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June 2025 announcements

This page provides the announcements for Microsoft Partner Center for June 2025.

Three-year subscription terms for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 coming soon to CSP

Beginning July 1, 2025, Microsoft is offering a more consistent experience across purchasing channels.

  • Announcement date: June 30, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners

Details

As the market opportunity for small and medium enterprise customer segments grows, CSP partners play a key role in capturing this opportunity, offering value-added services and trusted guidance that accelerate AI transformation.

To further our investment in partners who deliver transformational impact for customers, we introduce updates designed to help you drive renewals and upgrades, retain customers, upsell, and scale your business.

Introducing three-year terms for Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, and Microsoft Teams Enterprise in CSP:

On July 1, 2025, we launch three-year subscription terms for E3 and E5, with or without Teams, and Teams Enterprise in CSP. The plans are only available for purchase with three-year upfront or triennial/annual billing options. Also, starting July 1, 2025, a three-year subscription for Microsoft 365 E5 Security and E5 Compliance mini suites is available.

At either mid-term or renewal, partners can upgrade existing customers who have EOS subscriptions of Microsoft 365 Enterprise suites with Teams to the new three-year EOS terms. This helps ensure that these customers can keep their Teams entitlement as they move to a three-year subscription. You can only get the three-year enterprise SKUs released on July 1, 2025 by upgrading them or purchasing them. Customers with enterprise SKUs can't change the term to get them.

For more information on this change, see the Pricing and Offers article on Microsoft Learn.

June 1: GA Microsoft 365 three-year SKUs

  • Microsoft 365 E3 without Teams
  • Microsoft 365 E5 without Teams
  • Teams Enterprise standalone
  • Options for triennial terms paid upfront or annually only; minimum purchase requirement of 100 licenses (enforced at the SKU level)
  • Publishing on the price list preview May 1, 2025*
  • SKUs available on CSP price list on June 1, 2025

June 1: End of sale (EOS) Microsoft 365 three-year SKUs

  • Microsoft 365 E3 with Teams
  • Microsoft 365 E5 with Teams
  • Options for triennial terms paid upfront or annually only. Minimum purchase requirement of 100 licenses (enforced at the SKU level)
  • There's no EOS price list preview
  • SKUs available on EOS price list on June 1, 2025

July 1: E5 Security and E5 Compliance mini suite three-year SKUs

  • Microsoft 365 E5 Security mini suite
  • Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance mini suite

New promotions for three-year subscriptions: To help you transition customers from on-premises solutions or upgrade from Microsoft Office 365, we're launching new 10% discount promotions for new-to-E3 or new-to-E5 customers on the new CSP three-year subscription terms. Plus, we're extending the 15% discount promotion for Microsoft 365 Copilot in CSP through June 30, 2025.

Live on June 9: Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 promotions

  • Offers: E3 and E5 with and without Teams
  • Three-year term
  • Upfront and annual billing options
  • For new-to-offer customers only
  • Minimum 100 licenses, maximum 2,400 licenses
  • Available to all markets
  • Promotions run June 9, 2025–December 31, 2025

Live on July 1: E5 Security and E5 Compliance mini suite promotion

  • Offers: E5 Security and E5 Compliance
  • Three-year term
  • Upfront and annual billing options
  • For new-to-offer customers only
  • Minimum 100 licenses, maximum 1 million licenses
  • Available to all markets
  • Promotions run July 1, 2025–December 31, 2025

The updated preview of the price list for May 1, 2025, is now available and includes the following SKUs applicable to all markets:

  • Microsoft 365 E3 no Teams - Three-year SMC SKUs
  • Microsoft 365 E5 no Teams - Three-year SMC SKUs
  • Microsoft Teams Enterprise - Three-year SMC SKUs

These SKUs are available worldwide on June 1, 2025.

Next steps

Refreshed licensing resources page now available

The refreshed licensing resources page helps you browse and choose licensing options and resources that best match your business.

