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July 2024 announcements

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This page provides the announcements for Microsoft Partner Center for July 2024.

Monthly Update: Important actions partners need to take to secure the partner ecosystem

Important capabilities and updates to improve your security posture and protect your customers' tenants are now available.

  • Date: July 30, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Direct bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers transacting through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and with advisors.

Changes to the one-time discretionary credit for Azure frauds

As part of the expansion of the Secure Future Initiative (SFI), we're implementing a change in the way we assess refund eligibility for a one-time discretionary credit for fraudulent activity that occurs on individual Azure customer tenants on CSP new commerce.

Beginning in September 2024, partners must have enabled multifactor authentication (MFA) for all their administrative users on their CSP tenant at the time the fraudulent activity started, to be eligible for review.

Security is a shared responsibility, and it's crucial that CSP partners take all the proactive steps to protect identities and accounts.

MFA requirements for Azure portal: Starting July 2024, Microsoft will begin enforcement of MFA for all users signing into Azure portal. Review the latest information and timeline.

Available now

Enhanced Security Role to Manage Security Workspace: In May 2024, we introduced the Security workspace in Partner Center, empowering your company's Admin Agents with tools to assess and improve security measures. This month, we're expanding control and visibility with two new security roles: Security Administrator and Reader.

  • Security Administrator: Assigned users can actively manage security settings, policies, and alerts.
  • Security Reader: Assigned Users have view-only access to security information.

These positions are structured to offer detailed access management, so that individuals have appropriate levels of permission without requiring Admin Agent status. Note the capacity for Admin Agents to access the Security workspace will gradually be discontinued. Further information regarding this change will be provided in due course.

View expired Granular Delegated Admin Privileges (GDAP) in the "Expiring Granular Relationships" page: Partners can now view the details of GDAP relationships that have expired over the past 12 months in the Expiring Granular Relationships page and can make a request to create a new GDAP relationship with the customer if required.

Nine Microsoft Entra roles, previously supported only in the Partner Center API, are now accessible via the Partner Center UI for GDAP relationships.

GDAP Expiration Summary Emails notifications: Starting June 16, CSP partners no longer receive separate email notifications for each GDAP that is about to expire or has expired. Instead, you'll receive summary email notifications every 15 days with a link to the Expiring Granular Relationships dashboard. You can apply various filters and take appropriate actions, such as extending the active GDAP. There will be no change to customer email notifications.

Coming Soon

Administrative-Relationship (DAP) Insights dashboard deprecation: With the migration of DAP relationships to GDAP and the discontinuation of new DAP creation, we'll be deprecating the DAP Insights dashboard (Accounts Settings > Security Centre) by September 1, 2024.

Blocked Assignments on Unused Subscription: To mitigate security risks, Microsoft will block and terminate unused Azure subscriptions 90 days after the block is applied. Customers with subscriptions that have never been used or have been inactive for 12+ months will be notified by November 2024. To avoid blocking, customers must register an activity (for example, create resources, usage, support ticket) before the blocking date. If blocked, contact Azure Support to unblock.

Reminders

GDAP Auto extend: Microsoft-led GDAP doesn't activate the auto extend feature by default, so you need to turn on auto extend for these GDAP relationships as required.

Next steps

  1. Review the securing the channel journey map to navigate the transformational journey for partners to Zero Trust.
  2. Strengthen your security posture and navigate the evolving threat landscape with Microsoft cybersecurity tools and resources.
  3. Sign up for dedicated CSP Technical Training to have your queries answered by subject matter experts.
  4. Find guidance and resources in securing the partner and customer ecosystems partner readiness gallery.

Refreshed user experience for managing customer subscriptions

We're excited to announce the release of our new Manage subscriptions experience!

  • Date: July 26, 2024
  • Workspace: Customers
  • Impacted audience: All global CSP partners.

We're thrilled to unveil the newly updated user experience for managing new commerce license-based (online service) subscriptions in Partner Center. Designed with our partners in mind, this update introduces a suite of improvements to streamline operations and elevate usability:

  • Upgrades have transitioned to an intuitive right panel experience, allowing for a seamless side-by-side comparison of existing settings with available upgrade options.

  • Performance enhancements resulting in faster page loading times and a more responsive user interface.

  • Enhancements have been made to the management of term duration and billing frequency, providing a clearer and user-friendly experience.

