Navigating the Microsoft Licensing Maze: What's New from Q3

Since the beginning of their fiscal year in July, Microsoft has made several announcements. CloudServus is committed to keeping you well-informed about the constantly evolving landscape of Microsoft products and licensing. Our mission is to keep you updated on developments that might impact your organization. In this blog post, we will explore Microsoft's most recent and substantial announcements concerning licensing and product releases. 

Here are the significant developments in Microsoft licensing from last quarter:

Microsoft Entra Updates

Microsoft introduced the Entra family in May 2022, and it has experienced continuous growth ever since. To help unravel the mystery around the current Entra offerings, pricing, and licensing structure, here is a summary:

• Microsoft Entra ID – available in a free edition, Plan 1 for $6 per user per month, or Plan 2 for $9 per user per month. You can find a plan comparison document to see where it’s included in EMS and Microsoft 365 licenses here.
• Microsoft Entra ID Governance – available now for $7 per user per month
• Microsoft Entra External ID – in public preview
• Microsoft Entra Verified ID – included with any Microsoft Entra ID license, including the free one
• Microsoft Entra Permissions Management – available now for $10.40 per resource per month
• Microsoft Entra Workload ID – available now for $3 per workload identity per month
• Microsoft Entra Internet Access – in public preview
• Microsoft Entra Private Access – in public preview

A Summary of Copilot

Given the significant buzz surrounding Copilot this year, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of all the recent updates. Here's a summary:

Copilot in Windows

It On September 26th, Copilot for Windows began its rollout as part of the optional non-security update for Windows 11, version 22H2. It will later be integrated into Windows 11, version 23H2, the annual feature update set for release in the fourth quarter of this calendar year. Windows 11 slated for release in the fourth quarter of this calendar year. In this feature update, Copilot in Windows will be enabled by default but can be managed according to your preferences through Microsoft Intune policies or Group Policy.

You can view the announcement here and view a demo video of some of the capabilities of Copilot in Windows at Introducing Copilot in Windows 11, new AI tools, and more - YouTube.

Bing Chat Enterprise

Bing Chat Enterprise, now in Preview, is available to Microsoft 365 users with Microsoft Search enabled in their organization. It comes included with Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and Microsoft 365 Business Standard/Premium licenses. Upon official release, it will be offered as a standalone option at $5 per user per month, accessible via Windows Copilot.

Bing Chat Enterprise offers a new way to engage with Bing directly from your Microsoft search box. You can pose questions, receive answers, and harness Bing's AI capabilities to create content. Importantly, all user and business data within Bing Chat Enterprise remains safeguarded within the organization, with no risk of external exposure. Chat data isn't retained, and Microsoft maintains no access to it.

To activate Bing Chat Enterprise for your organization, follow the detailed instructions in the technical documentation. Additionally, explore the benefits and features of Bing Chat Enterprise here or through Microsoft’s Learn module.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is set to become generally available on November 1st, 2023, priced at $30 per user per month as an Add-on for Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and Microsoft 365 Business Standard/Premium license holders.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity tool that uses large language models (LLMs) and integrates your data with the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps and services. You can find information on how it works alongside popular Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams in this Microsoft Learn module. You can also learn more about the benefits and features of Microsoft 365 Copilot on the Microsoft Adoption website.

Windows 365 Frontline is now Generally Available

Microsoft has officially announced the general availability of Windows 365 Frontline. You can read the full announcement here. To access Windows 365 Frontline, users must be licensed with Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft Intune, Azure Active Directory Premium Plan 1, and Windows 365 Frontline plans which start at $42 per 3 users per month.

Each purchased license enables a business to set up 3 Cloud PCs, catering to the needs of 3 employees over 8-hour shifts in a 24-hour cycle. It's important to note that the number of users simultaneously accessing a Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PC cannot exceed the number of licenses acquired.

Similar to other offerings in the Windows 365 family, Windows 365 Frontline provides users with a personalized Cloud PC, comprising Windows, applications, data, and settings. However, it is specifically designed for shift workers within an organization.

