AppDirect's Microsoft Corner
Your go-to spot for all updates on Microsoft business at AppDirect.
Win big with Microsoft and AppDirect this year. On the first of each month, we'll update this Microsoft corner with the latest and greatest in Microsoft news and announcements so you're always in the know. If you have any questions - we have a team ready to support your Microsoft growth here!
Microsoft Updates: What You Need to Know - April 2025
A big announcement from Microsoft this past month that will help you stay ahead of security threats in your workplace. Read about the changes below.
NEW: Security Add-on for Business Premium
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is Microsoft's hero SKU and it is getting even better! Microsoft 365 E5 Security Add-on Bundle can now be added to Microsoft 365 Business Premium to further secure your environment. Your customers can now get business level pricing with Enterprise security tools - making this SKU an extremely compelling offer for SMBs.
-> When will E5 Security be available for purchase?
- E5 Security is available for purchase as an add-on to Business Premium starting today, 3/6.
-> How can you purchase E5 Security
- You can Purchase E5 Security as an add-on from the AppDirect Portal today. Reach out to your AppDirect Channel Sales Manager today to get started.
ON-DEMAND: Drive Microsoft Sales Webinar
Check out the latest Microsoft webinar where Mitchell Wengreniuk talks through the massive cross-sell opportunity with Microsoft, why you need to start selling Microsoft with AppDirect, and how to start selling today. Mitchell makes information easy to digest so you can walk away ready to sell. Check out the recording here.
You can learn more about WHY Microsoft with AppDirect with this datasheet!
Microsoft Updates: What You Need to Know - March 2025
Microsoft is rolling out a wave of changes this month, impacting everything from Copilot licensing to Marketplace SKUs. To stay ahead of the curve and effectively guide your clients, you need to be informed. This blog breaks down all the essential updates you need to know right now.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Licensing Changes
The barrier to sell Copilot to small-to-medium businesses is gone with the newest change to the licensing model from Microsoft! There is now a yearly commit, monthly payment option for Copilot for Microsoft 365. This alongside the latest promotions available in the market, Microsoft is the go-to for Security and AI together. See the Promo’s in market right now:
Standardized Billing Structure
Starting on April 1, 2025, all new and renewing monthly billing plans for annual Microsoft subscriptions will be priced 5% higher than the annual billing option for annual subscription plans.
It’s Renewal Time
Don't miss the opportunity to renew your Microsoft Customers with AppDirect! Over 30% of Microsoft's SMB customers have contracts that renew in February, March, and April.
This is also a great time to bring new business to AppDirect.
Contact your AppDirect Microsoft Specialist today to discuss renewals and new business opportunities!
Microsoft SKU Updates at AppDirect
When Microsoft introduced the New Commerce Experience (NCE) program in Q4 2021, we added "NCE" to Microsoft profile names to distinguish them from legacy CSP profiles. This was necessary at the time to help customers differentiate between the two purchasing models.
Now that all legacy CSP profiles have been fully deprecated, we are simplifying profile names by removing "NCE." This change aims to improve searchability and reduce confusion when locating Microsoft profiles in the marketplace.
-> What You Need to Do
If you have any dependencies on Microsoft profile names, we recommend reviewing and making any necessary adjustments before the change goes into effect.
-> Next Steps & Support
We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing any impact this update may have on your operations. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
Check back next month for more updates!