March 2026: Licensing & Product Updates

Reminders and updates to extended service terms (EST)

Microsoft introduced updates to help customers and partners manage subscription renewals more smoothly, including a download feature to review licenses moving to Extended Service Terms and updated availability dates for specialized offers. These changes support clearer renewal planning and help avoid service disruption.

Introducing Microsoft 365 E7—a new productivity suite designed to drive Frontier transformation

Microsoft 365 E7 is a new AI powered productivity suite that brings together Microsoft 365 E5, Copilot, Entra Suite, and Agent 365 to help organizations move from pilot AI projects to secure, scalable deployment. Starting May 1, customers can adopt E7 to accelerate AI transformation and gain a fully integrated, enterprise-ready foundation for agentic AI.

Azure Arc PAYG simplified, ESU path eased

Microsoft has simplified licensing and expanded eligibility by removing the requirement for an existing Windows Server license for PAYG through Azure Arc and relaxing prerequisites for Windows 10 ESU Cloud Managed. These changes make it easier for organizations to reevaluate Azure Arc PAYG and support devices that may not meet a Windows 11 timeline.

Schedule time with your Account Manager and Microsoft Pre-Sales team to discuss further.

Copilot: Faster model option + fresh licensing guidance for builders

Microsoft 365 Copilot now includes GPT-5.3 Instant for faster responses in Office apps. Microsoft also released a March 2026 Copilot Studio Licensing Guide outlining credit consumption, Dataverse usage, and agent scenarios for teams piloting internal agents.

Schedule time with your Account Manager and Microsoft Pre-Sales team to learn more.

Enterprise Agreements in 2026: Expect tougher math at renewal

Analyst view: With EA discount tiers collapsed and several product price shifts, many enterprises will face 6–12% resets vs. prior levels; higher licensing spend can also lift Unified Support costs (percentage of spend). Consider mixed motions (EA + CSP/MCAE) and longer terms to buffer volatility.

What to do now

Start price validation and workload rationalization 120–180 days pre-renewal; compare EA vs. CSP three year options and evaluate term/billing tradeoffs (monthly premiums apply in many cases).

Schedule time with your Account Manager and Microsoft Pre-Sales team to learn more and prepare for the price update.

Current Promotions

New resources available to help customers advance their Frontier Firm journey with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft has introduced new resources and limited time offers that make it easier and more affordable for organizations to scale Microsoft 365 Copilot, including a 30 percent CSP promotion for eligible customers and new billing and bundle options for Copilot Business. These updates give customers more flexibility to expand AI adoption and unlock broader productivity gains across their workforce.