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Program updates
FY24 Cloud Service Provider (CSP) benefits
Microsoft has released the new CSP Indirect Reseller Incentives and Rebates Guide for FY24 (October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024). For partners to be eligible, they must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in Microsoft Commerce Incentive Program (MCI)
- Meet $25,000 TTM in revenue threshold for transacting partner of record
- Either earn one of six Solution Partner designations or earn one of nine legacy competencies (each workload has its own requirements)
CSP legacy seat-based migration
Starting in November, public sector subscriptions will be eligible for migration to New Commerce by partners. Beginning in January, Microsoft will automatically begin migrating legacy CSP subscriptions to New Commerce, including CSP public sector offers.
Granular Delegated Admin Privileges (GDAP)
Microsoft has been transitioning delegated admin privileges (DAP) to GDAP for customer tenants, and from now on, only GDAP creation will be allowed. For new end customers, Pax8 will prompt partners in the checkout flow to establish GDAP between Pax8 and the end customer. A partner can bypass this but should then establish GDAP.
Consistent global pricing for the Microsoft Cloud
Pricing for Microsoft cloud and software services has been adjusted in the following currencies:
- AUD: +9% cloud and on-prem
- NZD: +7% cloud
- CHF: -9% cloud
- CAD: +6% cloud and on-prem
Pax8 Marketplace retail price adjustments
Per the Pax8 Partner Agreement, Pax8 does not update subscription retail price when a subscription sees a pricing increase at its legacy or NCE renewal; we only update partner price. It is the responsibility of the partner to ensure that pricing is set appropriately to what the partner would like to charge their end customer.
Retail pricing can be updated on a subscription level or using a custom rate plan on a product level. If partners would like to use rate plan adjustments, they can do so by using the Rate Plan Adjustments tool in the Pax8 Marketplace.
Teams Room devices and licenses
Teams Room Standard and Premium are being retired and replaced with Teams Room Basic and Teams Room Pro. Active subscriptions will retain functionality until the renewal date, upon which subscriptions must be transitioned to a new SKU.
In Europe, as of October 1, Microsoft will separate Microsoft Teams from its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Suites in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Microsoft is making these changes in response to the European Commission’s investigation of the bundled products. Microsoft will offer these suites without Teams at a reduced price, providing options for both core enterprise and SMB customers. Changes to existing subscriptions on NCE commitments can only be made at the subscription’s renewal. Changes to existing legacy subscriptions can be made at any time.
Tech for Social Impact grant
Azure grant: The Microsoft Azure grant has been updated to $2,000. Renewals at the previous Azure grant level will no longer be available. At the next grant renewal, nonprofit customers will receive the updated amount of Azure sponsorship credits.
Dynamics 365 grant: Microsoft has concluded its Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise grant. Customers who have previously procured the grant will see the price for the five granted licenses increase from $0 to the standard nonprofit discounted price when renewing.
Pax8 Platform Inbox
Pax8 introduced a new partner communication system native to the Pax8 Marketplace called Platform Inbox. With Inbox, partners have the option to update their default communication preferences to receive communications through the Marketplace. To enable it, click the mailbox icon on the top right-hand corner of the Marketplace homepage and follow the instructions to opt in.
Security and Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Hybrid work is here to stay. How do we keep up with the changing needs of an evolving digital landscape?
Develop a Zero Trust strategy
“Zero Trust” is the safest way to maintain cybersecurity. It’s a proactive, integrated approach to security that requires every transaction to be verified, grants least-privilege access, and relies on intelligence, advanced detection, and real-time response to threats. This approach helps you support remote and hybrid work, prevent or reduce business damage from a breach, meet regulatory requirements, and generally provide a stronger security posture.
Choose the integrated solution for secure productivity
Microsoft 365 gives you the toolset for a comprehensive Zero Trust strategy. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which acts as the SMB hero suite, includes a core cloud identity product (Entra ID P1), device management in products like Intune, and a powerful endpoint security from Microsoft Defender for Business.
