What Are The Changes Made by Microsoft in the Enterprise Agreement Criteria?
Microsoft made a crucial announcement in November 2024 that many Enterprise Agreements in direct markets will not be renewed. And, earlier this year, many customers were notified regarding the same.
With this change, many businesses were steered towards the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. This shift can be majorly seen among mid-sized businesses, working with a user or device capacity of less than or equal to 2,400. The potential disruptions that may be caused by this shift from EA to CSP have raised concerns among businesses.
A Smooth Transition to CSP with IFI Tech
This shift from EA to CSP can rather be seen as an opportunity rather than a matter of concern with the right partner like IFI Tech. Our easy and fast transition support can help you eliminate all the complications. Your EA to CSP journey can be completed in the smoothest way possible.
With the Azure Expert MSP status of IFI Tech, moving from EA to CSP can be completed without disrupting your operations. We can make it as simple as a billing change for your business instead of any major technical migration. The ultimate benefits of our partnership in this transition is less downtime, no upfront cost, and shorter waiting hours.
Challenges Turned into Opportunities
Customers may feel like they are at risk when the Enterprise Agreement is lost. They seek assurance regarding no additional cost incurred or no delays faced. With IFI Tech, you can avoid these risk factors.
Our partners can build confidence among the clients as the shift happens faster, safely, and in a more cost-effective manner.
Disruption Can Be Risky
Let’s assume there is a local healthcare business that was recently informed that its Enterprise Agreement would not be renewed anymore. They immediately approached their partner for advice with a concern regarding their cloud services.
Now, they were suggested a total technical migration instead of a smooth transition from EA to CSP. This meant moving all Azure workloads manually, which would have required weeks of planning, extra resources, and the risk of service interruptions.
The healthcare provider was now concerned about the risk of rising Azure costs, delays in patient-facing applications, and the disruption a long migration could cause for their staff and clients.
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IFI Tech Delivers Speed and Ease
The partner then approached IFI Tech. A practical solution was provided to them within hours. No technical migration was conducted, and the shift to CSP was completed in a shorter period.
At IFI Tech, we made sure their following key concerns were addressed:
- No cost incurred upfront
- Completion in 48 hours
- No need for resource recreation
- Zero downtime
- Technical migration avoided
- IFI Tech expertise for continued support and cost optimization
With our trusted solutions, the partner chose IFI Tech over their regular provider for their CSP and Azure needs.
What Makes CSP a Sensible Option?
Once organizations are not allowed to renew their EA any further, they can either choose CSP or MCA-E (Microsoft Customer Agreement for Enterprise). Both models can be effective on the basis of unique business size and strategy.
Many small and mid-sized companies are driven towards CSP as it comes with flexibility. Clients get to choose if they prefer monthly bills or annual billing. They can scale their licenses as needed. And, long-term commitments are also avoidable. However, larger companies seeking direct Microsoft agreement may like MCA-E.
Trusted partners like IFI Tech are also reliable for the right recommendation as they thoroughly understand the potential perks and downsides and guide your business plan accordingly for a confident move.
CSP Benefits for Partners
It is not a mere contract change as you shift to CSP. It opens the door to growth opportunities over time.
- Recurring Revenue Partners switch from one-time commissions to consistent monthly or annual revenue. This boosts customer lifetime value and improves revenue forecasting.
- Bundled Services Partners have the option to bundle licenses with services like security solutions, training, and managed IT support. This boosts overall revenue and builds client loyalty.
- New Programs and Incentives Microsoft provides CSP partners with additional benefits and incentives. Programs such as the AI Cloud Partner Program open doors for solutions based on Azure, Security, Copilot, and Microsoft 365.
- Easy Upsell and Speedy Sales CSP simplifies the buying process, so deals close more quickly. It is easier to upsell additional services like security tools or advanced Microsoft 365 features as customer needs grow.
CSP Benefits for Customers
CSP puts customers in control of their cloud environment while keeping costs predictable.
- Flexibility Customers can scale licenses up or down each month. They can also choose monthly or annual billing.
- Simplicity Licensing is easier to track and manage, without complicated audits. Partners often provide reports to avoid wasted spend and ensure compliance.
- Cost Control Customers pay for what they use, with no heavy upfront costs. This makes budgeting simpler and reduces the risk of overspending.
- Support and Expertise Customers gain access to partner support, backed by IFI Tech. They get faster help, personalized advice, and assistance with technical or billing issues.
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It is not a setback as the renewal of the Enterprise Agreement comes to an end. IFI Tech makes it quick, reliable, and cost-effective to make the shift from EA to CSP. The customers can keep running their services, while the partners get the opportunity to thrive and create a good rapport.
FAQs
Microsoft wants smaller and mid-sized companies to move to flexible models like CSP or MCA-E instead of long, rigid agreements.
No. The transition can be a simple as a billing change, completed with zero downtime if you have the right partner like IFI Tech.
IFI Tech can help you make the transition in as less time as 48 hours.
CSP provides costumes with flexibility, predictable costs, simple billing, and dedicated partner support.
Partners enjoy recurring revenue, incentives from Microsoft, and easier upselling opportunities.
Small and mid-sized businesses usually benefit from CSP, while larger enterprises may prefer MCA-E for direct agreements.
No. In most cases, resources transfer smoothly without a full technical migration.
Yes. CSP offers pay-as-you-go pricing, helping businesses stay within budget and avoid overspending.
