Microsoft has announced several September 2026 updates covering products, solutions, services, partner programmes, and other key information. Here is a summary of the latest updates.
Introducing the new Copilot: One connected experience, designed for the next phase of AI-powered work
- Microsoft is introducing the new Copilot, combining Home, Code, and Autopilot in one experience. This brings AI-powered tools together, helping teams choose the right capability for each task within their workflow
- Read Microsoft announcement blog post
- Register for Microsoft’s upcoming webinar The New Copilot is Here: The Opportunity for Microsoft Partners on 13 October 2026
New incentives for Microsoft Copilot Cowork adoption
- On 1 September 2026, Microsoft introduced the Copilot Cowork Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Activation Incentive, giving partners another opportunity to earn rewards by increasing customer adoption and use of Copilot Cowork
- Learn more about the Copilot Cowork opportunity in the incentives guide
Nonprofit promotions to drive Copilot growth
- Eligible nonprofit customers can now combine discounts of 15%, 20%, 30%, or 40% with the existing 15% nonprofit promotion for the Microsoft 365 Copilot SKU that are available through 31 December 2026
- Review the CSP Nonprofit Copilot Readiness Kit and FAQ for more details
Usage-based billing is default on for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licenses starting 2 November 2026
- From 2 November 2026, usage-based billing will be enabled by default for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences purchased through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme
- Pay-as-you-go is the default billing option, simplifying access to eligible usage-based experiences such as Copilot Cowork, Work IQ APIs, and GitHub Copilot Harness
- Review Microsoft Resources
Azure Cloud Solution Provider promotions for go live October 2026
- Azure is introducing percentage-based discounts on consumption-based Cloud Solution Provider services, including pay-as-you-go usage, Reserved Instances, and pre-purchase plans.
- Read Microsoft’s FAQ to learn more
Updated FY27 Business Premium Deployment Accelerator
- The updated FY27 Business Premium Deployment Accelerator helps partners fund and deliver post-sales deployment and adoption services for Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers. It can speed up deal closure, drive deployment and adoption, strengthen security, and prepare customers for AI-powered productivity
- Download the Business Premium Deployment Accelerator kit
- Download the Run Your Business Securely partner opportunity deck
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid is now generally available
- Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid is now generally available giving organisations can now run Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) session hosts in their own datacentres and edge environments while using Azure-managed desktop and application delivery services. This offers a flexible way to modernise legacy virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and transition to AVD and Windows 365
- Read Microsoft’s blog for guidance on getting started
- Download the updated Frontier Accelerate for AI-Ready Productivity: Cloud Endpoints Envisioning and Proof of Concept (POC) delivery kit
New on Partner Hub: Resource Spotlight
- Microsoft launched the Resource Spotlight as a single destination to surface the most popular and recently released partner resources
- Five Forrester TEI studies packed with insights on AI, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, SMB growth, managed services, and revenue opportunities are now available
- Review the content that has been made available on Resource Spotlight and bookmark for future resources
New Agent resources page on Partner Hub
- Explore agent-specific resources across FY27 AI Business Solutions conversations, including:
- Go-to-market assets
- Training and enablement
- Governance guidance
- Technical documentation
- Explore and bookmark the new Agent Resources page on Partner Hub
- Check out the new Partner Resource Catalog (PRC) Agent on Partner Hub
New Cowork offer-building resources
- Microsoft has created customisable templates to help partners quickly develop and market customer-facing offers for Copilot Cowork, usage-based billing, AI consumption planning, and FinOps. The package includes flyer templates and example offers for new AI services
- Download the Cowork offers templates
Introducing the Agentic Business Solutions specialisation
- The Agentic Business Solutions specialization consolidates and replaces the Low Code Application Development and Intelligent Automation specialisations. It reflects how partners now deliver AI-powered business solutions by combining low-code development, intelligent automation, and agent creation with Copilot Studio. Partners enrolled in either previous specialization were automatically enrolled when it launched on 31 July 2026
Earn the new Clinical Applications specialisation for Dragon Copilot
- From 30 September 2026, eligible partners can earn the new Clinical Applications specialisation by demonstrating expertise in deploying Dragon Copilot for healthcare customers
- Review the Clinical Applications specialisation requirements
Office LTSC 2021 end of support
- Support for Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021, and Visio LTSC 2021 ends on 13 October 2026. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide updates, security fixes, or technical support for these products
Business Applications roadmap content moving
- From September 2026, roadmap updates for Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Dataverse will move to the AI at Work roadmap, creating one destination for Microsoft 365, Copilot, agents, and Business Applications
- View the AI at Work roadmap for future roadmap updates.
