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July 2025 announcements

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

New API available to help partners with upcoming changes to Partner of Record (POR)

Partner Center released a new API to enable distributors to validate whether a Partner of Record (POR) can be attached to a subscription.

  • Date: July 28, 2025
  • Workspace: Customers
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) distributors and indirect resellers

Note

To ensure indirect resellers and distributors have sufficient time to prepare, Microsoft will enforce Partner of Record (POR) validation for Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) orders beginning Dec. 1, 2025.

Details

Beginning September 1, 2025, we're adding more validation in Partner Center to ensure distributors assign only active, compliant indirect resellers as Partner of Record (POR) on new Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) subscriptions. You can read the full details of the change in the March 20, 2025 announcement and the June 3 2025 reminder.

Partner Center released a new POR validation API to help partners programmatically check a POR they want to attach to a subscription. This API allows the partner to get confirmation the POR can be assigned, and if not, the reasons why. The API can be used to help partners automate getting status for many PORs and to check a POR before transacting, including when they host their own experiences on Microsoft Marketplace.

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

Distributors should do the following to avoid disruption of service:

To avoid disruption of service, indirect resellers must:

  • Have an active CSP tenant associated with an authorized partner ___location account (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.

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

Microsoft is introducing several licensing and pricing changes to our on-premises server products in July and August 2025

  • Date: July 17, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Scale Solution Partners (SSP) who transact in programs that offer Software Assurance

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.

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) was made 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) increased 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 have been static for some time, are increasing by 15% and 20%, respectively. These pricing changes will be effective on August 1, 2025.

Update July 15, 2025

There is a delay in implementing the price increase on Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suites for the United States Indirect (Reseller) CRP price list. Increases on this price list must be phased in increments of no more than 10% at a time. The first increment will preview on August 1, 2025, effective September 1, 2025, for this price list only. All other changes are proceeding as previously announced. These changes apply exclusively to the on-premises versions of these products. There's no impact to pricing for SharePoint Online, Exchange Online or Microsoft Teams purchased separately or through a Microsoft 365 license.

Next steps

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 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: Graph.windows.net audience tokens retiring on August 31, 2025. To enhance our security measures, All Partner Center services that use Azure Active Directory graph API 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.

Ensure your technical teams are aware of these changes and take the necessary steps to update your systems before August 31, 2025, to avoid disruption of business. They can learn more about the necessary steps to prepare for this transition, see Deprecate Azure AD graph token.

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

MFA for Microsoft 365 admin center

Microsoft is enforcing multifactor authentication (MFA) for all users signing into Microsoft 365 admin center portal. Review the latest information and timeline.

Security Workspace 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, select the AI button in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
  • Select the Security Workspace and select Ask AI to begin.

To learn more, see What can AI assistant do in the Security workspace?.

Explore the New Security Requirements UI in Partner Center

The Security Requirements experience is redesigned to clearly separate mandatory and recommended controls, making it easier for partners to understand compliance expectations and take action.

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

Adopting these updates promptly help avoid service disruptions and ensure your systems stay aligned with Partner Center’s security standards. To learn more about MFA, APIs, and other security standards, see Mandating multifactor authentication (MFA) for your partner tenant.

Next steps

Windows Server 2022 External Connector erroneously published in July price list

The end of sale Windows Server 2022 External Connector SKU was erroneously published on the July price list in Partner Center. The SKU is no longer transactable.

  • Announcement date: July 16, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners

Details

On June 1, 2025, the Windows Server 2022 External Connector SKU (DG7GMGF0D515) was replaced by Windows Server 2025 External Connector SKU (DG7GMGF0XCZ4) in the Partner Center price list and is no longer available for purchase. However, the Windows Server 2022 External Connector SKU was erroneously published on the July 1, 2025 price list. It will be removed from the Partner Center price list on August 1, 2025.

Next steps

Use the new Windows Server 2025 External Connector SKU.

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

Microsoft is introducing several licensing and pricing changes to our on-premises server products in July and August 2025.

  • Date: July 9, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: SSPs who sell in programs that offer Software Assurance

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.

Update July 8, 2025

There is a delay in implementing the price increase on Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suites for the United States Indirect (Reseller) CRP Price list. Increases on this price list must be phased-in in increments of no more than 10%. The first price increase for this list will be previewed August 1 and take effect September 1. All other changes proceed as previously announced.

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 as of 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% as of 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 as of August 1, 2025. These changes apply exclusively to the on-premises versions of the products. There's no change in pricing for SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, or Microsoft Teams purchased separately or through a Microsoft 365 license.

Next steps

Important update to the Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) partner attestation blocking changes timeline – extended to January 5, 2026

Microsoft is making blocking changes for net new customer orders.

