August 2026: Licensing & Product Updates

Microsoft Product Highlights and Updates

Centralized agent management across tenants (August 10, 2026)

Organizations running multiple or subsidiary tenants can now view and manage AI agents from a single experience in the Microsoft 365 admin center, currently in public preview. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Windows 365 Frontline becomes Windows 365 Flex (August 4, 2026)

Effective September 3, 2026, Windows 365 Frontline plans are renamed Windows 365 Flex. This is a name change only, with no impact to functionality, licensing, entitlements, or billing. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Azure reservation exchange policy update (July 30, 2026)

Beginning February 1, 2027, Azure reservations for services covered by savings plans can no longer be exchanged. Now is a good time to review your Azure commitments and confirm the right balance of savings plans and reservations. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

New GPU option for Windows 365 (July 24, 2026)

A higher-capacity GPU-enabled Cloud PC option became available on August 1, 2026, supporting graphics-intensive work such as design, visualization, and advanced development. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence standalone subscription retired (July 23, 2026)

The standalone Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence subscription reached end of life on August 1, 2026, and those capabilities are now included at no additional cost for customers with Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Sentinel. If you held an active subscription, a credit may apply. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Microsoft Price Updates

New security add-ons with consistent pricing (August 6, 2026)

Advanced security add-ons including Microsoft Entra ID P2, Defender for Endpoint P2, and Defender for Office 365 P2 are now available with pricing aligned across purchasing models. This gives Microsoft 365 E3 customers a simpler way to add advanced protection without moving to E5. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Microsoft Promos

Security and compliance offers available now (August 6, 2026)

Current offers include 50% off the Microsoft Purview Suite for Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers who also license Microsoft 365 Copilot, available through December 31, 2026, plus discounts on Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 and the Defender and Purview suites through September 30, 2026. Eligibility requirements apply and offers cannot be combined. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Microsoft 365 promotion updates (August 3, 2026)

Microsoft 365 E3 promotional pricing is extended through December 31, 2026, while Microsoft 365 E7 promotional offers end September 30, 2026. If E7 is on your roadmap, plan ahead so you do not miss the window. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.

Copilot in 30: a guided Microsoft 365 Copilot trial (August 3, 2026)

Organizations with fewer than 300 employees can try Microsoft 365 Copilot Business through a 30-day, 25-user guided trial designed to identify priority users and high-value use cases before a broader rollout. Available through December 31, 2026. Reach out to your SoftwareOne account executive for details.