  • Announcement date: June 30, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All partners

Details

To streamline the partner experience, we enhanced the licensing resources webpage to make it easier for you to explore and compare Microsoft licensing agreements. Licensing agreements include Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), Buy Online, software development companies (previously independent software vendors), Microsoft Open, and more.

You can also find comprehensive resources for training, product information, and pricing to help you make informed decisions.
Also, Microsoft ended support for the CSP New Commerce handbook. The guidance, content, and policies previously included in the handbook are now available in the Microsoft Learn Partner Center library and in the CSP Program guide.

Next steps

Partner Center to require multifactor authentication in August

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is required to sign in to Partner Center as of August 2025. Full enforcement of MFA for APIs starts in April 2026.

  • Announcement date: June 30, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All partners, GPS field roles, and Microsoft sellers

Details

In August 2025, Microsoft implements MFA across all Partner Center UX and application programming interfaces (APIs).

Set up your own MFA now! Eventually, all users must complete MFA, which involves two or more sign-in methods when they access Partner Center. Don't wait until the enforcement deadlines to set up your MFA preferences. It only takes a few minutes to proactively add or update a verification method and help protect your organization from over 99% of identity-based attacks. It helps you avoid service disruptions and aligns your systems with Partner Center's security standards.

UX enforcement: As of August 30, 2025, partners are required to use MFA to sign in to the Partner Center dashboard. It means that every time you sign in, you need to provide an extra verification step beyond your username and password.

API enforcement: As of September 30, 2025, all APIs are MFA-enabled and ready for partner testing. You need to integrate MFA into API calls to make sure your organization's systems can handle the extra authentication step.

Full enforcement of MFA for APIs begins on April 1, 2026. It means that any API calls made without MFA are blocked. Partners must update their systems to comply with the new security requirements.

Next steps

Partner Reported Azure Consumed Revenue vNext go live date rescheduled to July 11, 2025

The go live date for the Partner Reported Azure Consumed Revenue (PRACR) vNext report is rescheduled to July 11, 2025, instead of the previously announced date of July 1, 2025. There won't be any change to your Partner Center experience until July 11, 2025.

  • Announcement date: June 26, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Partners who currently have access to report Partner Reported Azure Consumed Revenue.

Details

PRACR vNext is the enhanced version of PRACR, which streamlines the Azure consumed revenue reporting process. Originally, the enhanced version was scheduled to go live on July 1, 2025 but these changes are now taking effect on July 11, 2025. This updated timeline allows for final preparations and testing to ensure a smooth and successful rollout. There's no change to your PRACR experience on Partner Center until July 11, 2025.

Questions

If you have questions, submit a support ticket in Partner Center support.

Next steps

FY26 Cloud Solution Provider Promo Extensions

Several Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) promotional offers are extended through September 30, 2025!

Date: June 24, 2025 Workspace: General Impacted audience: All CSP Partners transacting Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365

Details

We’re excited to announce that several CSP promotions are extended through FY26 Q1!

  1. Microsoft 365 Copilot: Microsoft 365 Copilot Getting Started CSP Promotion is extended through FY26 Q1, now ending on September 30, 2025! Use the Offer Landing Kit and Copilot Partner Services Blueprint to get started today. Assets related to the Copilot promotion will be refreshed and available before July 1.

    With a new promotional structure coming in Q2 that will better align with scaled customer adoption, now is the time to act and maximize value under the current, more flexible offer.

    Promotion Details:

    • 15% Discount: Enjoy a 15% discount off the net partner price on new Copilot subscriptions for 10 to 2,400 seats for 12 months
    • Flexible Additions: Add up to 2,400 seats at the discounted price anytime during the promo subscription term
    • Flexible Billing Options: Annual commitment with annual billing or monthly billing (5% price uplift)
    • Availability: Available Worldwide
    • Customer Eligibility: New or existing Microsoft 365 Copilot customers
    • Promo ID (Extended): 39NFJQT20KJ2

  2. Accelerate with Microsoft 365: The Accelerate with Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5 15% Annual Term CSP promotions have both been extended through September 30, 2025. Through FY26 Q1, CSP Partners have the deal-making flexibility to offer either these extended 1-yr 15% Microsoft 365 offers or the recently launched 3-yr 10% Microsoft 365 offers to eligible customers.

