April 2026 announcements

This page provides the announcements for Microsoft Partner Center for April 2026.

Microsoft Defender for SQL Fairfax

Improved reliability and easier onboarding with Defender for SQL Servers on Machines government (Fairfax).

  • Date: April 27, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Partners managing SQL Server workloads in government (Fairfax) cloud environments using Defender for SQL Servers on Machines.

As of April 27, 2026, Microsoft has rolled out an enhanced agent‑based solution for Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines to government (Fairfax) cloud customers. This update replaces legacy Azure Monitor–based agents with a modern, extension‑based architecture, simplifying onboarding and improving SQL detection and protection coverage across supported environments.

Migration of currently protected SQL instances is automatic, but Microsoft strongly recommends you encourage customers to take the following actions to strengthen protection:

  • Enable automatic registration with the SQL IaaS Agent extension to detect and register new SQL instances.
  • Validate protection status across the subscription after the rollout.
  • Install Azure Arc on on‑premises SQL servers if still using Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) to avoid loss of protection.

Next steps

Learn more about these updates with the following resources for Defender for SQL Servers on Machines:

Microsoft 365 E7 & Agent 365: GTM resources and enablement

Access new and upcoming readiness resources to accelerate your engagement strategy with customers ahead of Microsoft 365 E7 and Microsoft Agent 365 general availability on May 1.

  • Date: April 23, 2026 - updated April 28, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP authorized partners

On March 9, we announced Microsoft 365 E7: The Frontier Suite, with general availability of Microsoft 365 E7 and Microsoft Agent 365 on May 1, 2026. To support your readiness for general availability, new resources are now available to help you plan customer conversations and accelerate your engagement strategy.

What’s new:

  • Updated Copilot + Power Accelerate engagements: Immersion Briefings, Envisioning & POC, and Deployment Accelerator now incorporate Agent 365 in both the customer pitch deck and hands‑on lab experience, with more updates planned for May 1 to add Agent 365 trials to the Envisioning & POC engagement. Engagement materials can be found on the Copilot and Agents at Work GTM hub.
  • Partner performance measurements for the Copilot + Power Envisioning & POC and Deployment Accelerator landed on April 1. Both Microsoft 365 E7 and Agent 365 are now eligible products that retire the Copilot Revenue requirement for performance measurement. Refer to the Commercial Incentive guide for more details.
  • New GTM resources: Frontier Transformation partner hub features refreshed CSP launch kits and updated solution and vision decks to support Microsoft 365 E7 and Agent 365 engagements.
  • Customer insights in ASPX (April 30): Starting April 30, access targeting and usage insights to identify high‑propensity Microsoft 365 E7 and Agent 365 opportunities.
  • Upcoming enablement: Sales and technical training in April–May, including the Transform your business with AI Agents in Microsoft 365 series and a 3‑day technical bootcamp.

Next steps

Extended promotion on Microsoft Purview Suite for Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Microsoft is extending the 50% promotional offer on Microsoft Purview Suite for Business Premium to July 1, 2026.

  • Date: April 21, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP distributors and direct bill partners

Microsoft is extending the 50% promotional offer on Microsoft Purview Suite for Business Premium. The offer, previously set to expire on March 31, 2026, will now be available through July 1, 2026, giving partners more time to drive adoption of advanced data security and compliance capabilities for SMB customers.

This offer complements the existing Copilot Business offers with extended terms through June 30, including Microsoft 365 Copilot Business bundle offers for customers with under 300 licenses.

Review the Global Promotion Readiness guide for complete terms and conditions.

Next steps

Capitalize on this opportunity with SMB customers: access the Microsoft Security SMB partner hub for partner‑ready guidance, tools, and resources to lead confident security conversations, accelerate Microsoft Purview and Microsoft Defender Suites for Business Premium scenarios, and deliver real customer impact with built‑in security and compliance.

Introducing standardized pricing for Extended Security Updates

The new pricing model applies to new Extended Security Updates offerings for Windows products and SQL Server.

  • Date: April 22, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: SSP/LSPs, indirect resellers, direct bill partners, systems integrators, global systems integrators.

SQL Server 2016 reaches end of Extended Support on July 14, 2026, increasing security and compliance risk for customers who remain on unsupported versions. Today, customers running SQL Server 2014 in Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines receive Extended Security Updates at no extra cost, while those running on-premises or in other clouds pay for these updates.

To build on our commitment to greater transparency and alignment across deployment options and purchasing channels, we’re introducing a simplified, consistent pricing model for SQL Server 2016 Extended Security Updates in Azure, aligning pricing with on-premises and other public clouds.

