To stay current with the latest updates happening with Microsoft, one of the leading vendors for our managed service provider (MSP) partners, make sure to register for our monthly Microsoft partner update webcast. Below are the top takeaways from our November update.
Pax8 Voyager Alliance: The Partner Marketplace Experience
Pax8 Voyager Alliance is a partner program built to fuel your success and grow with your ambitions on a scalable, strategic path. Our tiered program unlocks curated enablement and education, and enhanced levels of service tailored to your specific needs. With Pax8 Voyager Alliance, you will receive support and benefits designed for every stage of your business.
The program begins with the Alliance Membership. As you grow, you become eligible for four Partner tiers—Ignite, Velocity, Titan, and Galactic.
Depending on your tier, you can expect a variety of benefits and rewards including:
- NFR licenses
- Elevated support
- Access to Pax8 Marketplace
- Pax8 Academy and Professional Services offerings
- Pax8 Partner Network
- Digital badging, swag, and VIP experiences including Beyond
Program updates
Enhanced security with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- September 2024: All admin users in partner accounts must have MFA enabled to safeguard access.
- October 2024: MFA will be mandatory for all Azure users when logging into the Azure Portal, enhancing security across all Azure environments.
Streamlined Azure subscriptions
- November 2024: Unused Azure subscriptions will be removed to optimize resources and reduce unnecessary costs.
New Microsoft Commerce initiatives
To support your business growth, we’re launching several Microsoft Commerce initiatives, including targeted incentives and accelerators across key areas:
- Core incentives for Azure consumption, Modern Workplace and security, and Business Applications.
- Customer add accelerators for Modern Workplace and Business Applications to drive growth.
- Global strategic product accelerators (Tier 1 and Tier 2) for M365BP & E3, Finance & Supply Chain, M365E5, Copilot, Business Central, and more.
- Azure-specific initiatives including PSTN Calling and Conferencing, Data & App Innovation, Analytics + AI, and an Azure AI Accelerator to support specialized workloads and innovation.
- Azure reservation offerings to help partners optimize long-term commitments.
Microsoft and Office 365 Enterprise suites update
The Microsoft & Office 365 Enterprise Suites with Teams will no longer be available for all new subscriptions, aligning with recent updates to the Microsoft product catalog.
Dynamics pricing increase
Effective this month, Microsoft has increased pricing globally for commercial and government offers 10-14%.
Microsoft virtual training days
Microsoft is offering free training and certification events to build technical skills. Check them out here.
CSP data quality enhancements
As of now, any changes made to Partner Center information will trigger a verification process for data validation. Partners will be notified of the verification process in the Global Admin Action Center in Partner Center. Failure to complete the verification process in 30 days may result in a failed/rejected state and subject to CSP suspension and offboarding. If suspended, no new orders will be allowed under your MPN ID.
To ensure your CSP enrollment is in good standing, Pax8 recommends your GA regularly checks the Action Center in Partner Center notifications for any important updates. If any changes are being made to Partner Center notifications, be prepared to submit appropriate supporting documentation. If your account is compliant but is not reinstated to an active state, please contact Pax8 support.
Enhancements to Copilot in Microsoft 365
Introducing Copilot Pages that feature a dynamic canvas built into chat, side-by-side editing, collaborative prompting, seamless sharing, and full-screen mode.
Copilot in Excel: Users can describe the analysis they want to perform in plain language, and Copilot will generate and insert the necessary Python code into Excel.
Copilot in PowerPoint: Users can prompt Copilot to create comprehensive first drafts and can iteratively adjust the narrative, adding or removing topics and refining the structure with Copilot’s assistance. Copilot can also leverage your company’s branded presentation templates, ensuring consistency with corporate design standards as well as ensuring that all slides are formatted according to brand.
Copilot in Outlook: Copilot can now help quickly get messages that matter by analyzing inboxes based on the content of your email and context of your role. Copilot automatically generates a summary of each email and includes why it is prioritized alongside top insights.
Copilot in Word: Copilot in Word will enable you to quickly reference emails and meetings alongside web and work data when drafting using Copilot.
Copilot in OneDrive: Copilot can compare different versions of files or multiple documents, highlighting changes and differences. Copilot can also quickly summarize the content of files stored in OneDrive & find specific information within OneDrive files.
Free virtual sessions
- GrowthTrack updates: New content, including professional services, with sessions twice daily at 9:00am MT and 7:00pm MT.
- Copilot Kickstart: Get started with Copilot, explore AI’s impact on business, and learn how to maximize partner incentives.
- Copilot GrowthTrack series: Sessions to streamline your sales cycle and explore next steps beyond Copilot.
Copilot Reward Program
Pax8 is offering a partner rebate of one month free for every qualifying Copilot license they purchase (a value of $30). Partners must opt in through a registration form, and seats must be purchased on a net-new subscription for a 12-month term. The rebate is valid only for the initial quantity ordered (quantity increases are not eligible).
In addition, Microsoft is offering a 15% off promotion on Copilot through the end of the year with a 10-seat minimum order. Eligible subscriptions will automatically be adjusted in the Pax8 Marketplace to reflect the 15% promotional pricing.
Plus, Pax8 is providing resources through Pax8 Academy, including an editable PowerPoint template to partners who would like to go to market with this offering, access to a Pax8 campaign-in-a-box for M365 Copilot, and access to end-user training, hosted by Microsoft.
Enroll for Pax8 rebates here.
Copilot rewards program highlights
- Rebate qualification: Opt-in via Pax8 form, $30 per seat for net new 12-month subscriptions purchased through Pax8 Marketplace and retained beyond the 7-day cancellation window.
- Rebate timeline: Credits applied to February invoices; valid for purchases from September 1 to December 31.
- Microsoft 15% promotion: Check Microsoft’s terms for additional qualifications.
Great Plains Migration overview
- End of support: Dynamics GP support concludes in September 2029.
- Migration includes: System setup, master data, transactional and historical data, and class data for customers, vendors, and items.
- Migration process: Includes assessment, preparation, cloud setup, data replication, upgrade, and final follow-up.
Microsoft security
- Copilot enablement sessions: 1-hour sessions that take a high-level approach toward Copilot solutions across user personas and how to start implementing for SMBs today. Available in November and December.
- North America hands-on lab: 6-hour long instructor-led labs that allow for technical skilling in a demo environment. Limited capacity, so be sure to sign up early. Available in November and December.
- Global events
- Virtually for a launch briefing on November 7th in the UK
- In person launch briefing in Lithuania on November 5
- In-person Cybersecurity Masterclass in Bristol on November 5th and December 10th
Pax8 is rolling out a series of global events and enablement sessions focused on Microsoft security and Copilot solutions, tailored to empower partners in every region. From high-level Copilot sessions to hands-on labs and exclusive launch briefings, partners across North America, the UK, and Europe have unique opportunities to boost technical skills and stay at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation.
Pax8 and Microsoft have teamed up to help you gain big wins throughout the year by simplifying Microsoft. Each month, we’ll review critical updates, share key details, and go over actions you should take to generate success in 2024. There’s only one month left of the series this year, so make sure you catch it.
