Upcoming event: Trust and Security in the AI world

Join us on April 24 for this one-hour virtual event exploring the critical role of trust and security in the age of AI. Microsoft leaders will discuss our commitment to ensuring trustworthiness in Microsoft AI technologies and practices. Let’s start building a secure and trusted AI future together!

See the event details and register today.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #BizApps #CrossSolution

April 9: Americas Partner Insider Call
April 17: Americas Partner Insider Call—Biz Apps Edition

Register here for the next Americas Partner Insider Call, a continuation of our series focused on helping you use Microsoft 365 Copilot to accelerate growth. Featured topics include: Digital Journey Initiative on LevelUp, Going to Market with Microsoft Copilot Chat + Agents, How to Sell Pay-as-You-Go Agents, Preparing for Microsoft 365 Copilot in CSP, and Annual/Monthly Price Adjustments in CSP.

To explore other topics, see the list of previous sessions available to watch on demand.

Register here for the next Americas Partner Insider Call—Biz Apps Edition. We’ll discuss the benefits of migration to customers, followed by a roundtable discussion on best practices and Q&A.

See the full list of upcoming sessions.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #News #GrowYourBiz #Azure

PowerBI SKU to Fabric SKU—a low-hanging fruit

The transition from Power BI Premium per capacity SKUs (P-SKUs) to Microsoft Fabric capacity SKUs (F-SKUs) offers significant benefits, including access to Azure-only features, smaller starting SKUs, and flexible purchase options like pay-as-you-go or reservation commitments. This migration is essential as P-SKUs will be deprecated, with renewals ending on January 31, 2025. Customers are encouraged to proactively transition to F-SKUs to take advantage of these benefits and ensure a seamless migration.

Engage with your customers to educate them about the transition from P-SKUs to F-SKUs. Learn more. Partner guidance.

New sales agents for Microsoft 365

Microsoft recently announced two new sales agents accessible in Microsoft 365 Copilot to help teams close more deals, faster: Sales Agent turns contacts into qualified leads and Sales Chat helps accelerate the sales cycle.

Learn more in this blog.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #LearnSolutionAreas #Azure #Security

LevelUp training for Azure and Security

Take your journey as a Microsoft partner to the next level with the self-paced flexible LevelUp learning programs.

To see the extensive offering of Azure and Security courses, including Threat Protection courses, select View all courses and filter under Solution Area in the course catalog.

Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to:  #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #Azure #ModernWork #Security

No Better Time video series: Accelerate Secure AI in CSP

As you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we’re excited to share the latest updates and opportunities that can help you accelerate your business and stay ahead of the curve. Hear from our Go-to-Market team on how to get started in this series of three short videos.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMktg #DoingBizwMSFT #GoToMarket #CrossSolution

Digital Marketing Content OnDemand

Digital Marketing Content OnDemand provides fresh go-to-market content for multichannel marketing campaigns at no extra cost to Microsoft partners. Unlock expertise that can help drive customer engagement and elevate your business.

Learn more and get started today!

Partner Sales Bootcamp for Secure Productivity

Organizations are looking to boost productivity with AI, but face challenges protecting their data while managing multiple productivity tools and complex hybrid environments.

Microsoft 365 E3 helps customers jumpstart their generative AI transformations with AI-powered productivity. Best-in-class productivity apps provide a solid base for the best AI experience with Microsoft 365 Copilot. The recommended zero-trust security foundations help protect identities, devices, applications, and data.

This four-hour virtual bootcamp on March 25 will help you prepare to successfully pitch Microsoft 365 E3 and unlock new business growth potential. Learn more and register today.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #News #GrowYourBiz #ModernWork #CrossSolution

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Organizations of all sizes are looking to scale their AI transformation and realize the enterprise-wide ROI that comes with broad adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat adds pay-as-you-go agents to our existing free chat experience for Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Moving forward, every organization will have a mix of Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot—our best-in-class offering—to drive AI transformation at scale.

Learn more in this blog and check out these partner resources:

• Microsoft 365 Copilot partner page

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Partner Opportunities deck

• Microsoft 365 Copilot FAQ for Partners

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #WinFormula #LearnSolutionAreas #Security

Security Solution Assessment

How much do you know about your cybersecurity posture?