    Now is the time to help Partners position these promotions to unlock new and existing customers looking to digitally transform with Microsoft 365’s world class productivity and security/compliance capabilities.

    Promotion Details:

    • 15% Discount: For new annual term Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5 subscriptions, CSP Partners receive 15% off the net partner price for eligible customers.
    • Extended: Available now through September 30, 2025
    • Availability: Available Worldwide
    • Deal Size: Available for subscriptions up to 2,400 users, no deal minimums
    • Customer Eligibility: Available for new-to-offer customers.

    Note

    New-to-offer constraint capabilities aren't updated. Customer eligibility is checked at the PFAM level, blocking undesired leakage. This means customers with Microsoft 365 with Teams no longer qualify for the NTO promo for the equivalent Microsoft 365 no Teams SKU.

    • Promo ID (New): 39NFJQT27WLH (Microsoft 365 E5) | 39NFJQT27WQP (Microsoft 365 E3)

Next steps

New commerce experience license-based price list improvements

Beginning June 1, 2025 the NCE license-based price lists now include several new enhancements.

  • Date: June 20, 2025
  • Workspace: Pricing
  • Impacted audience: All Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners

Details

Introduction of a field that captures the previous value for changed items in the NCE license-based price list: A new column PreviousValue is now added to the NCE license-based GA price list. If the column ChangeIndicator shows a Change for any price list row, it means that the row changed from the previous month. The change indicator monitors updates to the following fields:

  • Product Title
  • SKU Title
  • Publisher
  • SKU Description
  • ERP Price
  • Unit Price

The new column PreviousValue shows the previously published value from the prior month. This update helps partners more easily understand price list changes.

NCE license-based price list: file name change: The file names for NCE license-based product price lists are now unique and descriptive. It's available for: Preview, GA, and EOS price lists.

The file name follows the naming convention pattern: Month_Pricelist_Market.csv. For example, June_NCE_LicenseBasedPL_GA_US.csv. It's an improvement from the previous nomenclature and helps assist partners in easier file management. Zip file naming conventions don't change.

Next steps

General Availability for end of sale NCE license-based price list API

Partners can now use the existing price sheet API to retrieve end-of-sale (EOS) NCE license-based pricelist data.

  • Date: June 19, 2025
  • Workspace: Pricing
  • Impacted audience: All Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners

Details

Effective June 2025, partners can now use the existing price sheet API to retrieve EOS NCE license-based pricelist data. Partners can use the API to retrieve the new type of price list by setting the PricesheetView parameter to licensebasedeos.

This update reflects direct feedback from our partner community and helps simplify how you access and manage EOS pricing information. This enhancement enables partners to access both current and historical EOS pricelists back to the past six months.

Next steps

Licensing and pricing updates for on-premises productivity server products coming in July and August 2025

While Microsoft 365 suites continue to be the best choice for delivering value to our customers due to their outstanding performance, scalability, and security, we recognize the critical, ongoing need for on-premises deployments in certain customer environments. In our continued commitment to supporting these customers, Microsoft is introducing several licensing and pricing changes to our on-premises server products in July and August 2025.

  • Announcement date: June 19, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP direct bill, CSP distributors, and CSP indirect resellers.

Details

Launch of Exchange and Skype for Business Server Subscription Editions: As previously announced, Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) and Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (SE) are generally available on July 1, 2025. To deploy and use Subscription Edition server products, customers must have active Software Assurance (SA) or cloud subscription licenses for all users and devices that access them.

The release of Subscription Editions for Exchange Server and Skype for Business Server brings these products into alignment with SharePoint in transitioning from a three-year version cycle to a version-less product with regular updates through the Modern Lifecycle Policy.