  • New cautionary prompts have been introduced to alert users upon submission of mid-term changes. For example, "Changing the term or billing plan of a subscription might cause you to lose the promotion if the new plan or term isn't eligible. If the updated subscription is eligible for a different promotion, it will automatically apply."

The changes are available in sandbox and production. To view the changes, navigate to the Manage subscriptions page:

  1. Sign in to Partner Center and select Customers.
  2. Select a customer from the list.
  3. From your Subscriptions, under Online services, select Subscription name.

Next steps

Review the Partner Center documentation:

Expanding multiparty private offer (MPO) to the United Kingdom and Canada markets

Independent software vendors (ISVs) and channel partners can now collaborate and transact custom solutions with customers in United Kingdom and Canada markets in addition to already supported United States market.

  • Date: July 18, 2024
  • Workspace: Marketplace Offers
  • Impacted audience: Partners already transacting or plan to transact multiparty private offer in Commercial marketplace

Multiparty private offers (MPO) empower partners to sell collaboratively. Customers can negotiate terms and conditions and pricing via their channel partner and experience simplified purchasing through the marketplace. For customers that have an Azure cloud consumption commitment, the entire purchase counts toward their commitment when they buy solutions that are Azure IP co-sell eligible. MPO first launched in the United States market in July 2023, it's now expanded to customers in the United Kingdom and Canada markets.

As part of this expansion, channel partners enrolled in Commercial marketplace with tax profile location in the United Kingdom can now join their peers in the United States to collaborate with global ISVs to sell to customers in the three supported markets: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Next steps

Review this short video and this overview article to find out how Microsoft is making investment to help partners come together and sell custom solutions on the commercial marketplace with multiparty private offers (MPO).

Resources for ISVs
Resources for channel partners

Invoice collection API: upcoming changes

We're making a change to the invoice collection API to improve its performance and usability. Starting August 1, 2024, the API will apply a default filter to limit the invoice list to the last 18 months. You can still access the older invoices by changing the filter parameters in the API request.

  • Date: July 18, 2024
  • Workspace: Billing
  • Impacted audience: All Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners who use the invoice collection API to retrieve their invoices.

The invoice collection API allows you to programmatically access your invoices.

The API currently returns all the invoices that are available in Partner Center. However, we've noticed that retrieving all the invoices can cause higher latency and failure during data transfer.

Therefore, we've decided to apply a default filter to the API to limit the invoices to the last 18 months. This behavior will improve the API response time, reduce the data transfer volume, and make the API efficient. You'll still be able to access the older invoices by specifying the filter parameters in the API request, such as invoice date.

To learn more about how to use the filter parameters, see Get a collection of invoices - Partner app developer | Microsoft Learn.

How does it change your experience?

The change will take effect on August 1, 2024. After that date, when you use the invoice collection API without any filter parameters, you'll only see the invoices that are less than 18 months old. For example, if you use the API on August 8, 2024, you'll see the invoices for the billing periods from February 2023 to July 2024.

If you want to see the older invoices, you'll need to specify the filter parameters in the API request. For more information on how to use the filter parameters, refer to the invoice collection API documentation.

Known limitations

N/A.

Benefits

The default filter will bring the following benefits to you and us:

  • Faster API response time: The API will return fewer invoices, which will reduce the processing time and improve the performance.
  • Lower data transfer costs: The API will transfer less data, which will improve network bandwidth usage.

Next steps

  • Review the invoice collection API documentation and familiarize yourself with the filter parameters.
  • Update your API requests and scripts to include the filter parameters if you need to access the older invoices.
  • Test your API requests and scripts before August 1, 2024, to ensure they work as expected.
  • Contact us if you have any questions or feedback about the change.

Fundraising and Engagement solution retiring on December 31, 2026

Microsoft announced that the Fundraising and Engagement solution will be retired, with technical support concluding at 11:59 PM PT (US) on December 31, 2026.

  • Date: July 15, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit partners

As of July 15, 2024, Microsoft will no longer proactively sell Fundraising and Engagement. The product will be removed from the price list after December 31, 2024.

Microsoft is committed to providing affordable and relevant technology and skilling to nonprofit organizations worldwide. As we continue to innovate and enhance our technology offerings, we're making strategic updates to our suite of solutions. Notably, the Fundraising and Engagement solution will be retired, with technical support concluding at 11:59 PM PT (US) on December 31, 2026. Microsoft will continue providing necessary security updates, but won't make other enhancements to Fundraising and Engagement.

