CSP 2025: Your Opportunity for Higher Margins and Long-Term Contracts
In 2025, Microsoft is changing the rules of the game in the CSP program – and it’s all working in your favor. Higher revenue thresholds, enhanced technical support, and stricter security requirements will elevate the status of the most well-prepared partners. At the same time, new three-year Microsoft 365 E3/E5 subscriptions with a 10% discount open the door to more stable, long-term agreements.
Want to turn these changes into real growth and stronger customer loyalty? Read on.
New Eligibility and Authorization Requirements
- Distributors (as of October 1, 2025) must demonstrate ≥ USD 30 million in TTM CSP revenue per region, an active Advanced or Premier Support for Partners plan, and a strong Partner Center security score.
- Indirect resellers will need at least USD 1 million in TTM CSP revenue, meet security compliance requirements, and accept the latest MPA (Microsoft Partner Agreement).
These thresholds push partners to streamline operations and raise service quality – which translates into greater customer trust and credibility.
Three-Year Subscriptions with Discount
- From June 1, 2025 – Microsoft 365 E3/E5 three-year offers will include a 10% discount for new customers purchasing 100–2,400 seats through December 31, 2025.
- From July 1, 2025 – three-year subscription terms for E5 Security and E5 Compliance mini-suites will also be available with a 10% discount.
The benefit? Longer contract horizons, reduced churn risk, and more room to build value-added services like migrations, governance, and ongoing support.
Partner Center: AI-Driven Simplicity
- Automated renewals and upgrades: Starting April 1, 2025, Partner Center will fully automate transitions from EA to CSP and license upgrades, completing the process in just one day.
- New reporting: From June 2025, you’ll see “net paid seat adds” metrics – the same data Microsoft uses internally – helping you spot upsell opportunities with confidence.
- Improved attestation process: Beginning October 7, 2025, the Microsoft Customer Agreement will require either direct customer acceptance in Partner Center or integration via the new attestation API, raising the compliance bar.
Pricing Updates and Promotional Offers
- 5% price increase on monthly-billed annual subscriptions for Microsoft 365, Office 365, EMS, Windows 365, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform (effective April 1, 2025).
- No changes to annual upfront (prepaid) pricing – giving you a clear reason to steer customers toward annual or three-year commitments.
How to Turn CSP Changes Into Business Advantage
- Show your operational maturity – highlight in your materials and conversations that your business meets the updated requirements for revenue, support, and security.
- Promote three-year agreements – offer customers long-term cost stability and immediate savings, while building recurring revenue from migration and managed services.
- Be a data-driven partner – leverage Partner Center’s new reporting to work with real numbers and offer insight-based recommendations, not just best guesses.
- Emphasize compliance and security – use the updated MPA and attestation process as a strong talking point for regulated customers who care about governance and data protection.