This creates a prime opportunity for you to proactively engage customers and start migration and modernization conversations. Tap into these offerings so you’re equipped to lead those conversations, drive upgrades, and deliver long-term value:

  • Cloud Accelerate Factory (now extended to customers running SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines): Get zero-cost deployment assistance for modernizing customer workloads to Azure SQL Managed Instance—with hands-on Microsoft support grounded in proven best practices.
  • Azure Accelerate for Databases: Unblock database modernization deals by combining Cloud Accelerate Factory delivery, flexible savings, delivery funding and Azure credits, and role-based Data and AI skilling to build an AI-ready foundation on Azure for customers.

Next steps

Read the blog post to learn more.

Annual capabilities assessment—refinements and interim approach

Microsoft is updating the annual CSP capabilities assessment experience for existing direct bill and distributor partners.

  • Date: April 21, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP distributors and direct bill partners

Microsoft periodically reviews program requirements and validation to stay aligned with partner and customer needs. Following our latest review, we're updating the annual Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) capabilities assessment experience for existing direct bill and distributor partners.

After a partner meets the applicable eligibility requirements or remediates any at‑risk items, they're considered compliant through the remainder of the cycle. The next eligibility requirements assessment will take place the following year during the anniversary of the partner’s earliest onboarding month.

No action is required from partners for the annual capabilities assessment at this time, including partners whose earliest onboarded month occurred between January 2026 and April 2026. We're finalizing an updated assessment and validation approach for a future release. If an updated assessment or validation step is introduced, partners will receive direct, official Microsoft communication in advance with clear instructions and timelines. 

Next steps

What partners should do now:

  • Keep your organization’s CSP enrollment information current in Partner Center, including Global Admin and Billing Admin contacts.
  • Continue to meet and maintain compliance with all applicable CSP program eligibility requirements for your authorization type (review direct bill requirements and distributor requirements). For more details and scenario examples, review the Authorization FAQ.
  • Watch out for direct, official Microsoft communication with instructions and timelines if an updated assessment or validation step is introduced.
  • New direct bill and distributor partners must still complete and pass the capabilities assessment when onboarding under a new authorization, expanding into an additional CSP market or region, or applying for a new authorization type.

Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021, and Visio LTSC 2021 nearing end of support

Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021, and Visio LTSC 2021 are nearing end of support.

  • Date: April 20, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All partners, including Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners and advisors

Support for Office Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) 2021, Project LTSC 2021, and Visio LTSC 2021 will end on October 13, 2026. After this date, these products will no longer receive updates, security fixes, or technical support.

These products have served organizations for many years, particularly in specialized, or regulated environments. However, continuing to use unsupported versions after end of support may leave organizations exposed to security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, and reduced reliability due to the absence of future updates or security patches.

This end‑of‑support milestone presents an opportunity for partners to help customers modernize their productivity environments by transitioning to cloud‑based alternatives.

For most customers, Microsoft 365 provides key benefits, including:

  • Always up‑to‑date experiences, with continuous security updates, feature enhancements, and innovation
  • Enterprise‑grade security and management, designed to support Zero Trust architectures and flexible work scenarios
  • Scalable and flexible licensing, allowing customers to adjust services as business needs evolve

Customers who move to Microsoft 365 suites gain access to cloud‑backed desktop versions of familiar apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with web and mobile access across multiple devices.

Partners should note that Microsoft 365 Copilot is supported only on cloud‑backed apps included in Microsoft 365 suites, and on‑premises versions of Office aren’t eligible. In addition, the Azure Information Protection (AIP) labeling client for perpetual Office has been retired.

In cases where regulatory, connectivity, or technological constraints prevent the use of cloud solutions, customers may consider the latest supported on‑premises alternatives, including Office LTSC 2024, Project LTSC 2024, and Visio LTSC 2024.

Next steps

Partners are encouraged to take the following actions:

  • Engage early with customers still using Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021, or Visio LTSC 2021 to communicate the October 13, 2026, end‑of‑support date and associated risks.
  • Prioritize Microsoft 365 E3 when guiding customers toward supported alternatives, with Office 365 E3 or Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise as appropriate fallback options.
  • Assess customer constraints related to connectivity, regulation, or offline requirements to determine the most appropriate support path.
  • Use available resources to address common concerns related to cost, migration complexity, or limited usage scenarios.

Partners should begin proactive outreach now to ensure customers have sufficient time to plan and transition before support ends.

MCA iframe event signal now available

Partners can build one-click customer workflows with a new optional event signal from the MCA acceptance iframe, which is available now in production.