Updated pricing for server products and suites: To support ongoing maintenance and updates for Microsoft’s on-premises server products, prices for all standalone on-premises server products (SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, and Skype for Business Server) are increasing by 10% on July 1, 2025, alongside general availability of Exchange Server SE and Skype for Business Server SE.

Prices for our Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite, which were static for some time, are to increase by 15% and 20%, respectively. These pricing changes are effective on August 1, 2025. These changes apply exclusively to the on-premises versions of the products. There's no change to pricing for SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, or Microsoft Teams purchased separately or through a Microsoft 365 license.

Next steps

Important updates to your Azure IP co-sell deal submission

Recently we made updates to the Azure IP co-sell deal submission process to require two important fields to be specified: Solution Area and Solution Play. This change aims to better support you on improved deal velocity for your co-sell engagements with Microsoft sellers.

Date: June 18, 2025 Workspace: General Impacted audience: Azure IP co-sell eligible partners

  • Effective Immediately: As shared previously, this requirement now applies for all new deals created through partner center and bulk upload.
  • API Updates effective July 2025: Partners using API to create deals should plan to update their API integration by July 31, 2025SS1 DV2 , to ensure compliance with the upcoming changes. This will help avoid any disruptions and ensure that all new deals meet the mandatory requirements.

Details

Selling with Microsoft is a significant opportunity for partners, customers, and Microsoft to deepen business relationships by solving customers’ toughest business challenges. Based on your engagement as a Microsoft partner—as well as your business type, sales strategy, and long-term goals—you can:

  • Sell to customers using our benefits, tools, and resources
  • Sell through Microsoft via available go-to-market and sales channels
  • Sell with Microsoft sellers by engaging in collaborative selling- often known as co-sell

Next steps

API Updates effective July 2025: Partners using API to create deals should plan to update their API integration by July 31, 2025, to ensure compliance with the upcoming changes. This will help avoid any disruptions and ensure that all new deals meet the mandatory requirements.

For more information, see Manage co-sell opportunities.

Questions

If you have questions, submit a support ticket via the Partner Center Support page.

Ability to upload Closed Captions and Audio Descriptions for Apps and Games Trailers

The ability to upload Closed Captions and Audio Descriptions for apps and games trailers is now available in the Partner Center Apps and games workspace

  • Date: June 17, 2025
  • Workspace: Apps & Games
  • Impacted Audience: All Apps and Games publishers with a product trailer

To support accessible trailers for our customers with disabilities, publishers now have the option to enhance their app and game trailers by including Closed Captions and Audio Descriptions.

Closed captions provide text alternatives for audio for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Audio descriptions help provide audio alternatives for visual elements for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

To upload Closed Captions and Audio Descriptions, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to your Partner Center account. On the home page, go to the Apps and Games workspace and select the App or Game for which you want to upload the files.
  2. Navigate to the Store listing page and choose a listing language. Scroll down to the Trailers section.
  3. Select the trailer and click Edit. In the panel, upload the Closed Captions and Audio Descriptions for the trailer.
  4. Click Save and Publish the changes.

Next steps

For more information on trailers, see the trailer requirements for Apps and Games.

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: June 16, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Direct bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers transacting through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and with advisors

Available now

Action required: The graph.windows.net audience tokens are retiring on August 31, 2025. To enhance our security measures, all Partner Center services that use Azure Active Directory graph API are to migrate to api.partnercenter.microsoft.com.

If you use the generateToken API, stop decoding the token in the API response and remove dependency on any of the claims in the token that the API returns. A new version of the generateToken API is available.

To avoid business disruption, ensure your technical teams are aware of these changes and take the necessary steps to update your systems before August 31, 2025. For more information on how to prepare and the steps to take for this transition, see the Deprecate Azure AD graph token article on Microsoft Learn.

Register for an office hours call, attend the live discussion, or listen to the on-demand recording to get answers to your questions.

MFA for M365 admin center: Microsoft is enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users who sign into M365 admin center portal. Review the latest information and timeline. 