Next steps

Questions?

Customers are being asked to work with their Microsoft account team or Microsoft partner, or to contact us.

July Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) monthly updates and community reminder

Monthly views are now published including the updated partner launch calendars, the CSP Bimonthly Update newsletter, along with CSP community resources that provide you with essential program updates.

  • Date: July 10, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP direct bill partners and indirect providers

Always available—Launch content on demand

For a consolidated view of all recent and active launches in a single place, visit the partner launch calendars collection. You'll find a timeline for each launch and links to published materials to help you learn more about that launch.

Read the downloadable CSP Bimonthly Update newsletter, which aggregates recent CSP announcements, updates, events, and reminders in an easy-to-read document.

Partner Journey Maps provide detailed navigation along the journey of Microsoft’s highest priority transformations.

Need licensing readiness? The monthly CSP spotlight webinars cover the latest CSP licensing information available for all partners.

CSP Community Q&A reminder

The monthly CSP community Q&A session provides you with an opportunity to learn more and ask questions about changes affecting the program.

Register here to join upcoming calls.

Next steps

Review the Partner Launch Calendar, monthly newsletter, and register for upcoming Community Q&A calls.

Questions?

The monthly CSP community Q&A call is the best place to bring questions about operational change in the CSP program. You can submit a question up to 48 hours before the call.

Questions on any other CSP topic? Visit the Partner Center support page.

Introducing GitHub Enterprise (GHE) and GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) metered service offerings

Customers can now get access to GitHub as Azure metered services through their Enterprise Agreement, Modern Commerce Agreement, or their CSP channel. The metered service offerings use Azure as a payment instrument for Microsoft customers.

  • Date: July 9, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) direct-bill partners, CSP indirect resellers, CSP indirect providers, and Licensing Solution Providers (LSPs)

On August 1, 2024, Microsoft is enhancing its service offerings by expanding the entire GitHub product portfolio available as metered services on Azure. These offerings includes GitHub Enterprise (GHE) and GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS), broadening the scope of services available to our customers. Customers benefit from a seamless billing experience, the flexibility of on-demand self-provisioning and pay-as-you-go pricing, and broader access to GitHub products via more Microsoft channels.

Before August 1, most of the GitHub portfolio was available to Microsoft customers as a metered offering. This included Actions, Packages, Codespaces, Copilot Business, Copilot Enterprise, and Large File Storage. GHE and GHAS were only available through Microsoft as subscription-based offerings via the Enterprise Agreement.

This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering comprehensive, flexible, and customer-centric solutions. Together, Azure and GitHub are redefining the development experience. By bringing the best in code and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) together with AI-powered developer platforms, and leading cloud platforms, we provide an integrated, end-to-end experience that enables our customers to innovate at scale.

For the Microsoft partner community, Microsoft LSPs and CSPs have the opportunity to accelerate AI Design Wins and win mindshare in the developer community by positioning GitHub metered offerings.

For Microsoft CSPs

Microsoft CSP customers can now access all GitHub service offerings within the CSP channel. Partners can drive AI momentum by positioning GitHub Enterprise + GitHub Copilot to their customers.

  • Billing via Azure Subscription ID: Microsoft CSP customers interested in GitHub products can use their Azure subscription ID as a payment instrument for their GitHub offerings. When used, GitHub usage is reflected within an Azure bill to the Direct or Indirect Provider. All GitHub metered services on Azure will generate Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR), and therefore be eligible for Microsoft Partner Incentives.
  • Prerequisite: GitHub Enterprise is a core product that is foundational to have before securing other add-on products. For customers interested in GitHub Copilot (Copilot Business or Copilot Enterprise) or our other add-on products like Codespaces, Actions, Packages, and Advanced Security, having GitHub Enterprise is a prerequisite.
  • SKU details: CSP price list details for GHE, GHAS, and GitHub Copilot.
ProductTitle ProductId SkuTitle SkuDescription UnitPrice MeterIds
GitHub Enterprise (GHE) DZH318Z0FGBB GitHub Enterprise (GHE) GitHub Enterprise (GHE) 21 bc843f27-e9da-5ee1-b628-2a60bd1a2a1f
GitHub Advanced Security GHE DZH318Z0F0KM GitHub Advanced Security GHE GitHub Advanced Security GHE 49 958aa327-8dca-57ec-879e-7b11eb971836
GitHub Copilot DZH318Z0K18M GitHub Copilot GitHub Copilot 19 52b57f57-fb19-502a-8559-75de79d57df2
GitHub Copilot DZH318Z0K18M GitHub Copilot GitHub Copilot 39 c199ed39-470c-57bb-b63e-a1e137de6db5

