July update: What’s new for partners in AI Business Solutions

News and Announcements

• Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot SKUs now available: Your small and medium-sized business (SMB) AI opportunity just became easier to scale. Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot SKUs are now generally available, turning a successful promo into a permanent, predictable offer with AI built into every license. That means faster sales, larger deals, and a clearer path to drive renewal growth—without managing add-ons or promo windows. Read the blog post to explore this opportunity and find more details in the Partner Center announcement. 

• New licensing prerequisite for Microsoft Agent 365: New Microsoft Agent 365 purchases now require prerequisite licenses to ensure customers have the security, identity, and compliance foundation needed to use agent capabilities effectively. Customers can meet these prerequisites through eligible Microsoft 365 licensing or by licensing the required security components, as outlined in the Microsoft Product Terms. Use this update to assess customer readiness early, identify licensing gaps, and guide customers toward the right Microsoft 365, Business Premium, and security solutions to support governed AI adoption. Learn more about how this update can empower your customers as you review the Microsoft Product Terms.  

• Temporary purchasing pause of Windows 365 GPU Enterprise Select lifted: After a temporary purchasing limitation was put in place for the Windows 365 GPU Enterprise Select 256-GB SKU in the CSP channel through June 30, 2026, the SKU is available for purchase again as of July 1, 2026, in alignment with the standard CSP publishing cadence. Customers who have expressed interest should be informed of this availability timeline, and there is no impact to any existing Windows 365 entitlements. Explore the Partner Center announcement to learn more about how the Windows 365 GPU Enterprise Select 256-GB SKU can optimize your customers’ graphic-intense workloads.  

• Smarter targeting for per-user promotions: Also coming in FY27, Microsoft can target offers by seat count with greater precision, building stronger motions for partners to acquire customers and grow at scale. Learn more in the Partner Center announcement.

Incentives and Offers

• Frontier Accelerate for Copilot is your hero FY27 investment for AI and agents: FY27 partner investments are here, and Frontier Accelerate for Copilot is our hero investment across Microsoft 365 E7, Copilot, agents, and Agent 365. It supports discovery, technical workshops, and deployment motions that move customers from AI curiosity to operationalized Copilot and agent scenarios at scale—while this year's CSP incentives reward the adoption and expansion you drive. Explore the FY27 incentives guide and register for a Partner Investments Community Call (in the Americas or Asia). 

• Save with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: Customers want AI that delivers measurable value now. Microsoft 365 and Copilot help employees supercharge productivity, streamline everyday tasks, and reduce costs across the business. Available now, a new wave of FY27 CSP promotions provide a compelling, easy-to-position lever to scale Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Business. Learn more about the offers below on the CSP offers and promotions site. 

• • Microsoft 365 Copilot: 15% off new one-year subscription on 300+ licenses and 30% off 1,000+ licenses for SMB and corporate customers; 15% off new three-year subscription on 300+ licenses through September 30, 2026. 
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  • Microsoft 365 E7: 10% off new one-year subscription on 10+ licenses and 15% off 100+ licenses; 15% off new three-year subscription on 300+ licenses through December 31, 2026. 
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  • Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: Up to 15% off new add-on subscription on up to 300 licenses and 25% off new Microsoft 365 Business Basic + Copilot Business bundle on up to 300 licenses through December 31, 2026. 

Skilling and Events

• Start FY27 ready to execute and scale Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents: Join us at MCAPS Start for Partners for a deep dive into how partners can unlock a new wave of transformation with Copilot and agents—grounded in real customer scenarios, reimagined business processes, and scalable impact. Register now to learn about the next chapter of opportunity powered by AI. 

• Join us for the Microsoft Partner FY27 GTM Kickoff Event: For a double-click on the priorities shared at MCAPS Start for Partners, don’t miss this critical FY27 planning moment. Hear directly from Microsoft executives about priorities, learn how to build your strategy around Frontier Transformation, and gain insight into the market trends and investments shaping growth. Register for the Microsoft Partner FY27 GTM Kickoff Event on July 28. 

• Nominations for the 2026 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are closed: Nominations for the 2026 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards closed on July 7, 2026. Thank you to those who nominated their organizations—and stay tuned for winner announcements in November. 

• Turn AI demand into repeatable revenue with Frontier Transformation campaigns: Build AI thought leadership and pipeline with the Frontier Transformation campaign in a box, a ready-to-launch, co-branded campaign that helps customers embed AI across their business with the governance, security, and intelligence needed to scale. Use it to go to market faster, generate qualified leads, build pipeline without creating assets from scratch, and position your business as a strategic AI partner. Explore Partner Marketing Center Pro, download key campaign in a box assets, or visit Partner Marketing Center for more information. 

• Check out the Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub, a unified platform for all your skilling needs: In this fast-moving market, skilling is no longer a nice-to-have—it's a must for adopting new technologies, driving innovation, and winning business. Find all the skilling opportunities you need to keep winning on the Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub, our unified platform that brings together all partner skilling resources into one seamless experience. This experience offers sales, technical, and solution-based learning, skilling paths mapped to Solutions Partner designations and specializations, and continuously updated content. Explore the Skilling Hub today. 

Go-To-Market

• Copilot Cowork is now generally available: This update give you new ways to deliver AI-powered collaboration and automation for your customers. Powered by Copilot Credits-based consumption, Copilot Cowork empowers you to monetize ongoing usage while built-in admin controls support governance and visibility at scale. This creates a clear path to expand services, drive adoption, and grow recurring revenue. Read the Partner Center announcement and view the Cowork Microskilling training on Copilot Cowork to start building your consumption-led Copilot strategy now. 

Customer Success

• Increment strengthens school data security and AI readiness:  Increment partnered with Australian public education systems to strengthen protection of sensitive student data and prepare for AI adoption. Using Microsoft security and compliance solutions, the team established scalable data governance practices across large, complex school environments. This work reduced risk, improved visibility into sensitive information, and created a foundation for secure use of tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. 

• Ingram Micro guides partners through cloud and AI modernization:  Ingram Micro works with partners to move customers from legacy infrastructure to Azure-based environments, creating a structured path from cloud migration to AI adoption. By combining technical expertise, funding programs, and repeatable approaches, partners can reduce complexity, optimize costs, and deliver scalable, secure solutions that position customers for AI-powered workloads.  

• Sign up for the monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program newsletter: Encourage your teams to sign up for the newsletter to stay informed on updates, incentives, and partner opportunities. It’s an easy way to get the latest partner news delivered directly to your inbox.