Security workspace AI assistant: AI assistant is now available to help you:

  • Resolve partner queries
  • Clarify requirement details
  • Navigate learning resources efficiently

How to access the AI assistant:

  • In Partner Center, click the AI button in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
  • Select the Security workspace and choose Ask AI to begin.

For more information, see AI assistant security workspace.

Explore the new Security Requirements UI in Partner Center: The Security Requirements experience is redesigned to clearly separate mandatory and recommended controls, which makes it easier for partners to understand compliance expectations and take action. For more information, see Security requirements overview.

Coming soon

MFA For Partner Center: To enhance security, multifactor authentication (MFA) is enforced for all pages in the Partner Center portal and for API access.

  • MFA is enforced for all pages in the Partner Center portal starting August 30, 2025
  • The API is code-ready for MFA on September 30, 2025
  • MFA is mandatory for API access as of April 1, 2026

Adopting these updates promptly helps you avoid service disruptions and ensure your systems stay aligned with Partner Center's security standards. Learn more about MFA, APIs, and other security standards

Next steps

Accelerated file download for Billed usage and reconciliation files

Beginning with the May 2025 billing cycle, all billed usage and reconciliation files will be delivered in .CSV.GZIP format to enable faster and more efficient downloads.

  • Workspace: Billing
  • Impacted audience: All partners downloading Billed usage and reconciliation files through Partner Center

Value for partners

  • Performance improvement: For high volume partners (5M+ records), download times have dropped from over 6 hours to 6 minutes – a 98.33% improvement. For all partners, download times have improved from over 3 hours to 2 minutes – a 98.89% improvement.
  • Aligned experience: Download attributes in the UX now match those available via the API, ensuring consistency across both interfaces.
  • File splitting for large Invoices: Invoices containing over 1.5 million records will be divided into multiple .CSV.GZIP files.
  • Enhanced visibility: A new Number of files column has been added to the table on the Reports (NCE) page to indicate the total count of files associated with each invoice.
  • Data integrity: Invoice data isn't ordered; therefore, the sequence in which files are downloaded doesn't affect the accuracy or completeness of the data.

File consolidation and troubleshooting

Next steps

Get answers to your questions at:

June 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 additional CSP community resources that provide you with essential program updates.

  • Date: June 10, 2025
  • 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.

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.

Now Live! Partner Center Technical Corner blog series: June 2025 edition

The June edition of the Partner Center Technical Corner blog is now live! This edition spotlights new AI assistant capabilities for enhanced partner support, tools to optimize small and medium enterprises, and a summary of recent releases.

  • Date: June 5, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All partners

June edition

The June blog edition covers the following key areas:

  • Spotlight: Partner Center AI assistant evolution
  • Spotlight: Accelerating small and medium enterprises
  • Securing the channel:
    • Bulk update for fraud event status
    • Upcoming changes for Partner Center portal and APIs access
  • Now released:
    • Claiming partner of record experience
    • Co-sell plan priorities
    • Referral confidence score
    • Flexible billing schedules
  • Partner Center resources

Previous editions

Next steps

Extended multiyear contract durations are now available

Today, we announce that Microsoft now supports extra multiyear contract durations for both public and private offers to help customers and partners lock in terms and pricing for up to five years.

  • Date: June 5, 2025
  • Workspace: Marketplace offers
  • Impacted audience: All partners transacting in the marketplace

Value for your customers and for you

With extended multiyear contract durations, customers can buy with confidence knowing they have stability and continuity of service. Multiyear contracts make it easier to plan and forecast expenses and lock in substantial savings that often come with longer contracts. Partners benefit by supporting customers' budget needs, strengthening customer relationships, reducing administrative burdens, and growing reliable revenue streams.

The newly added extended contract durations in Microsoft Marketplace support both public and private offers to help customers and partners lock in terms and pricing for up to five years.

These newly enabled contract durations include:

  • SaaS and Professional Services: Activate four- and five-year contract terms (previously, only one-, two-, and three-year deals were possible).
  • Virtual Machine Software Reservations: Activate two-, four-, and five-year terms (previously, only one- and three-year deals were possible).