Our data-driven self-assessment will provide answers and actionable insights into your actual Cloud Security position.

Learn more and leverage this Self-Service Security Assessment for your customer today.

Meet the new Microsoft Americas GTM leader

We’re thrilled to share that Lori Borg has joined the Microsoft Americas GPS team as the new Vice President of Americas Go-to-Market Strategy! With more than 25 years of experience building, leading, and innovating within the Microsoft partner ecosystem, Lori brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to her new role.

Join us in congratulating and welcoming Lori to the team!

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #SuccessStory #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

No Slides Attached: Season 2 recap on the ideas shaping tomorrow

What is something that AI hasn’t achieved yet, but we might see in the foreseeable future? Season 2, Episode 9 of the podcast No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners is a special recap episode featuring insights from our partners across industries in response to this and other common questions surrounding the impact of AI. Revisit their predictions on the groundbreaking potential of AI in various fields, from healthcare to financial services to public safety and more.

Partner Audience:  #CSP
Relevant to:  #DoingBizwMSFT #GoToMarket #CrossSolution

Claim your eligible co-op funds before it’s too late

February 15, 2025, is the deadline for partners to claim co-op funds earned during FY24 H2 (January 2024 – June 2024). Note that co-op funds do not roll over from one usage period to the next.

See the FY25 Co-op blog for more information and other important dates.

Partner Audience:  #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Enhance everyday business practices with the power of AI

Join experts from PrenticeWorx and Microsoft for an informative discussion on harnessing the power of AI for cost-effective, efficient data management. Together we’ll explore how customized AI-driven tools from Microsoft can help you overcome fractured data solutions to enhance business operations with a cohesive AI adoption strategy.

Register now for this one-hour digital event on February 20.

Note that this event will be delivered in English only.

We kicked off FY25 with the launch of No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners, an exciting new podcast designed for partners who want to learn from the inspiring stories of their peers.

Season 1 focused on how our Microsoft Copilots are already transforming businesses. In Season 2, we’re building on that momentum, diving even deeper into AI innovation across industries.

Season 2 features in-depth conversations with some of the brilliant minds behind AI transformations across key industries—from financial services to education, healthcare, retail, and more.

Look for our second recap coming soon on the role of security across industries.

Season 2 recap on the impact of AI

What is something that AI hasn’t achieved yet, but we might see in the foreseeable future? Season 2, Episode 9 is a special recap episode featuring insights from our partners across industries in response to this and other common questions surrounding the impact of AI.

In Season 2, hosts Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco asked seven partners from all around the Americas to share their perspectives on how AI is transforming their industries. In this recap, we revisit their predictions on the groundbreaking potential of AI in various fields.

Discover how AI might soon be used to prescribe treatments based on DNA, create a more equitable college admissions process, and reduce the number of police fatalities through cutting-edge technology.

To learn more about the ideas shaping tomorrow, see the full list of Season 2 episodes below.

Season 2 recap on security challenges

How do you build trust in a world where AI is evolving so quickly? Data is the fuel for AI, but data also needs to be protected. Season 2, Episode 10 recaps compelling conversations with partners from across the Americas about the role security plays in their industry.

Learn how healthcare organizations are “securing by design” to ensure compliance and protect patient data; retail is combating the rise of cybersecurity threats in the age of hybrid shopping; and government agencies are adopting security principles that support responsible innovation and protect digital evidence.

To hear more about security challenges and other insights from industry leaders, see the full list of Season 2 episodes below.

Season 2 episodes

View all episodes from both seasons.

Take a break

Need a breather from all the emails, meetings, and presentations? Connect on the go to get invaluable insights from industry experts and their inspiring stories.

Subscribe today to listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts:

YouTube* | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | RSS

*With closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.

Americas Partner Insider Call series

Join our FY25 H2 series of Americas Partner Insider Calls for expert insights and guidance on how to leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot to grow your business.

To view the January 8 session on Navigating the Copilot Adoption Journey, see the list of previous sessions available to watch on demand.