For Microsoft LSPs

  • New GitHub customers - Customer choice in billing model: Microsoft EA customers that are new to GitHub will have a choice to adopt GHE and GHAS as Azure metered or volume license-based offerings.
  • Existing GitHub customers - Transitioning existing volume license customers: Microsoft EA customers with an existing GHE and/or GHAS volume-licensed offering have the option to transition to metered at EA renewal.

Next steps

Questions?

For CSP partners, questions not addressed in the announcement or associated materials, you create a support request in Partner Center.

For VL partners, create a case using the My Cases and Support workspace in Volume Licensing Central.

Microsoft Provisioned Throughput (PTU) for Microsoft Azure OpenAI will be generally available through CSP in Microsoft's fiscal year 2025 Q1

Microsoft is expanding customer purchasing flexibility of Azure OpenAI to include the Provisioned Throughput Unit (PTU) offering through self-service and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partner-supported models, and with a shorter (30-day) reservation commitment option.

  • Date: July 5, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP partners

Beginning in Microsoft's fiscal year 2025 Q1, Microsoft Azure OpenAI model inferencing models can be purchased one of two ways:

  1. As a pay-as-you-go offering charged on a per-token basis.
  2. As a provisioned-capacity offering known as Provisioned Throughput. Provisioned Throughput offers customers throughput with consistent latency for uniform workloads, making them ideal for scaling AI solutions and production scenarios.

With this launch, Microsoft CSP partners will, for the first time, be able to transact Azure OpenAI provisioned throughput deployments on behalf of their customers. Commercial options include payment on an hourly basis, via Azure Reservations, that provide discounts at 1-month or 1-year commitment terms, or a combination of the two. For partners, this will be the first time that an Azure service will have a reservation option with a monthly term.

Customers will be required to onboard their subscriptions to Azure OpenAI by filling in the application form, in the same manner as they're required to do for standard, token-based deployments. CSP partners can now help their customers manage quota, create deployments, and purchase reservations on a self-service basis.

The launch of PTU availability as a self-service or CSP supported model is significant compared to the previous model:

  • Before this launch, purchasing reserved capacity through the PTU model was only available via manual, ad-hoc Microsoft Field-Sales engagements (there were no customer self-service or partner-supported options)
  • PTU purchase options were previously performed via a different commitment mechanism that was less flexible and required a one-month lock-in. This made it difficult for some customers to use provisioned throughput for short-term or intermittent-usage engagements. The addition of an hourly purchase mode, combined with 1-month and 1-year reservation discount options, maximizes the scenarios that are supported by provisioned throughput deployments.

Next steps

Register for upcoming Partner Adoption Call and CSP Technical Training to learn how to support your customers through this process:

You can also learn more at:

Questions

For questions, submit a support ticket via Partner Center.

Microsoft Publisher Agreement version 8.0 - July 2024 update

We’ve updated the Microsoft Publisher Agreement. The updated agreement takes effect July 31, 2024.

  • Date: July 1, 2024
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Publishers
  • We respond to the Commercial Marketplace now supporting Professional Services Offers
  • We clarify how independent software vendors (ISVs) and Authorized Partners can now also transact multiparty private offers (MPOs) with customers in the United Kingdom or Canada
  • We reflect changes from an agency model to a reseller model in India

Next steps

Consistent global pricing for Microsoft's Commercial Cloud and on-premises Software

Microsoft shared today that there will be no price adjustments for our Commercial Cloud and on-premises software services due to local currency fluctuations in September 2024, given the relative stability of foreign exchange rates with the U.S. dollar.

  • Date: July 1, 2024
  • Workspace: Pricing
  • Impacted audience: Commercial partners

We remain committed to a clear and transparent process of assessing Commercial Cloud and on-premises software pricing globally. Price alignment takes place semi-annually in February and September, based on market conditions. This method ensures that customers across different geographies and currencies encounter consistent pricing.

Any product-specific price adjustments and/or any Consumer price adjustments will continue to be communicated separately.