Software partners must ensure their public offers include extended contract terms before they can create private offers with those durations. Once a public offer with multiyear contract durations is published, partners can configure private offers that use those durations.  Contract durations of up to five years support the following billing frequencies including flexible billing schedule for applicable plans.

Contract duration One-time, upfront billing Monthly equal billing frequency Annual equal billing frequency* Flexible schedule billing frequency**
one-month  Yes  Not applicable  Not applicable  Not applicable  
one-year  Yes  Yes  Not applicable Applicable within a private offer only
two-year   Yes Yes  Yes   Applicable within a private offer only
three-year  Yes  Yes  Yes   Applicable within a private offer only 
four-year Yes   Yes   Yes    Applicable within a private offer only
five-year   Yes    Yes    Yes    Applicable within a private offer only 

*Annual equal billing frequency isn't available for virtual machine software reservations. **Flexible schedule billing frequency isn't available for per user priced SaaS offers.

Get started today

To learn more and start taking advantage of extended contract durations, we invite you to review the following resources.

Next steps

AI Assistant Support for Co-op, CPOR, and Workshop Claims

The AI assistant within the Incentives workspace now provides support for inquiries related to Partner Incentives Co-op, Claiming Partner of Record (CPOR), and Workshop claims.

  • Date: June 4, 2025
  • Workspace: Incentives
  • Impacted Audience: Incentive Admin and Incentive users

In the Incentives workspace, the Partner Center AI assistant now provides support for inquiries related to Co-op, Claiming Partner of Record (CPOR), and Workshop claims. It also continues to assist with questions regarding policies and program guidelines for Microsoft commerce incentives.

The following are sample prompts related to claims:

Workshop and CPOR claims

  • What is the current status of claim [claim ID]?
  • List all claims that are currently pending my action.
  • What is the Partner ID associated with claim [claim ID]?
  • What is the Customer ID associated with claim [claim ID]?
  • Which engagements am I eligible to participate in with customer [Customer ID]?

Co-op claims

  • Provide a trace of all activities associated with claim [claim ID]?
  • List all co-op claims that were automatically approved.
  • What is the current status of co-op claim [claim ID]?
  • What are the next required actions for claim [claim ID]?

Next steps

Monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program update

Important capabilities, offers, and updates are introduced to improve the way partners can further differentiate their deep technical expertise across a set of priority scenarios with high customer demand. More benefits added for eligible Solutions Partner with certified software designations.

  • Date: June 4, 2025
  • Workspace: Membership
  • Impacted audience: Partners enrolled in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

Available now

Do you have any questions about the Azure Partner specialization program? Check out partner frequently asked program questions in the Azure Partner Specialization Program FAQ.

Use AI Assistant Anywhere in your Partner Center Benefits workspace for product benefits pages: We're introducing AI assistant across multiple sections of the Benefits pages to help partners get instant answers to frequently asked questions about benefit provisioning and activation. With a single selection, partners can access the AI assistant directly from key areas within the Azure Credits, Cloud Services, and Developer Tools benefits pages. This enhancement helps enable partners to more easily get answers to their top-of-mind questions that arise at different stages of benefit usage. Try it now!

Update to Learn Linking Experience – Effective June 3, 2025: We made improvements to help streamline and secure your sign-in experience for our Learn Linking process. On June 3, users can begin authenticating using their official account credentials (such as @microsoft.com). For more information, see Linking your MS Learn Account to Partner Center.

Use AI Assistant Anywhere in Partner Center Membership offers and Solution Partner designation: AI assistant anywhere is a capability in Partner Center that helps partners select a query from a predefined list. This list builds based on the context of the program page and partner most frequently asked questions related to the context. It helps partners get their answers instantly.

On May 5, 2025, AI Assistant Anywhere capability launched in two sections of the Membership workspace, Membership offers and Solution Partner designations. To date, here are the most frequently used queries asked by partners.

  • Membership offers:

    • Why is the Buy Now or Renew Now button disabled for a specific program?
    • Can I keep the benefits of MAPS/Silver/Gold post this offers retirement?
    • What's the best alternative program for me when MAPS/Silver/Gold programs are retired?