  • Date: July 3, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: All distributors (formerly indirect provider) and direct bill partners using the current API, Partner Center UX, or MCA bulk attestation tool to attest that customers accepted the MCA.

Microsoft runs on trust. Operating compliantly is essential to maintaining trust with our customers, and partners play an important role in ensuring compliance.

One of our key documents is the MCA. Microsoft requires proof (evidence) of an accepted MCA for customer purchases, which is currently either by direct customer acceptance or attestation by the partner on the customer's behalf. Ensuring customers review and accept the MCA is essential for upholding their terms. Currently, distributors and direct bill partners can attest to the MCA for their customers in three ways: using an API, using the Partner Center UX, or using the MCA bulk attestation tool. Audit findings show that some partners struggle to provide proof that customers accepted agreements, which can cause regulatory, copyright, and security issues. To improve compliance, protect intellectual property, and enhance security, Microsoft is making these changes to the attestation process.

Beginning January 5, 2025, Microsoft will block orders for net new customer purchases, unless the customer has directly accepted, or the partner attested using an enhanced API. Changes to the partner attestation process include:  

  • Partners can test the Partner Center UX blocking managed purchasing activities experience in sandbox and will have the ability to test the Partner Center UX changes for the current partner attestation experience, which will take effect between July 1, 2025, and January 5, 2026
  • A new API-based attestation method will be available in production on July 10, 2025
  • Retirement of the existing API-based partner attestation model – January 5, 2026
  • Removal of the UX- based attestation experience in Partner Center – January 5, 2026

The new API is available in sandbox since April 11, 2025, for partners to begin integration and testing should they wish to continue using partner attestation. You can learn about the change and API integration on Microsoft Learn. Register for upcoming CSP Technical Training sessions and listen to past recordings. On July 10, 2025, Microsoft will release the enhanced Partner Attestation API to the production environment. From that date, partners can use both the current and enhanced versions in parallel in the production environment.

If partners don’t integrate the new, enhanced API by January 5, 2026, their net new customers will need to directly accept the MCA through the Microsoft 365 admin center before placing an order. The existing API and Partner Center UX will be retired on January 5, 2026, and any attestations using the current API will fail. Sandbox testing for the existing API ends on the same date. Partners who are using the current attestation process, or are having their customers directly accept the MCA, won’t need to reaccept those MCAs after January 5, 2026. Only net new customers, for which you want to attest, are impacted.

In addition, Microsoft is revising the MCA bulk attestation tool capability. On October 7, 2025, the bulk attestation capability will be retired, and the tool will be limited to read-only. The bulk tool will be retired in January 2026. We strongly advise you to act now using one of the methods outlined previously to avoid any blocking actions for those customers.

Next steps

  • Ensure the appropriate teams within your organization are aware of these changes
  • Evaluate the new, enhanced MCA attestation API, which is now available in sandbox, to determine if the solution makes sense for your organization
  • For complete information on the steps required to incorporate the new, enhanced attestation API into your processes, see Confirm your customer accepted the Microsoft Customer Agreement.
  • Review the Attestation Changes FAQ.
  • If your organization wants to continue using the attestation API experience, you can now use the new API in a sandbox environment (since April 11, 2025) or in production from July 10, 2025. For full instructions, see Confirm customer acceptance and create agreement for MCA using APIs - Sandbox only.
  • If you're using one of the current attestation options, API or Partner Center UX-based attestation, but choose not to transition to the new, enhanced API, you'll need to incorporate direct customer acceptance of the MCA via the Microsoft 365 admin center into your processes. (Note that before an order can be placed on a customer’s behalf, the customer must accept the MCA. If you're placing an order, and the customer hasn’t accepted the MCA, you'll be blocked until the customer accepts the MCA).
  • Finally, if you're currently using direct customer acceptance of the MCA, and have no plans to transition to the new, enhanced attestation API, no action is needed.

July 2025 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: July 2, 2025
  • Workspace: Membership
  • Impacted audience: Partners enrolled in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

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

Available now

  • Questions about the Azure Partner specialization program, audit qualifications, renewals, and/or how to prepare for the audit?

    Check out partner frequently asked program questions in the Azure Partner Specialization Program FAQ. Find more information about partner Specialization program requirements and specific Azure checklists here.

  • Use AI Assistant Anywhere in your Partner Center Benefits workspace for product benefits pages.

    We introduced AI Assistant across multiple sections of the Benefits pages to help partners get instant answers to frequently asked questions about benefit provisioning and activation. Partners can access the AI Assistant directly from key areas within the Azure Credits, Cloud Services, and Developer Tools benefits pages. This enhancement allows partners to easily get answers to their top-of-mind questions that arise at different stages of benefit usage. Try now.

  • Change to Training Services Partner Qualification – Effective July 30, 2025.