  • Date: April 17, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All partners using the Partner Center APIs

A new optional event-based signal is now available for all partners via the Microsoft-hosted Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) acceptance iframe. The signal notifies your application immediately when a customer clicks “Accept.”

This optional signal allows partners to customize their attestation flow. Examples include automatically closing the iframe, progressing the application flow, or displaying custom messaging to customers as needed.

Partners can use the signal to deliver a cleaner, one-click experience for customers and support more efficient, event-driven integration.

This feature is optional. Existing iframe and API implementations will continue to work as-is if you choose not to adopt the signal.

Next steps

Explore how you can use the signal via the Microsoft-hosted MCA acceptance iframe.

Reminder: Microsoft 365 pricing and packaging updates coming in 2026

Microsoft 365 pricing and packaging updates are coming in 2026—start renewal and upsell conversations now.

  • Date: April 16, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP partners, including distributors, indirect resellers, direct bill partners, and scale solution providers (SSPs)

As previously announced, Microsoft is expanding the availability of security and management capabilities across commercial Microsoft 365 suites this year. Along with these added features, a global pricing update will take effect across all purchasing channels on July 1, 2026.

This is a key moment for partners to accelerate renewals and upgrades—and for scale solution providers to drive Enterprise Agreement upgrade decisions—ahead of the price update.

  • Customers who renew before July 1 can lock in current pricing and ensure business continuity.
  • Lock in current pricing for Microsoft 365 Copilot Business bundles before July 1 and give small and medium-sized businesses an affordable, complete, and secure AI productivity solution.
  • The pricing and packaging changes also open the door for upsell motions to Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and Microsoft 365 Business + Microsoft 365 Copilot at renewal. 

Be sure to activate the available incentives, promotions, and offers for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5—as well as Microsoft 365 Copilot Business bundles and promotions—so your customers can adopt and unlock the value of AI faster.

Next steps

  • Learn more about the price and packaging changes effective July 1, 2026.
  • View the recordings of CSP Marketing Moment Episode 6: Maximize Microsoft 365 Renewals (option one, option two) for the latest partner guidance and GTM resources.
  • Review upcoming renewals and prioritize high-propensity accounts for upsell paths to Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 or Copilot Business with Microsoft CloudAscent.
  • Download the partner launch kit (including a partner FAQ, sales guidance deck, customer OFT, and customer pitch decks) on the CSP partner page to prepare for upcoming renewal and upsell conversations.

Expanded Copilot for All promo updates to help you unlock more revenue opportunities

We’re updating the 30% and 40% off Copilot for All CSP promotional offers to expand customer eligibility.

  • Date: April 14, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP authorized partners

Demand for Microsoft 365 Copilot continues to grow as customers move from pilots to broader deployments. This shift is creating a strong pipeline for our partners. Accounts that were previously waiting on the sidelines are now ready to commit—at scale.

To help you capitalize on this momentum, we’re updating the 30% and 40% off Copilot for All CSP promotional offers to expand customer eligibility, enabling you to focus on driving adoption, attaching high-value services, and helping you unlock more deals with less friction.

Effective April 13, 2026, the Copilot for All promotion updates will create more customer and partner opportunities to benefit from the 30% and 40% off offers.

What’s changing

  • IW coverage requirement removed: Customers no longer need to meet the 80% Information Worker (IW) coverage threshold to qualify for the 30% or 40% off Copilot for All offers, simplifying customer eligibility requirements. Deals previously stalled due to this requirement are now back in play.
  • Lower license threshold for the 40% offer: The minimum Microsoft 365 Copilot purchase requirement for the 40% discount is reduced from 1,500 licenses to 1,000 licenses, expanding eligibility to more mid‑market and enterprise customers.
  • Tenant activation no longer required: CSP customers eligible for the 40% off promotional offer can now transact directly through Partner Center without having their tenant first activated, reducing friction, and enabling faster deal execution.

How the promotions fit together

Think of these offers as a step-by-step progression you can use with customers as their AI maturity and Copilot adoption evolves, from first value to team expansion to organization-wide standardization. The following promotions are available through June 30, 2026.