  • Solution Partner Designation – in all metrics of each solution area:

    • Suggestions to improve score for a solution area
    • Know more about the qualification requirements
    • Missing points for completed certifications?

In the months of May and June 2025, we're including the AI Assistant Anywhere capability in other areas of membership workspace such as MAPS/Legacy Silver/Gold, Bills and Payments, Learning Profile, ISV Success Build & Publish, Marketplace rewards, and so on.

SMB Track for Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure) is now available on Insights Workspace: Now Partners can check out data related to Solution partner designations for the three Azure solution areas Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), and Infrastructure (Azure) on the insights pages. Microsoft offers partners the insights and tools they need to assess and improve their performance. We're reinforcing our commitment to delivering robust, customer-focused solutions that meet the evolving demands of the SMB market. Check your designations and see your status for these Azure solution areas.

The SMB path for Security Solutions Partner Designation is available: The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program also recently introduced SMB paths for Security Solutions Partner designation. Now is the perfect time to start your preparations to qualify. For more information on Security solution area qualifications, see the SMB path for Security and the Solutions Partner designation walking deck.

Note

The Security SMB path isn't eligible for Microsoft Commerce Incentives.

The new Azure Specialization V. Next for Build AI Apps:

As announced recently, in late Q3, we launched the new Azure Specialization V. Next offer for Build AI Applications with Azure. This offer is an alternative path option for qualified partners to meet the Module B audit requirement by using existing already completed projects in the Azure Innovate (AI) partner-led program.

How does this work? Rather than requiring an audit, we use completed Azure Innovate Partner-led engagements.

Here are the program qualifications:

  • Partner is currently enrolled in one Azure specialization
  • Partner must complete at least three qualified Azure Innovate Partner-led engagements

Details for qualified Partner-led engagement eligibility:

  • Post-sales engagements only, no POV engagements.
  • Size of engagements: Small, Medium, Large only, (no XS projects; they're excluded).
  • $300 per pillar per engagement: three pillars must qualify. They include Data Platform, AI Platform, and Application Platform (aligned with your AI Design Win construct).
  • Module A remains a requirement. It must be in place to qualify for Module B.

Next Steps for V.Next:

For more information about Azure Innovate partner incentives, see the Azure Innovate Program.

​Renewals for the MAICPP Training Services Designation (TSP):

On April 5, 2025 partners who are within their enrollment window can renew their TSP Designations. It's your chance to continue benefiting from our exclusive offers and support. For partners whose renewal window is approaching later, don't worry! You can renew your designation when your time comes. Be sure to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to keep your partnership with us strong and thriving! For more information, see the Partner services training program.

More Benefits with seven Solutions Partner Certified Software Designations:

Apply today to attain one of the seven Solutions Partner with certified software designations to qualify for top-tier benefits.

Certified software designations for solution areas (specifically, Azure and/or Security) or Industry AI, receive top-tier benefits in addition to their own set of benefits. All partners are encouraged to pursue at least one Azure-based certified software designations including Certified software for solution areas in Azure and Security, or Certified software for Industry AI designations including Healthcare AI, Retail AI, Financial Services AI, Manufacturing AI, and Sustainability AI.

Microsoft is now offering subsidies on a first-come, first-serve basis for assessments conducted by the third-party auditor for qualification in these designations. Active partners currently nominating through the Azure partner-led offerings for ISVs, including Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate, won't lose access to these incentives for the remainder of the fiscal year (through June 30, 2025).

What's coming

Capping MAICPP Signature Cloud support benefit from Unlimited to 50- effective June 23, 2025:

From June 23, 2025 forward, the Solutions Partner Designation’s unlimited Partner Cloud Support benefit package is limited to 50 incidents per year enforced on your new purchase or renewal anniversary date. Today, Signature Cloud Support (SCS) offers unlimited cloud support to Services partners who purchase a Solutions Partner designation on Partner Center. Partners use this benefit to raise support tickets for their own cloud business or on behalf of customers. To align with the broader shift toward paid Azure support through ASfP and PSfP, we cap the Signature Cloud Support benefit at 50 technical cloud support tickets per partner, per year starting June 23, 2025. As a result of the change, this benefit is renamed to Partner Cloud Support.

