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Have you ever wondered what it is Microsoft has been doing lately? If so, you're in the right place. We've carefully selected Microsoft's most significant updates over the last month, making sure you're always up to date.
As Microsoft eventually makes changes that directly impact your business, understanding the latest releases can give you a competitive edge.
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Microsoft Updates - [09/2024]
1. New Australian Taxation Office Reporting Requirements
- Date of Announcement: September 30, 2024
- Effective Date: Already in effect
- Workspace: General
- Impacted Audience: Publishers transacting or able to transact in the Australian Microsoft Store and Microsoft commercial marketplace
Earlier this year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) implemented the Sharing Economy Reporting Regime (SERR), requiring platforms like the Microsoft Store and Microsoft commercial marketplace to collect and report detailed seller transaction information. To comply, Microsoft now gathers:
- Australian Business Number (ABN) and business name
- Foreign Tax ID (for foreign non-individual publishers without an ABN)
- Personal Information: First, middle, and surname; date of birth; residential or business address
- Contact Details: Email address, telephone number(s)
- Financial Details: Bank account information
What This Means for You:
If you're a publisher operating in or capable of transacting within the Australian market, Microsoft may contact you to provide or verify this information. This data collection enables the ATO to ensure accurate income and activity reporting from publishers on Microsoft's platforms.
Next Steps:
- Stay Alert: Monitor your communications for any outreach from Microsoft regarding this matter.
- Prepare Documentation: Gather the necessary information to provide promptly if requested.
2. Updated Timeline: Enhanced CSP Billing Reconciliation APIs Migration Extended
- Date of Announcement: September 30, 2024
- Effective Date: Migration deadline extended to January 21, 2025
- Workspace: Billing, APIs
- Impacted Audience: CSP direct bill and indirect providers using billing APIs in Partner Center
In March 2024, Microsoft introduced new asynchronous APIs (v2) for billing reconciliation in Partner Center. These APIs offer faster downloads and reduced latency, especially for large data volumes. The migration deadline has now been extended to January 21, 2025.
Affected APIs:
| API name | Version | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Get invoice line items API | V1 | Get invoice line items |
| Invoicing and reconciliation v2 API (beta) | V2 | Invoicing and reconciliation API v2 (beta) |
| Get invoice billed commercial consumption line items | V1 | Get invoice billed commercial consumption line items |
| Get invoice unbilled commercial consumption line items | V1 | Get invoice's unbilled reconciliation line items |
What This Means for You:
Failure to migrate by the deadline will result in the legacy APIs returning error messages, disrupting your billing reconciliation processes.
Next Steps:
- Begin Migration: Update your code to integrate the new asynchronous APIs.
- Consult Documentation: Review the migration guides for the daily rated usage APIs and the invoice reconciliation API.
- Stay Informed: Register for upcoming CSP Technical Training
- Partner Community Calls: CSP Community Call and CSP Technical Training
3. Partner Center Technical Corner: September 2024 Highlights
- Date of Announcement: September 30, 2024
- Workspace: General
- Impacted Audience: All Microsoft Partners
Securing the Channel
Partner Center Security Workspace:
- Provides CSP partners with a centralized view of all security actions and resources. Two new roles introduced:
- Security Administrator
- Security Reader
Azure Authentication and Fraud Credit Criteria Changes:
Starting September 2024, eligibility for one-time discretionary credits related to fraudulent Azure activities requires that Multifactor Authentication (MFA) was enabled when the fraudulent activity began. Enforcement of MFA for all users signing into the Azure portal starts in October 2024.
Tenant Creation and Program Enrollment Security:
Transition to a "bring your own Microsoft Entra tenant" model for all Partner Center experiences. Payment instrument-based identity verification is now mandatory for new partner onboarding and sandbox account creation.
Partner Center Resources
- Technical Roadmap: Stay updated with the Partner Center technical roadmap.
- CSP Technical Training: Register for monthly virtual events supporting technical implementation.