For more details on the series and to register for upcoming sessions, bookmark this blog.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #DoingBizwMicrosoft #Taxonomy

Communications channels for Americas Partners

Check out this short video highlighting the communications channels available to help you stay up to date on the latest information and opportunities for partners.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #ISV
Relevant to: #AllRoles #SalesAndMarketing #Event #GeneratePipeline #BizApps

Biz Apps Partner Digital Summit

Co-created between Microsoft and Dynamics Communities, this free digital summit consists of five modules designed to help SI and ISV partners accelerate their business and pipeline. Each module features Microsoft leadership discussing partner initiatives and programs, along with partners sharing best practices and real-world examples. Register once and choose from any of the following modules:

January 23 – Module 1: Partner Solutions Designations
January 30 – Module 2: Creating Funded Engagements
February 6 – Module 3: The Co-Sell Opportunity
February 13 – Module 4: AI, Copilot & ISV Success Programs
February 20 – Module 5: ISV Best Practices for Scale

Learn more and register here.

As of December 13, Microsoft 365 Copilot Government Community Cloud (GCC) is now generally available to qualifying GCC environment customers. Building on existing features in Microsoft 365 Copilot, the solution provides AI-powered tools combined with enhanced security and compliance measures.

Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates large language models (LLMs) with an organization’s data to improve productivity and drive innovation in the public sector. Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities are designed to complement and extend human expertise, relying on human judgment and oversight for optimal results. Learn about Microsoft’s commitment to trustworthy AI.

By automating routine tasks, providing data-driven insights, and enhancing collaboration, Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC empowers government agencies to work more efficiently and serve the public more effectively.

Read this blog to discover how Microsoft 365 GCC is empowering public sector innovation.

Bookmark this blog and check back for the latest updates.

Additional resources

• Explainer videos: Copilot for Microsoft 365 data security and privacy commitments
• How Microsoft 365 Delivers Trustworthy AI
• Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Secure by default with Microsoft Purview and protect against oversharing – Phase 1
• Microsoft Purview data security and compliance protections for generative AI apps
• Apply principles of Zero Trust to Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Learn about retention for Copilot & AI apps

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.

In the ever-evolving technology ecosystem, the unprecedented pace of innovation with Microsoft 365 Copilot is reshaping the future of work. Powered by generative AI, Microsoft 365 Copilot is at the heart of this transformation—revolutionizing productivity, collaboration, and customer engagement.

With recent upgrades, including Copilot Pages, advanced app integrations, and AI models, Microsoft 365 Copilot offers partners more tools to create innovative solutions for their customers. The enhancements in the Wave 2 announcement further empower customers by boosting collaboration, productivity, and automation. These upgrades create new opportunities for partners to enhance their offerings, deliver greater customer outcomes, and drive business growth.

In this blog, we’ll highlight recently launched offers and announcements, GTM and skilling resources, and next steps to help you seize this opportunity to deliver innovation and drive business value.

Introducing a new payment option

On December 1, 2024, we introduced a new monthly billing plan for annual subscriptions of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales, and Microsoft 365 Copilot for Services. This new monthly billing option for annual subscriptions will be priced five percent higher than the annual billing (upfront payment) option for annual subscription plans. For additional details, read this Microsoft 365 blog and this Pricing Updates FAQ.

Promotional offers

To help you get customers AI-ready, the following offers are available to accelerate the customer’s adoption of AI while helping them stay secure and compliant.

Getting Started Microsoft 365 Copilot offer
Now through December 31, 2024, customers buying between 10–300 seats on a new Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscription will get a 15 percent discount. This discount will be applied to the partner net pricing, allowing you the flexibility to decide how to use these savings with your customers. Leverage the functional offers development guide to further enhance this promotion by bundling with your professional services. We also recommend that you take advantage of our monthly Microsoft 365 Copilot QuickStart training.

Do More with Microsoft 365 E3 promo
Security remains a top priority for customers. The introduction of AI amplifies this concern, underscoring the importance of safeguarding data. Now through June 30, 2025, CSP partners will receive a 15 percent discount off the net partner price for new-to-Microsoft 365 E3 customers. Microsoft 365 E3 provides essential foundations to enable AI, including Microsoft 365 apps and security capabilities that simplify IT management and support customers on their Zero Trust journey. For customers seeking next-level threat protection and data security, Microsoft 365 E5 provides additional capabilities such as XDR to defend across the infrastructure and ensure data security throughout the data lifecycle.

