Are you ready to unlock your full potential as a Microsoft partner? The Microsoft Partner Center is your central hub for managing your relationship with Microsoft, accessing vital resources, and driving business growth. As we move into 2025, staying informed about the latest updates and changes is more crucial than ever. This post will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the key announcements made in January 2025 and their impact on your operations, ensuring you remain ahead of the curve.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick rundown of the most important announcements from January 2025:
D-U-N-S IDs are being replaced with Moody’s data for customer account lookups.
Critical security updates require immediate action, including MFA enforcement and the deprecation of graph.windows.net audience tokens.
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is introducing new specializations, benefits, and SMB paths.
EU Digital Services Act compliance requires specific information from Apps & Games partners by February 17, 2025.
New promotions are available for Microsoft 365.
ISVs in China can now sell globally through the commercial marketplace.
Table of Contents
D-U-N-S Retirement and Moody’s Introduction
Starting February 10, 2025, the Microsoft Partner Center is moving from D-U-N-S IDs to Moody’s data for customer account lookups during deal creation. This means that instead of D-U-N-S IDs, partners will see Moody’s customer data for account matching in the deal creation process. This change impacts both the user interface (UI) and bulk upload processes. While deals created with D-U-N-S IDs will still be routed to the Deal Management System (DMS) for manual matching, new deals will use Moody's data. Partners can still use D-U-N-S IDs in bulk upload if they have them stored in their system.
Enhancing Security in the Partner Ecosystem
Microsoft is rolling out several crucial security updates to safeguard partners and customers:
Microsoft Security Copilot is now available for Admin On Behalf Of (AOBO) on the Service Management page of the Customers workspace.
Unused Azure subscriptions are being blocked after 12 months of inactivity and deleted after 90 days. Account owners are notified 30 days before the block.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is being enforced for all users signing into the Azure portal.
MFA for Microsoft 365 admin center will be enforced starting February 3, 2025.
The Security Requirements API is available in Beta, providing partners direct access to essential security compliance data.
Entra roles for GDAP in the Partner Center UI have been expanded, reducing the gap between the Partner Center API and UI.
graph.windows.net audience tokens are being deprecated to enhance security, requiring partners to update how they interact with Partner Center APIs.
Security Training will be offered during Certification Week, from January 27-31, covering cybersecurity and GitHub skills.
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Updates
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is introducing significant updates to help partners showcase their expertise:
The AI Platform on Microsoft Azure and Build AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specializations have been updated.
An AI assistant is available in the Partner Center to answer prepurchase questions related to Membership offers.
SMB paths for Solutions Partner designations in Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), and Infrastructure (Azure) will be available in February 2025.
Business Applications specializations in Sales, Service, Finance, and Supply Chain are getting updated with changes to performance and skilling requirements in early February 2025.
Microsoft is offering subsidies for assessments conducted by a third-party auditor for qualification for the Solutions Partner with certified software designations.
New in-demand product licenses, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and GitHub Enterprise, will be available starting January 22, 2025.
European Union Digital Services Act Compliance
Apps & Games partners with company accounts must provide company account information by February 17, 2025, to maintain their products in the European Union markets. This is to comply with the European Union’s Digital Services Act. You need to provide business verification and customer support contact information. To do this:
Check if you have a company or individual account in Account Settings > Legal Info > Developer.
If you have a company account, go to Account Settings > Legal Information > Developer tab > Contact info.
Expand and edit the Contact info section, providing an email at a company-owned domain.
Provide your D-U-N-S® Number or upload a business verification document issued within the last 12 months or valid for at least two months.
Enter your contact address, email, phone number, and website address.
Use the legal company address or provide a new one, then validate the address.
Failure to provide this information by the deadline will result in your Apps & Games products being removed from EU markets.
Global Promo Readiness Guide Updates
The January edition of the Global Promo Readiness Guide has been updated with these key promotions:
Microsoft 365 Copilot 15% off global promotion for customers purchasing subscriptions with between 10 and 300 licenses: extended to March 31, 2025.
Microsoft 365 E5 15% CSP Accelerate one-year global promotion for new-to-Microsoft 365 E5 customers: available through June 30, 2025.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium 15% one-year promotion in the United States and Canada for new-to-Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers: available through April 1, 2025.
Be sure to download the latest Global Promo Readiness Guide for full details and review the FAQ's for each offer.
Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Updates
Stay informed with these CSP updates and resources:
Partner launch calendars provide a consolidated view of recent and active launches.
The CSP Bimonthly Update newsletter aggregates recent announcements, updates, events, and reminders.
Partner Journey Maps offer detailed navigation along Microsoft’s highest-priority transformations.
CSP spotlight webinars cover the latest licensing information.
Monthly CSP community Q&A sessions are available to learn more and ask questions about program changes.
Make sure to review the Partner Launch Calendar, read the monthly newsletter, and register for upcoming Community Q&A calls.
Expanded Marketplace Opportunities for ISVs in China
Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) in China can now monetize their solutions globally through the Microsoft commercial marketplace. As of January 6, 2025, they can publish and sell their software worldwide, accessing a vast customer base and the Microsoft partner ecosystem.
This includes:
Generating more revenue by reaching customers across more than 140 geographies.
Simplifying sales through the marketplace’s streamlined billing and payouts.
Benefiting from co-sell opportunities with Microsoft sales teams.
Note that customers in China can only access free and bring-your-own-license (BYOL) offers.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Partner Center is continuously evolving to better support its partners. By staying informed about these key updates, you can ensure that you’re leveraging the best resources, security practices, and opportunities available. We urge you to explore the resources and training, update your company information, and take advantage of the new programs and benefits highlighted in this post. Your success is our priority, and the Microsoft Partner Center is here to help you achieve it. Take action today to make the most of these updates!
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