May 2026: Licensing & Product Updates

Adobe Price Updates

Adobe Price Increase is Coming

Adobe’s June 1st price increase is quickly approaching. SoftwareOne can help customers avoid added costs by reviewing licensing options now and locking in current pricing before June 1st. Connect with your account manager to maximize savings and ensure a smooth renewal process.

Microsoft Product Highlights and Updates

Extended Service Terms (EST) in CSP Updates

Extended Service Terms (EST) in CSP are now enforced as of May 4, 2026. If a subscription is not renewed, it must be canceled at term end or moved into paid EST to remain active.

EST provides three options at expiration: renew, cancel, or extend. It is billed monthly at the standard rate plus a 3 percent uplift, or 23 percent if no monthly plan exists. Some subscriptions may automatically roll into EST if no action is set, creating a risk of unexpected charges or service disruption.

Now is the time to review renewals and set the correct end of term actions. Use the official guidance to identify impacted subscriptions, then connect with your Account Manager to validate your renewal list and prevent unnecessary charges or interruptions.

Extended service terms overview | May 2026 Partner Center announcement

Microsoft Agent 365 is Now Available

Microsoft Agent 365 is now generally available as of May 1, 2026, providing a centralized control plane to manage, govern, and secure AI agents across Microsoft and partner ecosystems.

With built-in visibility, governance guardrails, and security integrations, it helps address agent sprawl and reduce “shadow AI” risk. If you're moving from pilots to production or already seeing unmanaged agents, now is the time to act.

Connect with your Account Manager to confirm the right licensing path, whether standalone Agent 365 or Microsoft 365 E7, align on a governance-first rollout, and scale securely.

GA announcement | Product overview

Changes to Azure Reserved VM Instances

Starting July 1, 2026, Microsoft will retire new purchases and renewals of Reserved VM Instances for select legacy VM series, which could impact long term cost savings if action is not taken. As your Microsoft partner, we can help you review impacted reservations, protect savings before they expire, and guide you toward alternatives like newer VM series or Azure savings plans to maintain cost predictability.

Microsoft Marketplace Terms of Use is Being Updated, Effective May 27, 2026

Microsoft is updating the Marketplace Terms of Use effective May 27, 2026, with the changes automatically applied and no action required from customers or partners. As your Microsoft partner, we are sharing this for awareness and can help answer any questions on how these updates align with Microsoft’s current marketplace practices.

Windows 365 Business – End of Sale for Windows Hybrid Benefit (WHB)

Windows 365 Business WHB SKUs are no longer available for new purchases as of May 1, 2026, but existing customers can continue to renew and use their subscriptions without any disruption. As your Microsoft partner, we can help you evaluate whether staying on WHB or planning a manual transition to newer SKUs makes the most sense, especially in light of the recent 20 percent price reduction across Windows 365 Business.

Security Store Expands to Microsoft Entra, Purview

The Microsoft Security Store is now embedded directly in Microsoft Entra and Microsoft Purview, making it easier for security and compliance teams to discover and deploy integrated security solutions within their existing workflows. As your Microsoft partner, we can help you take advantage of AI guided recommendations and in product discovery to strengthen identity, data protection, and compliance outcomes faster.

Microsoft Price Updates

Effective July 1, Microsoft will increase list prices across many Microsoft 365 and Office 365 subscriptions, which may impact upcoming renewals based on timing, product mix, and commitment terms.

Now is the time to review your licensing strategy. Renewal timing, SKU alignment, and optimization opportunities can all influence overall cost. Connect with your Account Manager to assess your renewals roadmap, model financial impact, and avoid unnecessary increases.

For full details, including affected products and pricing, review Microsoft’s official announcement: Microsoft 365 pricing and packaging updates.