Offer Discount Minimum Licenses Partner Use Case
Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot (New-to-Offer)  15%  10+  Initial Copilot deployments - Help new Copilot customers get started with AI in a focused group and defined success metrics.
Scale Up with Microsoft 365 Copilot  20%  100+  Expand to priority functions (for example, sales, service, finance) and operationalize AI governance.
Microsoft 365 Copilot for All  30%  300+  Standardize Microsoft 365 Copilot across broader teams and build AI momentum for organization-wide Copilot adoption. 
Microsoft 365 Copilot for All  40%  1,000+  Organization‑wide rollout - Scale large customers ready to deploy AI broadly to drive consistent efficiency gains with Microsoft 365 Copilot. 
Bundle and Save: Microsoft 365 Business + Copilot bundles  Up to 35%  10-300  Establish AI foundations for SMB customers (under 300 licenses) and build a pipeline for broader Copilot adoption. 

Win with Copilot for All

  • Target the right customers: Prioritize customers showing Copilot intent and readiness to move beyond pilots—then align the right offer to their scale and AI maturity readiness.
  • Lead with outcomes: Build a 30–60–90-day adoption plan tied to measurable scenarios and role-based enablement.
  • Attach services early: Bundle readiness, deployment, change-management, and adoption-services to accelerate value and drive license expansion.

Next steps

Review these resources for full details and updated customer eligibility:

Monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program update

What’s new for Solutions Partner designations, specializations, and other Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program offerings and benefits.

  • Date: April 10, 2026
  • Workspace: Membership
  • Impacted audience: Partners enrolled in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

Summary

This month’s updates continue to enhance partner differentiation and readiness across high-demand solution areas. Key changes include specialization updates that integrate AI capabilities, revised skilling and performance requirements, and streamlined qualification frameworks to support partner growth and agility.

Details

AppSource is renamed to Microsoft Marketplace

The AppSource platform is renamed to Microsoft Marketplace. The https://appsource.microsoft.com link now redirects to https://marketplace.microsoft.com.

Partner University Retirement Update

Partner University will be retired effective 15 June 2026, impacting partners aspiring to enroll in the Modern Work Solutions Partner designation and two Modern Work specializations.

Here’s what partners need to know:

  • Existing Partner University user linkings will continue to be honored. Partners will receive credit and skilling score for these linkings until June 2027.
  • After June 2027, all Partner University assessments will be fully retired and will no longer be used for reporting, skilling score calculation, or as a program requirement.
  • No new user linkings to Partner University will be allowed after 15 June 2026.
  • The current Partner University user experience available through the Learn profile page in Membership will also be retired as part of this change.
  • In the coming months, Partner University assessments will be complemented by a new set of skilling requirements. These new requirements will be added as an OR condition alongside the existing Partner University assessments during the transition period.
Changes to Specializations and Solutions Partner Designations

As of March 27, 2026, the Small and Midsize Business Management specialization performance criteria is updated to better support partners as their Business Central practices grow. Based on partner feedback, the required MAU growth threshold is reduced from 35% to 15%, while the deployment requirement has increased from 10 to 15 deployments.

Coming soon

More skilling options are coming to the below specializations and designations in April 2026:

Certifications and Applied Skills are regularly updated throughout their lifecycle, which can affect specializations and Solutions Partner designations. In the case of a retiring certification or applied skill impacting a specialization or Solutions Partner designation, the following are true:

  • Skilling achieved before its retirement remains valid for one year
  • New skilling will be added, if the replacement skilling is applicable to those specializations and designations
  • We’ll detail the new requirements in Partner Center as they go into effect

The Teamwork Deployment specialization is being updated to the Secure AI Productivity specialization in April 2026.

  • With the shift towards AI, the Teamwork Deployment spec is updating to help partners prepare their customers for AI by centering on foundational workloads from Microsoft 365 E3.

  • The name of the specialization is being updated to the Secure AI Productivity specialization

  • Partners must hit their 2,500 monthly active usage (MAU) growth on at least 3 of 8 separate Microsoft 365 workload services:

    • Exchange Online
    • SharePoint Online
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Microsoft 365 Apps
    • Microsoft Entra ID P1
    • Intune
    • Defender for Endpoint
    • Microsoft Information Protection

    Additionally:

    • At least one of the workloads meeting required growth must come from the productivity workloads: Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 App
    • At least one of the workloads meeting required growth must come from the identity, security and management workloads: Entra ID P1, Intune, Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Information Protection

  • The 20% growth requirement is being removed

  • The number of new customer tenants required is being lowered from 12 to 5.

The Adoption and Change Management specialization will be retired in the coming months.

The Adoption Change Management specialization is being retired. Rather than have a standalone specialization, adoption & change management capabilities will be embedded within product-aligned specializations, ensuring change management is evaluated in the context of specific solutions while we retire this more general-purpose specialization.

Three new specializations will be created by merging existing specializations in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information on these exciting new offerings!