Microsoft 365 E5 customer offer
Beginning January 1, 2025, partners can receive a 15 percent discount off the net price of Microsoft 365 E5 annual commitment subscriptions for eligible customers. This promotion will be available worldwide for new-to-offer customers, for subscriptions between 1–2,400 licenses.

The offer will be available through June 30, 2025. Look for more information in the Global Promo Readiness Guide beginning January 1.

Go-to-market resources

Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for work. And its value now goes beyond individual productivity boosts—supporting top organizational goals like revenue growth, cost reduction, higher revenue per employee, faster employee onboarding, better workforce retention, and increased operational efficiency.

To help customers identify and realize these business outcomes faster, we’ve introduced a new functional GTM approach that better demonstrates business value and provides a strong justification for business leaders to want to expand their investments.

Here are the key resources you don’t want to miss:

Start with this video to understand the new functional GTM approach, then use these resources with customers: the Microsoft 365 Copilot pitch deck, the Microsoft Copilot Scenario Library, and the Business Case Builder.

Leverage these GTM resources to highlight the value of Microsoft 365 Copilot products and solutions with your customers:

• • Copilot Value Discovery: Full kit | POE template
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot campaign in a box
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot demos and explainer playlist
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption guidance

Additional resources are available at Modern Work for Partners – Microsoft 365 Copilot CSP and  Modern Work for Partners – Microsoft 365 Copilot practice development.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Excellence Workshop

Leverage this workshop to accelerate your Copilot sales journey. The Copilot Excellence Workshop provides one-on-one Microsoft-led training to support the partner sales cycle with end customers targeting an increase in Copilot seats or net new Copilot seats. Learn more about the program and nominate your customer through Partner-led Sales Resource (PLSR).

Skilling for success—build your AI practice

It’s never too late to build your Microsoft Copilot practice and capture new opportunities. Enhance and expand your skills for building and selling AI-enabled, customer-centric solutions across different modalities. Visit the Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub to register for upcoming live events and to access on-demand content across Azure, Business Applications, Modern Work, and Security, as well as Sales and Pre-sales Partner Skilling. You can find even more AI learning opportunities by visiting this Microsoft partner skilling blog.

You can also attend Level Up CSP: Modern Work & Business Applications trainings (formerly CSP Masters) that are built to help partners accelerate sales and technical capabilities.

Microsoft CSP Briefings

Unlock the potential of your small to medium-sized business practice with these Microsoft CSP Briefings (formerly called SMB Briefings), designed to optimize our shared sell-through-your-partner innovative solutions.

Use these Microsoft-developed demand-generation events to drive customer interest in new-to-Microsoft-Cloud CSP customer acquisition. Aligned with Microsoft CSP solution plays, these partner-led briefings are designed to help you demonstrate value, build customer intent, and accelerate opportunities for Modern Work and Security.

Partner benefits offerings update

On January 22, 2025, to further empower you to stay at the forefront of this technology innovation, we’re incorporating more than 20 highly sought-after product licenses into our partner benefits packages. This update features the addition of transformative products like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft GitHub.

Next steps

• • Highlight Microsoft Copilot Wave 2 with your customers. We’ve made approximately 700 product updates based on feedback from our customers—this is a great opportunity to re-engage! Review the Microsoft 365 Copilot FAQ for Partners.
  • Lead with business value across various functions. To drive growth required to meet FY25 aspiration, we need to talk to various “rooms of the house” as well as IT using functional content, videos, and demos. Build a customer offer.
  • Maximize usage of offers and adoption resources. Accelerate sales and usage by maximizing all offers available, including demos, discounts, and Microsoft-funded Cloud Services Agreement (CSA) support.
  • Get up to speed on the latest resources. Review the Microsoft 365 Copilot brand guidance and the Modern Work for Partners resources page.
  • Join the Copilot Partner Community, designed specifically for partners interested in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.