For detailed pricing information on the 11 different Cloud PC configurations, please refer to this link: Windows 365 Frontline Pricing.

For additional information about Windows 365, you can explore our blog here.

Power Automate Process Mining is Now Generally Available

Microsoft has officially announced the general availability of Power Automate Process Mining. You can view the announcement here. Process mining is a technology that uses data science and machine learning to analyze operational processes. Microsoft's Power Automate enhances this by offering a platform to not just analyze but also act upon these insights.

In terms of licensing, you'll require a Power Automate Premium license, which includes 50 MB of Process Mining Data Storage. For each additional license you acquire, you'll receive an extra 50 MB, up to a maximum of 100 GB per customer. Additionally, there's an option to buy a Power Automate Process Mining Add-on license, which provides an extra 100 GB of Data Storage at a monthly rate of $5,000.

For more details, you can access the announcement article here, and specific licensing information here. You can also view a demo video of Power Automate Process Mining at Streamlining Invoice Approval Process with Power Automate Process Mining | Demo and Analysis - YouTube.

Viva Pulse is Now Generally Available

Microsoft has announced the availability of Viva Pulse, a tool designed to empower managers and project leads by simplifying the process of soliciting regular, confidential feedback. With Viva Pulse, they can gain valuable insights into their team's needs and take proactive steps to address them, all through team and project-based surveys seamlessly integrated into the Microsoft Teams and web app experience. This new app is now part of the existing Viva Suite, priced at $12 per user per month.

You can find the announcement article and a demo at Microsoft Viva Pulse is now generally available! - Microsoft Community Hub.

Changes to Power Automate Licensing

On August 1^st, 2023, Microsoft implemented notable changes to its Power Automate licensing structure.

To begin, a brand-new Power Automate Premium license was introduced, consolidating both the Per User ($15 per month) and Per User with Attended RPA ($40 per month) licenses. The new license is priced at $15 per month and grants users access to Cloud Flows (DPA) and Desktop Flows (RPA) in attended mode. This effectively encompasses what the old Per User with Attended RPA offered. However, the new license also includes entitlements for the exciting new Power Automate Process Mining capabilities.

Furthermore, a fresh Power Automate Process license was introduced. This versatile license can be utilized either for running unattended Desktop Flows, effectively replacing the Unattended RPA license, or for deploying Cloud Flows accessible to an unlimited number of users within an organization. This replaces the previous Flow license.

These modifications in Power Automate licensing are designed to refine the user experience and incorporate new features and capabilities.

Introducing Public Preview of auto-claim for Power Apps licenses

Microsoft has officially introduced the public preview of the auto-claim for Power Apps licenses feature. This new feature empowers IT administrators to establish policies that automatically allocate Power Apps Premium licenses to users as they initiate apps that require these licenses. You can find information on how to set up the auto-claim policy and further details on the exciting update here.

Azure Savings Recommendations

Azure Savings Plans offer a fantastic opportunity to optimize your expenses in Azure. With these plans, you commit to a fixed hourly Azure spending for either 1 or 3 years, and in return, you gain access to special rates for compute resources. Determining the optimal commitment amount can be a challenging task, but Azure provides recommendations to assist you.

If you're curious about how these recommendations are generated, we encourage you to delve into the details in this informative article: Understanding Azure Savings Plan Recommendations.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of Azure Savings Plan check out our blog Everything to Know about the New Azure Savings Plan for Compute (cloudservus.com)

CloudServus, a recognized Top 1% Microsoft Solutions Partner, provides expert support via a comprehensive Microsoft Licensing Assessment to help organizations derive the most value from their Microsoft licensing across the lifecycle.

Our consultants use their deep expertise in Microsoft licensing to align your Microsoft licenses with your business needs and objectives. We conduct a thorough analysis of your programs, SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), and pricing structures to pinpoint areas where enhancements can be made. On average, our efforts in optimizing licenses and negotiating more competitive pricing have resulted in savings of up to 17% for new customers.

Reach out to CloudServus today for a review of your existing licensing and a discussion about your objectives in your Microsoft partnership. We're here to guide you through the available options.