  • The Analytics on Microsoft Azure, Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure, and Business Intelligence specializations are merging into a new Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization
  • Low Code Application Development and Intelligent Automation specializations are merging into a new specialization
  • Kubernetes on Microsoft Azure and Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure specializations are merging into a new App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization

Upcoming Update: Pricelist schema enhancement to support mid‑month republishing

  • Date: April 10, 2026
  • Effective date: May 1, 2026
  • Workspace: Pricing

To improve pricing data clarity and support critical updates, we are enhancing the License-based Current Month Pricelist schema and Software Current Month Pricelist schema to enable mid‑month republishes when required. As part of this update, a new attribute called LastUpdatedDate will be introduced.

What is changing

  • The Pricelist schema will support mid‑month republishing in specific scenarios where corrections are required within the same month.
  • A new attribute, LastUpdatedDate, will be added at the row level.
  • LastUpdatedDate indicates the date and time a pricelist row was added during the current month, helping partners identify when the data was introduced to keep track of the versioning.
  • In scope: Current month License-based pricelist and Current month Software pricelist.
  • Out of scope: License-based Preview pricelist, License-based End of sale pricelist, License-based EST pricelist, Azure plan consumption pricelist, Azure plan reservations pricelist, Marketplace pricelist.

What the LastUpdatedDate attribute provides

The LastUpdatedDate attribute is designed to help partners more easily manage and interpret pricing changes introduced through mid‑month republishes:

  • History is maintained throughout the entire month: Rows introduced earlier in the month remain available, while new or updated rows can be identified.
  • Allows partners to easily identify the latest changes: Partners can isolate pricing deltas introduced due to a mid‑month republish without comparing full files.
  • Adds additional context to pricing data: The attribute provides clarity on when pricing data was introduced, improving traceability and auditability.

Why this change

Today, certain updates cannot be effectively addressed without waiting for the next monthly publish. This enhancement:

  • Improves flexibility to address critical corrections through schema‑driven updates versioning.
  • Improves overall pricing accuracy and partner confidence.

Monthly pricelist publishing remains the default behavior. Mid‑month republishes will be used only when critical corrections are required.

What partners need to do

  • Partners who want to use the new LastUpdatedDate attribute will need to update their processing logic to ingest and consume this field.
  • No immediate action is required if partners choose not to use the attribute; existing workflows will continue to function as they do today.

Learn more

Windows 365 Business - 20% price decrease coming May 1, 2026

Windows 365 Business - 20% price decrease, making Cloud personal computers (PCs) more cost effective for small and medium business customers.

  • Date: April/8/26
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners

Summary

Microsoft is reducing Windows 365 Business list prices by 20% starting May 1, 2026, to make Cloud PCs more cost-effective for small and medium businesses. The update also introduces an on-demand start experience:

  • Cloud PCs stay powered on for one hour after sign-out/disconnect
  • Reconnects within that hour are unchanged
  • And reconnects after more than an hour might take slightly longer as the Cloud PC resumes from hibernation (with the same performance once connected)

New subscriptions get the lower pricing on/after May 1, 2026, while existing subscriptions receive the updated pricing at their next renewal depending on purchase channel and terms.

Details

Starting May 1, 2026, Microsoft will introduce a 20% list price decrease for Windows 365 Business, along with a new on demand start experience, making Cloud PCs more accessible for small and medium business customers. This price change paired with a new on demand start experience helps deliver a lower price point while preserving the full Windows 365 Business value and capabilities partners and customers expect.

With this change, Windows 365 Business users can expect the following on-demand start experience behavior:

  • Cloud PCs remain powered on for one hour after disconnect or sign out.
  • Reconnects within one hour are unchanged.
  • Reconnects more than one hour after disconnect or sign out might take slightly longer while the Cloud PC resumes from a hibernated state; performance and functionality remain the same once connected.

When this price decrease will happen:

  • New subscriptions will enjoy updated pricing on or after May 1, 2026
  • Existing subscriptions will receive updated pricing at the next renewal, subject to purchase channel and terms

Next Steps:

  • Review your customers renewal timing and purchase channels
  • Inform your customers about the updated pricing and on‑demand reconnect behavior, taking slightly longer after extended periods of inactivity
  • Review the following resources for more information:

Update: Effective date change for ReferenceId format update in reconciliation files

  • Date: April 06, 2026
  • Workspace: Billing
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) direct bill partners and distributors.

Effective June 15, 2026, the ReferenceId attribute in Billed Reconciliation and Unbilled Reconciliation files will be updated to use a structured JSON format.