December 4 Americas Partner Insider Call

There’s still time to register for the next Americas Partner Insider Call. We’ll explore how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI principles and practices when developing AI solutions, including how our legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. Next, we’ll help get you ready for H2 renewals and the one-year anniversary of Microsoft 365 Copilot on CSP with a discussion on the latest licensing changes, new promotions, product updates, and tools for successful pilots.

This event will be added to the list of previous sessions available to watch on demand.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution

Microsoft Americas CMO Partner Roundtable

You’re invited to join us for the first Microsoft Americas CMO Partner Roundtable of FY25! The focus of this exclusive, small-group conversation will be the pivotal role of AI and Microsoft Copilot in revolutionizing marketing strategies. Crafted to foster a rich and varied dialogue between Microsoft marketing executives and key marketing leaders from our partner community, don’t miss this opportunity to help shape our go-to-market strategy.

Seven curated roundtables will run simultaneously on January 16 at 10–11 AM PT. Learn more and reserve your seat today at the virtual roundtable that is most relevant to your business.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #LearnSolutionAreas #ModernWork

Microsoft named a Leader in the Magic Quadrant™ for UCaaS

Microsoft is a dominant player in the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) space, offering robust and innovative solutions and a forward-thinking strategy for the future of UCaaS, including the integration of advanced technologies like AI.

Read why Gartner® has named Microsoft a Leader in this Magic Quadrant.*

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

Last chance to spend your FY25 H1 Co-op funds

As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to remind our partners that the last day to spend your FY25 H1 Co-op funds is December 31. Your H1 funds will not roll over into H2.

See the FY25 Partner Incentives Co-op Guidebook, Co-op Funds Resources, and our blog to learn more.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #Azure #Retail

Resources to get you started: Retail industry

Data is the thread that connects consumers and experiences in the retail industry. Companies that embrace innovation and data-driven strategies can drive key business outcomes.

Leverage the Power Business Decisions with Cloud Scale Analytics campaign assets to drive demand for Retail Analytics MVPs (Pilot/POC), migrations, and deployments. This solution play is designed to help retail companies unify their data estate for analytics, build fit-for-purpose AI models, responsibly democratize analytics, and scale transformative applications so retail businesses can unlock insights and gain value faster.​

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon

The Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon is an online series of actionable, hands-on sessions designed to help Microsoft partners make the most of Copilot.

Learn more and register now for the December 19 session on Vacation Mode: Simplified with Copilot.

*Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Pankil Sheth, Megan Fernandez, 7 October 2024

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

December 4 Americas Partner Insider Call

Register now for the next Americas Partner Insider Call. We’ll explore how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI principles and practices when developing AI solutions, including how our legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. Next, you’ll hear from Partner Marketing about how to accelerate your pipeline by leveraging funded engagements.

See the list of previous sessions, now available to watch on demand.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #DoingBizwMSFT #AccelerateDeals #CrossSolution

Resources to get you started: Retail industry

The emergence of AI has transformed the retail industry. Customers look to you for guidance, and there’s a wealth of information to help guide you when building your practice. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin.

Leverage these campaign assets designed for system integrators and service providers targeting corporate and enterprise customers in the retail sector. Help your customers empower their frontline retail workers with technology that enables them to focus on what matters most and their frontline workers to work smarter, not harder.

Read last week’s Top Stories for additional resources you can leverage to empower your retail customers, and look for more to come!

Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to: #Tech #SalesAndMarketing #Event #GrowSkills #ModernWork #Security

Level Up CSP Microsoft 365 & Copilot Bootcamps

Join us for these upcoming special edition bootcamps built to help you get ready to drive a successful renewal cycle and capture upsell opportunities starting in January.

Upsell and Renewal Sales Bootcamp
December 10 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Upsell and Renewal Tech Bootcamp
Day 1: December 11 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Day 2: December 12 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Voiceover language coverage: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish (EU), Spanish (LATAM), Italian, and Hindi​

Learn more and register here. And be sure to check out the list of previous bootcamps, now available to watch on demand.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #LearnSolutionAreas #ModernWork

Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs—new study

Generative AI is transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs. The study shows that Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses. Read the blog to learn more about the results of the study.