlock New Opportunities with Microsoft Places
- On demand – Microsoft Business Applications Launch Event
For more information or if you’d like to discuss any of the above, please call us on +44 345 249 3303 or email us, and we’ll be happy to chat through any of your questions.