What's changing

  • The ReferenceId value will be updated to the following structured JSON format:
{
  "osId": "ab12Cdef-GiJ3-ab12-Cdef-ab12CdefGiJ3",
  "id": "ab12CdefGiJ3",
  "v": 2
}

Date update Microsoft is updating the effective date for the previously announced change to the ReferenceId attribute in reconciliation files.

  • Original effective date: April 15, 2026
  • New effective date: June 15, 2026

This change applies to:

  • Billed Reconciliation files
  • Unbilled Reconciliation files

The change was originally announced on March 11, 2026. Based on partner feedback requesting additional time for readiness, Microsoft is extending the timeline to help partners plan, test, and deploy updates.

Why this change is happening

This update is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to standardize identifiers and improve traceability across billing and reconciliation workflows.

Specifically, the structured ReferenceId:

  • Improves consistency when correlating records across billing systems
  • Enables version awareness, reducing ambiguity as reconciliation formats evolve
  • Lays the groundwork for future enhancements without requiring disruptive changes

This approach aligns with Microsoft’s ongoing focus on strengthening partner supportability and system reliability, as outlined in the Validate your support capabilities and prepare for the future of partner support (UfP) announcement.

Partner impact

  • Partners who parse or process ReferenceId as a string must update their logic to handle the JSON structure.
  • Billing logic, pricing, charges, and invoice totals are not impacted.
  • Download locations and access methods remain unchanged.

Required partner action

  • Review and update any reconciliation processing or reporting solutions to support the new ReferenceId JSON format before June 15, 2026.

Validate your support capabilities and prepare for the future of partner support

Access new resources on Unified for Partner.

  • Date: April 3, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP distributors and direct bill partners

Unified for Partner (UfP), announced at Microsoft Ignite 2025, is Microsoft’s next-generation partner support offering. It modernizes partner support with revenue‑based pricing aligned to Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) cloud business. It includes unlimited, as-needed, 24-7 reactive support for CSP workloads, and is driven by a partner‑first model where partners lead support and Microsoft acts as a backstop —supported by unified tooling, proactive services, and performance‑based incentives.

UfP is being introduced through a deliberate phased approach, beginning with pilots with select partners, followed by gradual expansion in H1 of fiscal year 2027 ahead of planned general availability in H2 of FY 2027.

However, now is the time to lay the foundation for transforming your customer support. The Support Services designation is your starting point in this next chapter, giving customers a clear signal that you deliver proven, Microsoft‑validated support.

Attain the designation to establish your credibility, gain a competitive edge, and unlock performance‑based discounts of up to 40% on UfP, along with expert guidance and support tools.

Next steps

  • Learn more about how to attain the Support Services designation.
  • Review the partner data sheet to understand the scalable pricing model for UfP.
  • Stay tuned for future updates on UfP availability.

SKU Naming Update: Microsoft Teams Premium and Microsoft Teams Events

SKU naming update: Microsoft Teams Premium and Microsoft Teams Events

  • Date: April 3, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) direct bill partners and distributors

Microsoft identified a naming inconsistency affecting a subset of Microsoft Teams Premium and Microsoft Teams Events SKUs in Partner Center. To better align with our updated product naming and reflect the intended use case, these SKUs will be renamed. This update is naming-only. There are no changes to product functionality, pricing, eligibility, service plans, or customer entitlements. The new names will appear on the May 1 pricelist.

What is changing

The following SKUs will be updated, while preserving their existing segment qualifiers (Education, Government, Non-profit) and term structure (including Extended Service Terms).

SKUs in scope:

The following SKUs are impacted by this naming update for Product Microsoft Teams Premium (ID CFQ7TTC0RM8K) and Teams Events (ID CFQ7TTBZZJP0):

Current SKU name  Expected SKU name 
Teams Events Attendee Pack - 100k attendees Teams Events Attendee Pack - 75k attendees (Non-Profit Pricing)  Teams Events Attendee Pack - 100k attendees (Non-Profit Pricing) 
Teams Events Attendee Pack - 10k attendees for GCC Teams Events Attendee Pack - 75k attendees for GCC (Governmental Community Cloud Pricing)  Teams Events Attendee Pack - 10k attendees for GCC (Governmental Community Cloud Pricing) 
Teams Premium (Education Faculty Pricing)  Microsoft Teams Premium (Education Faculty Pricing) 
Teams Premium (Education Student Pricing)  Microsoft Teams Premium (Education Student Pricing) 
Teams Premium (Governmental Community Cloud Pricing)  Microsoft Teams Premium (Governmental Community Cloud Pricing) 
Teams Premium (Non-Profit Pricing)  Microsoft Teams Premium (Non-Profit Pricing) 

What's not changing

  • Pricing
  • Billing terms or renewal behavior
  • Product ID or SKU IDs
  • Service plans or provisioning behavior
  • Eligibility by segment (Education, Government, Nonprofit)

Existing subscriptions continue without interruption. The updated name appears in Partner Center pricing, billing, and customer workspaces.