Introduction of Security SMB track on insights pages: Partners can check out data and insights related to Solution partner designations for the security solution areas on the insights pages. By offering partners the insights and tools needed to assess and improve their performance, we reinforce our commitment to delivering robust, customer-focused solutions that meet the evolving demands of the SMB market.

Skilling updates for several Azure specializations: Analytics on Azure, Data Warehouse Migration to Azure, Migrate Enterprise Applications to Azure, and the Azure Expert MSP program. Expired Skilling certification in Analytics, Data Warehouse Migration, Migrate Enterprise Applications specializations, and the Azure Expert MSP Program are being removed or replaced. In Analytics and Data Warehouse Migration, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is being replaced with the Fabric Data Engineer Associate certificate. The Azure Data Engineer Associate certificate expired on March 31, 2025. The Azure Data Engineer Associate certification remains valid until March 31, 2026.

The AEMSP program and Migrate Enterprise Apps to Azure specialization don't have a replacement certification. For these certifications, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certificate is no longer required. Visit our Specializations Community site for the most current information.

Upcoming Change to Training Services Partner Qualification – effective July 2025 An important update to the qualification framework for the Training Services Partner (TSP) designation, effective July 2025. As part of a Design Change Request (DCR), the current two-bucket courseware model is being replaced with a more refined three-bucket structure: Fundamentals, 2 Days or Less, and 3 Days or More. This enhancement is designed to better reflect the diversity of training offerings and provide partners with greater flexibility in meeting qualification thresholds.

Expect further details, including updated guidance and timelines, shortly to support your efforts. Here's current Partner Services Training Program information.

Introducing Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge benefit – effective July 21, 2025: Starting July 21, 2025, we're replacing existing GTM benefits - Profile Optimization and Referral Management, How to Market with Microsoft Guidance, How to Market with Microsoft Consultation with a single unified GTM benefit: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge. While the former benefits are valuable, they largely translate into similar consultations provided by the Marketing team. The new Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge benefit is a streamlined benefit that serves as the go-to resource for all MAICPP program-related desk engagements, providing a more cohesive and impactful experience for our partners.

Introducing the new Copilot Specialization – effective July 2025: The new Copilot Specialization availability is targeted for release in July 2025. This specialization helps partners differentiate their experience and capabilities in Microsoft 365 Copilot, role-based Copilot, Copilot Studio, and Copilot extensibility. Partners can showcase proven expertise in providing consulting and professional services around Copilot, including advisory services, deployment readiness, adoption and change management, and extensibility.

Next steps

Reminder: Changes to Partner of Record (POR) assignment for CSP resellers is coming

Beginning September 1, 2025, we're implementing changes to the PLA API and UI to help distributors (formerly indirect providers) assign only authorized indirect resellers as Partner of Record (POR) on new Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) subscriptions.

  • Date: June 3, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP distributors and indirect resellers transacting through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program

Details

To ensure compliance with CSP Partner of Record (POR) policies, beginning September 1, 2025, we're updating the Partner Location Account (PLA) API and UI in Partner Center to ensure distributors (formerly indirect providers) assign active, compliant indirect resellers as POR for new subscription orders. You can read the full details on this update in the March 20, 2025 announcement.

Important

As of September 1, 2025, both the API and UI check if the reseller is in compliance with the reseller's authorization terms.

Next steps

To avoid disruption of service, indirect resellers must:

  • Have an active CSP tenant associated with an authorized PLA ID.
  • Accept the Microsoft Partner Agreement (MPA) for indirect resellers. For more information on how to accept the agreement, see the MPA indirect provider FAQ.
  • Be associated with a distributor in your CSP region.

To avoid disruption of service, distributors must: