Get all the important Microsoft details for April.
To stay current with the latest updates happening with Microsoft, one of the leading vendors for our managed service provider (MSP) partners, we’ve started a monthly Microsoft webcast that will keep MSPs up to date with Microsoft and how these updates will impact their business.
Missed this month’s webcast? Register for our next one on May 1, and reach out to your Pax8 rep if you have any questions. Here’s a summary of our April Microsoft webcast.
Microsoft to apply FX rates in EMEA
On January 5, Microsoft announced they will align the pricing of Microsoft cloud products globally. In the future, Microsoft will assess pricing in local currency as part of a regular, twice-a-year cadence. They will take into consideration currency fluctuations relative to the US dollar, resulting in increased transparency and predictability for customers globally as they move to a common pricing model.
For Pax8 partners, products in the Pax8 Marketplace will automatically include the FX rate adjustment for impacted regions. You’ll see one price (based on USD price and FX combined) when checking out.
Partners will need to resync their PSA if a subscription experiences a price increase. Partner margin will remain the same percentages and will be calculated from the base USD + FX rate.
Introducing Dynamics 365 Copilot
Microsoft has announced new AI product updates across its business applications portfolio, including the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot, which provides interactive, AI-powered assistance across business functions. Copilot helps sellers dramatically reduce the time spent on clerical tasks, empowers agents to deliver exceptional customer care, and streamlines the creation of product listings for online commerce.
Why Azure Virtual Desktop?
Azure Virtual Desktop gives you the ability to launch a secure remote desktop from virtually anywhere. With virtualization, you get more efficient utilization of computer hardware, and it enables cloud users to purchase the computing resources they need, when they are needed. It also allows you to scale resources cost-effectively as workloads grow.
Azure Virtual Desktop offers the following opportunities:
- Enables remote work
- Alleviates security concerns
- Optimizes IT costs/management
Virtualization is useful for the increased security and regulations required in such fields as financial services, healthcare, and government. It helps when dealing with workforce-related issues. And it can help deal with remote employees by enabling bring your own device (BYOD).
Pax8 provides the following enablement and offers around Azure Virtual Desktop:
- Partner enablement sessions
- Hands-on labs
- Pax8 Bootcamps
- Migration and deployment offers
Deploying new Azure services?
If you’re deploying new Azure services, your implementation project could be discounted with Pax8 Professional Services. Get in touch with our Professional Services team to learn more.
An update on Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances (RIs)
Starting May 1, Pax8 will be shifting to a self-service model for Azure Reserved Instances and Azure savings plans. This will allow partners to purchase RIs and savings plans on behalf of your customers within the Azure Management Portal. These SKUs will no longer be available for purchase in the Pax8 Marketplace.
Program updates
MSRP
As a reminder, Pax8 provides MSRP from the vendor on the initial order, but Pax8 does not own or manage this field for you after the first purchase. Every partner owns the margin and controls the pricing presented to their customer base. Post ordering, you are responsible for ensuring MSRP is at the current market rate, or the rate you would like to charge.
We strongly suggest reviewing the MSRP for each of your Microsoft subscriptions at your NCE renewal to ensure you’re earning the proper margin for each SKU.
Common products that saw or could see a price increase at renewal are:
- Business Basic
- Business Standard
- Business Premium
- Office 365 E1
- Office 365 E3
- Microsoft 365 E3
- Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing
Audio conferencing
Audio conferencing is included in Microsoft 365 suites as of March 2022. Partners who signed NCE commitments prior to March 24, 2022, had the option to utilize Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing to obtain Audio Conferencing service.
GDAP
Microsoft will start to transition DAP to GDAP for customer tenants on May 22. For relationships that have been transitioned by Microsoft from DAP to GDAP, Microsoft will remove the DAP relationship 30 days later. If a partner has a GDAP relationship with a customer, Microsoft will not transition DAP to GDAP. Microsoft will disable DAP by the end of July.
For new customers, Pax8 will prompt a partner in the checkout flow to establish GDAP between Pax8 and the customer. A partner can bypass this but should then establish DAP.
Sessions and labs
April
Modern Work Partner Enablement Sessions
April 5: Modern Work Governance
Azure Partner Enablement Sessions
April 13: Azure Security
Azure Hands-on Labs
Apr 6: Defender for Cloud
April 25: Azure Virtual Desktop
Pax8 Bootcamp
Apr 25-26: Virtual Modern Workplace
May
Modern Work Partner Enablement Sessions
May 10: Azure Active Directory Config
Azure Partner Enablement Sessions
May 18: Hybrid Management Azure Arc and Lighthouse
Azure Hands-on Labs
May 4: Defender for Cloud
May 25: Azure Migrate