    An important update to the qualification framework for the Training Services Partner (TSP) designation. As part of a Design Change Request (DCR), the current courseware model is replaced with a more refined three-bucket structure: Fundamentals, two Days or Less, and three Days or More. Total points for qualification in each criterion remains the same. This change to qualification parameters is made to increase qualification flexibility and make qualifications easier.
    To check your current qualification scores, see Partner Services Training Program.

Skilling Updates for Azure Specializations

We adjusted the certificate requirements for the Analytics and Data Warehouse Migration specializations. The Azure Data Engineer Associate certificate that expired on March 31 was replaced by the Fabric Data Engineer Associate Certificate. Partners can work towards getting their teams skilled with this certificate.

  • For Migrate Enterprise Apps Specialization and Azure Expert Managed Services Provider Program requirements, the Azure Data Engineer Associate Certificate is being removed without replacement.

    Partners who obtained the retiring Azure Data Engineer Associate before retirement date remains valid for one year.

  • 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. Previously, Signature Cloud Support (SCS) offered unlimited cloud support to Services partners who purchase a Solutions Partner designation on Partner Center. Partners can use this benefit to raise support tickets for their own cloud business or on behalf of their customers. To align with the broader shift toward paid Azure support through ASfP and PSfP, the Signature Cloud Support benefit is capped at 50 technical cloud support tickets per partner per year starting June 23, 2025. Reflecting this change, this benefit is renamed to Partner Cloud Support.

What's coming next

  • Introducing Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge benefit – July 21, 2025

    Beginning July 21, 2025, we're replacing existing GTM benefits for 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. The new Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge benefit is streamlined to serve as the go-to resource for all MAICPP program-related desk engagements, providing a cohesive and impactful experience for our partners.

  • Security Solutions Partner designation update to certifications required in mid-July

    We updated the intermediate certifications in Security SPD (for both SMB and Enterprise). The certification - Microsoft Information Protection Administrator and Compliance Administrator Associate, retired on May 31, 2025, and will remain valid for one year if completed before retirement. As an alternative, we're adding a new optional certification - Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate. This change goes live on Partner Center by mid-July 2025.

  • SMB Track for Security is now available on Insights Workspace. Now Partners can check out data related to Solution partner designations for the Security SMB track on insights pages. Microsoft is offering 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 security solution areas.

  • Introducing the new Copilot Specialization – effective July 2025

    We're introducing a new specialization for our partners named 'Copilot,' this specialization aims to highlight partner capabilities in Microsoft 365 Copilot. The Copilot Specialization enables partners to demonstrate their expertise in providing consulting and professional services related to Copilot, including advisory services, deployment readiness, adoption and change management, and extensibility. This specialization is set to launch by the end of July 2025.

  • Partner Center to require multifactor authentication on August 30, 2025

    Making ongoing improvements to security and privacy safeguards are among our top priorities, and we continue to help partners protect their customers and tenants. To enhance security, multifactor authentication (MFA) will be enforced for all pages in the Partner Center portal and for API access. Review the following key dates.

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

    These changes are essential to protecting partner data and require timely system updates to ensure compliance with Partner Center’s updated security standards. To learn more about MFA, APIs, and other security standards see Mandating multifactor authentication (MFA) for your partner tenant.

  • Deprecation of the Azure AD graph token, new version required August 31, 2025

    Microsoft is deprecating graph.windows.net audience tokens, which means we’re updating the process for calling Partner Center APIs. The new version of the generateToken API is now available and accepts only api.partnercenter.microsoft.com audience tokens for both user token and app-only scenarios. If you're using the generate Token API, you must implement this change by August 31, 2025.

  • Self-serve capability to cancel a purchase order

    Partners reach out to support team in case there's a cancellation request for the offer they purchased. Support team receives around five tickets on such requests and spends around 370 hours (P75) to resolve. With self-serve capability, we're aiming to provide interface to partners where they can request for cancellation of orders with all checks and balances are automated which were handled by support team manually. ETA 7/15

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

Monthly views are now published.

  • Date: July 1, 2025
  • Workspace: General
  • Impacted audience: CSP direct bill partners and indirect providers

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

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 that 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.

Local currency price adjustments for Microsoft's commercial cloud

Microsoft shared today that there are no adjustments for our Commercial Cloud and on-premises software services.

Date: July 1, 2025 Workspace: Pricing Impacted audience: Commercial partners transacting in Local Currency

Microsoft shared today that there are no adjustments for our Commercial Cloud and on-premises software services due to local currency fluctuations, following the latest semi-annual foreign exchange pricing evaluation.

Any product-specific price adjustments and/or any Consumer price adjustments continue to be communicated separately. Local currency pricing changes for the Commercial business don't apply to Azure in Modern Commerce through Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA), Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP), and Microsoft Buy Online as those are priced consistently in US dollars.