- Journey Roadmaps: Explore dedicated journey maps for:
- Securing the Channel: Journey to Zero Trust
- Journey to Cloud Solution Provider New Commerce
4. Important Security Actions for Partners
- Date of Announcement: September 23, 2024
- Effective Date: Varies per update
- Workspace: General
- Impacted Audience: Direct bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers in the CSP program and advisors
Key Updates
Changes to Azure Fraud Credit Eligibility:
- As of September 3, 2024, partners must have MFA enabled for all administrative users to be eligible for review of one-time discretionary credits for fraudulent Azure activities.
MFA Requirements for Azure Portal:
- Enforcement begins in October 2024. All users signing into the Azure portal must use MFA.
Upcoming Changes
- Removal of Unused Azure Subscriptions: Starting November 2024, Microsoft will block and eventually delete Azure subscriptions with no activity or consumption for over 12 months.
Reminders
- Security Roles in Partner Center: Introduction of Security Administrator and Security Reader roles. Access by Admin Agents will be phased out gradually.
- Security Requirements API: Beta version available now, providing partners direct access to essential security compliance data.
5. Updates to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Branding Changes
- Date of Announcement: September 19, 2024
- Effective Date: Changes effective as of September 16, 2024
- Workspace: General
- Impacted Audience: Licensing Solution Provider (LSP) and CSP partners
Microsoft has launched Wave 2 of Microsoft 365 Copilot innovations, bringing transformative capabilities to everyday apps. Additionally, Copilot for Microsoft 365 offerings have been rebranded to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Key Changes:
- Branding Update: Renaming Copilot for Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 Copilot, with updated descriptions and logos.
- Availability: Changes will not reflect in the October price list preview but will be updated in the price list published on October 1. Branding changes in Partner Center are expected between September 20 and the end of the month.
Next Steps:
- Review Key Resources: Familiarize yourself with the new capabilities in Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2.
- Update Branding: Rebrand all consumer Copilot offerings in your systems to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Leverage New Resources: Visit the Copilot Sell through CSP page and download the CSP Offer Development Guide.
6. Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Updates
- Date of Announcement: September 17, 2024
- Effective Date: Varies per update
- Workspace: Membership
- Impacted Audience: Partners enrolled in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Key Updates
Business Central Certification Added:
- The Dynamics 365 Business Central Developer Associate certification now counts towards the partner capability score for Business Applications.
New Benefits Introduced:
- Starting January 22, 2025, over 20 new product licenses will be available, including Microsoft Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and GitHub Enterprise.
Transition of Legacy Benefits:
- Microsoft will no longer sell Microsoft Action Pack, Learning Action Pack, and legacy silver/gold benefits starting January 22, 2025.
Specializations Updates
- Analytics on Microsoft Azure: Skilling requirements now include the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600) certification.
Teamwork Deployment:
- Skilling requirements updated; the retired Messaging Administrator Associate (MS-203) certification removed.
Supply Chain Specialization:
- Updated skilling requirements to include new certifications and remove retired ones.
Coming Soon
- Unified Analytics Specialization: In early 2025, Microsoft will merge the Analytics on Microsoft Azure and Data Warehouse Migration specializations into a single, unified specialization.
Next Steps:
- Review Specialization Requirements: Ensure your team meets the updated certification requirements.
- Plan for New Benefits: Prepare to take advantage of the new product licenses available in January 2025.
- Stay Informed: Visit the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program resources gallery for the latest information.
7. Self-Service Purchase Feature for Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Date of Announcement: September 9, 2024
- Effective Date: Beginning in October 2024
- Workspace: General
- Impacted Audience: All CSP partners and customers
Microsoft will enable self-service purchasing options for Microsoft 365 Copilot for users licensed through Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium suites.
Key Details:
- Individual Purchases: End users will be able to purchase Copilot for themselves, limited to one individual license at launch.
- Admin Control: Admins can view and manage self-service purchases in the Microsoft 365 admin center and can disable self-service purchasing via PowerShell if desired.
Next Steps:
- Partner Action Required: Discuss the upcoming self-service purchase feature with your customers to ensure they are aware and can manage it according to their policies.
- Resources: For more information, see Manage self-service purchases and trials and the Self-service purchase FAQ.