Entra ID P1 offers a comprehensive identity and access management solution including a broad range of capabilities that includes features such as user directory, single sign-on, user self-service, multifactor and password-less authentication, and more.
Microsoft Defender for Business has five major pillars of value it provides to partners and their clients: threat and vulnerability management, attack surface reduction, next-generation protection (antimalware and antivirus protection), endpoint detection and response, and automated investigation and remediation. By reducing alert volume and remediating threats, Defender for Business allows you to prioritize tasks and focus on more sophisticated threats.
Microsoft Defender for Business is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium for up to 300 users.
How to strengthen security with Pax8
There are lots of ways to improve your security posture with Pax8, starting with Pax8 Events and Pax8 Academy. Pax8 hosts events live and virtually throughout the year to help you grow your skills, while Pax8 Academy offers fresh and informative cybersecurity courses, both live and on demand.
In addition, Pax8 offers a Data Estate Assessment to provide a comprehensive view of client environments with advanced security insights and recommendations. And Pax8 Professional Services helps you save time and effort by letting Pax8 handle solutions such as migration support and framework benchmarks for Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
M365 Business Premium and CIS
Choose Pax8 Professional Services to unlock the Zero Trust potential of Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, or E5 configured to CIS Controls. This configuration offer can help you secure your customers at scale through ProServices mapping to CIS Controls, helping you go to market with a strategy that is explicit, trusted, and repeatable, with no additional lift on your internal teams.
Pax8 Professional Services will help you secure user identities with modern, phishing-resistant authentication; secure devices and prevent BYOD threats with baseline Windows hardening and configuration profiles; and offer secure collaboration by protecting users who are leveraging Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive from common threats like malicious attachments, links, and user impersonation. Reach out to your Pax8 representative to apply.
Microsoft Cloud Week
Partners can accelerate their path to certifications with Microsoft Cloud Week. These week-long virtual events support partners in meeting the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program skilling requirements.
- Security: October 9-13
- Business Applications: October 23-27, December 4-8
- Modern Work: November 6-10
Pax8 Momentum takes place this month
Pax8 Momentum, happening October 10-12 in Denver, provides partners with a new place to continue the journey from previous Pax8 events and translate that knowledge into operational success. With customized breakout sessions and an interactive approach, this event delves deeper into key aspects to help our partners achieve their goals. Register now.
Dynamics 365
Dynamics 365 Sales Professional helps your clients get work done faster with the tools they know. Your clients can use it to create quotes, process orders, and submit invoices from Outlook; access, analyze, and update data within Excel; and collaborate on opportunities through Teams.
What is our role in implementation?
At Pax8, we make it clear to your client that we’re here to help with Business Central/Sales Professional — leaving the rest of the relationship and other product offerings with you. This means you can help with Azure, Security, or even Power Platform offerings, if that is in your wheelhouse. Our goal is to help you grow your Dynamics licensing revenue, reduce churn in your 365 base, and grow your Azure footprint.
What is the sales process?
Once you spot a lead, introduce us to your client and we take it from there. Our typical co-sales process follows this protocol:
- Send client an intake form to document what functionality and implementation approach is best for the client.
- Once documentation is reviewed, we can enter a demo call.
- We provide a summary proposal for the plan fees and monthly fees.
- We then provide follow-up Q&A up until they are ready to sign and start the project.
What else can we help with?
Pax8 can also aid in marketing to end customers, setting up webinars for end customers, internal sales training, and referring another partner if this model doesn’t work for them.
Start your enablement journey with the Microsoft Hub
Pax8 has launched a Microsoft Hub within Pax8 Academy. It’s your one-stop shop for all of our Microsoft enablement courses and resources in Academy, including webinar recordings and presentations; virtual, instructor-led training; and on-demand, self-service Academy courses. The Microsoft Hub will be continually updated with new enablement resources as they are released, so be sure to visit and re-visit often.
Sign up for the Microsoft monthly update to stay in the know
That’s all for October — to keep up with the latest Microsoft news, program updates, incentives, and more, be sure to sign up for our monthly webcast so you don’t miss a thing.