Partner impact

Partners may see the updated SKU name reflected in Partner Center catalog views, price lists, and reporting. No action is required. We recommend using the updated name in customer-facing materials going forward to maintain consistency.

Next steps

This naming update supports Microsoft’s broader Teams product positioning and doesn't introduce a new offer or SKU. For questions related to licensing behavior or eligibility, existing guidance continues to apply.

Download targeted offers for your customers using AI assistant in Partner Center

  • Date: April 01, 2026
  • Workspace: Customers
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) direct bill partners and distributors.

We’ve introduced a new AI assistant capability in Partner Center that helps Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners discover and download targeted offers applicable to their customers.

Targeted offers are customer‑specific promotions assigned by Microsoft and aren't available through public promotion listings. With this update, partners can use the AI assistant to automatically evaluate customer eligibility and generate a downloadable report of applicable targeted offers.

What's new

Using the AI assistant in the Customers workspace, partners can now:

  • Identify targeted offers applicable to customers associated with their partner account
  • Automatically evaluate customer eligibility
  • Download a report containing customer‑specific targeted offers
  • Use the data for sales planning, customer outreach, and internal workflows

The downloaded file includes only targeted offers that are applicable to the partner’s customers at the time of evaluation.

Where to access

  • Go to Partner Center.
  • Navigate to the Customers workspace.
  • Select the AI assistant (sparkle icon) in the upper‑right corner.
  • Use prompts such as “Download targeted offers applicable to my customers”.

Why this matters

Partners can use the targeted offers download to:

  • Plan proactive customer outreach.
  • Equip sales teams with customer‑specific offers.
  • Validate offer applicability before transactions.
  • Combine with internal reporting or CRM workflows.
  • This enables more accurate, timely, and relevant engagement with customers.

Learn more

For details on how the feature works, sample mockups, example prompts, and CSV schema, see: Download targeted offers with AI assistant in Partner Center

Important considerations

  • Targeted offers are customer‑specific and can't be applied to other tenants.
  • Availability and eligibility are determined by Microsoft and may change over time.
  • The downloaded report represents eligibility at the time it was generated.
  • Pricing details are governed by the price list, which remains the source of truth.

Announcing reduced Microsoft Dragon Copilot pricing

We’re pleased to share an update to Dragon Copilot’s commercial model, designed to better reflect the current market environment and support partner growth.

  • Date: April 1, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP authorized partners

Beginning May 1, 2026, the Dragon Copilot per-user license type will be available at a reduced list price across all geographies where Dragon Copilot is currently offered, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. Thanks to this update, partners can expand Dragon Copilot adoption with a simpler and more competitive pricing structure.

As part of this change, the Dragon Copilot Physician Practice offer will reach end of sale on May 1. Customers will now have access to the full set of Dragon Copilot enterprise capabilities through the standard per‑user license at the new price point.

Additionally, beginning on May 1, Dragon Copilot will introduce a simplified consumption model for ambient encounters and generative AI capabilities. Consumption fees will now be applied per encounter, rather than per individual ambient note or generative AI action—making usage easier to understand and manage.

Key takeaways

  • A reduced list price for Dragon Copilot per-user license launches on May 1, 2026, in all available Dragon Copilot geographies.
  • We’re introducing simplified consumption fees for ambient encounters and generative AI capabilities.
  • The end of sale date for the Physician Practice offer is May 1, 2026.

Next steps

Connect with your account representative for further guidance and details on this announcement. More details will be added to the Dragon Copilot Partner Assets page on May 1.

License Mobility for Windows Server and SQL Server subscriptions

Windows Server and SQL Server CSP subscriptions include License Mobility rights starting April 1, 2026.

  • Date: April 1, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All CSP partners (direct bill, indirect resellers, and distributors) who sell or support Windows Server or SQL Server subscriptions under the Microsoft Customer Agreement.

Microsoft is simplifying the product terms for Windows Server and SQL Server subscriptions purchased under the Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) through Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners.

Starting April 1, 2026, these subscriptions will be eligible for License Mobility rights, giving customers benefits equivalent to Software Assurance in legacy Volume Licensing.