Dynamics 365 Activate now in limited public preview
- Dynamics 365 Activate provides a unified, AI-assisted approach to Dynamics 365 implementation and migration. It helps Microsoft customers, partners, and systems integrators assess existing business application environments, make informed transformation decisions, and speed up implementation and migration
- Dynamics 365 Activate currently supports Salesforce-to-Dynamics 365 migrations
- Review Microsoft Dynamics Activate overview to learn more
Microsoft Sentinel automatic onboarding for managed customers begins in September 2026
- From September 2026, Microsoft will automatically onboard managed customers who have not yet moved to the unified Microsoft Sentinel experience in the Microsoft Defender portal
- Learn more about Microsoft Sentinel in the Microsoft Defender portal
New SQL Server Migration and Modernisation Toolkit
- Ready-to-use assets are now available in Partner Centre’s Listen & Consult section to help partners start modernisation conversations, highlight the urgency of end of support, and guide small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers towards Azure. Resources include a customer-ready Proactive Proposal deck, a customer email template, and a SQL Server 2016 End-of-Support Pitch Deck
- You can find the toolkit HERE
Scheduled and Recent Events:
- 7th October – Implement AI Solutions with Azure SQL Database and SQL Server 2025
- 7th – 8th October – Modernise and optimise your SOC deployment with Microsoft Sentinel
- 12th – 16th October –Certification Week – Cloud, Security and AI Business Solutions
- 12th – 15th October –SMB Conversations Sales Bootcamp
- 13th – 16th October –Build Frontier Firm productivity with Work IQ, Copilot & agents
- 13th October –The New Copilot is Here: The Opportunity for Microsoft Partners
- 14th – 16th October –Implement and scale data security for AI apps and agents with Microsoft Purview
- 15th October – Accelerate CSP – Security Sales Bootcamp
- 21st October – Selling Copilot Cowork: From Productivity to Business Impact
- 22nd October – Position Microsoft 365 E7 for customers to realize Frontier Firm potential
- 28th October – Microsoft Fabric IQ & Data Agents
- 28th October – Supercharge SMB business operations in Dynamics 365 Business Central
- 29th – 30th October –Differentiate and grow your AI practice in FY27 – Sales best practices from Microsoft
- 17th – 20th November –Microsoft Ignite 2026
- On-demand –Microsoft Copilot Sales Learning Journey for SMB
- On-demand – Microsoft Copilot Project Ready Learning Journey for SMB
- On-demand – Cowork Learning Journey – Sales Ready
- On-demand – Cowork Learning Journey – Project Ready
- On-demand – Build What’s Next with Partner Skilling
- On-demand –Microsoft Partner FY27 Partner GTM Kickoff Event Recordings
- On-demand –MCAPS Start for Partners Event Recordings
- On-demand – Microsoft 365 Copilot + BSKUs (SMB) – Sales Ready & Tech Deal Ready
- On-demand –Microsoft 365 Copilot + BSKUs (SMB) – Project Ready
- On-demand – Microsoft Agent 365 & ME7 Partner Skilling – Sales Ready
- On-demand –Microsoft Agent 365 & ME7 Partner Skilling – Project Ready
- On-demand – Frontier Transformation Engineer Summit
- On-demand –Cloud & AI Endpoints Partner Technical Bootcamp
- On-demand –Building a Scalable Copilot + Agents Practice: Practice Development Guide Walkthrough
- On-demand – Transform your business with AI Agents in Microsoft 365
- On-demand –Next-Gen Productivity: Copilot + Agents for the Modern Enterprise
- On-demand –Converged Communications Partner Sales Bootcamp
- On-demand –Secure, Govern, and Manage Agents in Copilot Studio
- On-demand –Agentic AI + Copilot, Partner Skills Accelerator
- On-demand –Becoming Frontier: Framing the AI Opportunity Through Strategic Conversation
- On-demand – Level UP Sales & Technical CSP bootcamps
- On demand –CSP Practice build on Threat Protection & Data Security with ME5
- On demand – Secure and Govern Microsoft 365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview
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.