With License Mobility rights, customers can run eligible server application workloads in shared environments and with authorized outsourcing partners. This simplifies licensing and delivers clearer customer value through the new commerce experience.

CSP perpetual licenses remain unchanged and don't gain License Mobility.

No action is required from partners or customers to activate this benefit. The updated product terms will take effect automatically on April 1, 2026.

Next steps

  • Review the updated product terms.
  • Review the partner FAQ.
  • Update your sales scripts and customer-facing materials to reflect License Mobility rights for CSP subscriptions.
  • Understand the License Mobility eligibility distinction between subscriptions and perpetual licenses.

SKUs and promotions for CSP transactability May 1

Microsoft 365 E5 + Entra Suite, Copilot, and Agent 365 become transactable as Microsoft 365 E7, the Frontier Suite. Price list preview for one-year terms available on April 1.

  • Date: April 1, 2026
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP direct bill partners and distributors (worldwide)

Beginning May 1, 2026, Microsoft 365 E7 will be available to transact in Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) channels on monthly, annual (one-year), and triennial (three-year) terms. Microsoft 365 E7 brings together Microsoft 365 E5 for secure productivity, Microsoft Entra Suite for identity and access control, Microsoft 365 Copilot for AI in the flow of work, and Microsoft Agent 365 as the control plane to govern and scale agents.

To support these new offerings, the following promotions are planned to be available on May 1, 2026:

  • Annual (one-year) promotional offers:
    • 10% off Microsoft 365 E7 annual terms (one-year) License minimum 10 | License maximum 9,999
    • 15% off Microsoft 365 E7 annual terms (one-year) License minimum 100 | License maximum 9,999
  • Triennial (three-year) promotional offer:
    • 15% off Microsoft 365 E7 triennial terms (three-year) License minimum 300 | License maximum 9,999

Partners can begin positioning Microsoft 365 E7 with customers ahead of the May 1, 2026, launch and can prepare order workflows in advance of transactability. 

Promotions may experience a slight delay in transactability and may be available later than May 1. Promo eligibility, terms, and ordering guidance are available through standard CSP channels. Microsoft 365 E7 CSP promotions will be available through December 31, 2026.

Next steps

  • Review the April 1, 2026 price list preview for SKUs (three-year SKUs won't be included on the April 1 price list preview).
  • Prepare internal ordering and sales teams for May 1 transactability.
  • Begin customer conversations aligned to Microsoft 365 E7 availability and promo timelines.

Questions

Refer to the launch guide and Global Promo Readiness guide, or contact your Partner Development Manager for support. 

Global Tax ID modernization launch

To support evolving global tax compliance requirements, Microsoft is enhancing the way Tax IDs are collected, validated, and stored, thus improving accuracy, and regulatory alignment across all countries/regions.

  • Date: April 1, 2026
  • Workspace: Account Settings
  • Impacted audience: Impacts all countries/regions. If you're an indirect provider, direct bill partner as a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) or enrolled in Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP).

Review the following information to understand how the changes may affect your organization and what actions may be required.

  • Rollout window: April 1 through April 13 2026 (partners may begin seeing the updated experience during this period).
  • Workspace: Partner Center > Account Setting > Organization profile > Billing page/Legal Info > Bill to Info page.
For Link
MAICPP Billing profile
CSP-Direct/Indirect Provider Legal information

What’s New?

  • Country/region-specific Tax ID types that dynamically adjust to local requirements.
  • Enhanced experience to support multiple Tax IDs required by local regulations (for example: Brazil, India, Italy, Egypt, and Serbia).

Why does this matter?

  • Helps meet country/region-specific tax regulations and documentation requirements.
  • Reduces billing errors and tax-related support escalations.
  • Provides a scalable foundation for future Tax ID requirements and country/region expansions for future countries/regions like France.

Next steps

  • Review your Tax ID details and ensure one or more Tax IDs for your legal address are complete and accurate. Missing or incorrect Tax IDs may result in billing disruptions, delayed transactions, or noncompliance with local requirements.
  • If your organization operates in Brazil, India, Italy, Egypt, or Serbia, you may be required to provide multiple Tax IDs due to local regulations. Partner Center shows any other mandatory Tax ID fields required for those jurisdictions.

Questions?

  • For Partner Center navigation or operational questions, contact your Microsoft representative or Submit a Support ticket through Partner Center.
  • For questions about tax treatment or business impact, consult your tax advisor or local tax authority. Microsoft can't provide tax advice.

Related content

  • Last updated on