Microsoft License Rate Increases Coming 3/1/2022

NOTICE: Microsoft License Rate Increases Coming 3/1/2022

We wanted to make you aware of a pricing increase Microsoft announced for their services starting March 1st, 2022, as a part of their New Commerce Experience (NCE).

Per-license rates will go up, and there will also be changes to monthly and annual commitment structures. Make sure to review the following price increases and other details so you know what to expect on your invoice in March.

Why Is Microsoft Changing Their Rates & Models?

Primarily, Microsoft is endeavoring to both simplify the way their plans work and to offer flexibility to businesses like yours where needed. NCE offers a far less complex system of plans and rates than Microsoft’s previous model and allows for businesses to better harness the exact services they need.

Microsoft Offering Rate Increases

Effective 3/1/2022, Microsoft will be increasing the following license prices:

If you utilize any of the licenses listed above, your invoice will increase as indicated.

Monthly Or Annual Commitment?

An important consideration is whether you opt for a monthly or annual license commitment. If you prefer the flexibility of changing license counts monthly, you will pay a 20% premium compared to the annual commitment rate.

However, it’s important to note that the commitments auto-renew, so you will want to track when you opt-in so you can review prior to the renewal date. Furthermore, when you agree to an annual commitment, you are locked in at your current license count as a minimum. If you happen to dip below that number, you will not receive any discounts or money back within the one-year period.

What Does Microsoft 365 Offer You?

• Access Your Apps Conveniently: You need to be able to use your tools from anywhere, any device, and Microsoft 365 gives you that flexibility. Access your email, meetings, and other services online. Create, edit, and share Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote files online and stay up to date with everyone’s changes in a file, even if they’re made at the same time.
• Microsoft Teams: This chat-based workspace brings users together to collaborate, communicate, and share content, helping them work as efficiently as possible whether in the office or operating from a remote workplace. Team members and business contacts can stay connected and share work through the suite of Microsoft solutions they’re most accustomed to. Microsoft Teams gives you the ability to host real-time meetings, staff training, connect with clients, all in a direct video meeting format. Whether your staff is working remotely or maintaining contact with a key client from out of town, Teams’ video meetings provide a convenient and personal way to communicate, without having to make the commute.
• Robust Security Features: Microsoft 365 uses a defense-in-depth approach to provide physical, logical, and data layers of security features and operational best practices:
  • The Microsoft 365 Cloud App Security provides insight into any suspicious activity in the program. You can investigate situations that could pose a risk and if needed, take action to address them. You’ll receive notifications of triggered alerts for any unusual activities. Then you can view what data is being accessed and used and suspend any user accounts that exhibit suspicious activity. Afterwards, if you authorize, the user can log back into Microsoft 365.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is another way that Microsoft 365 keeps your data more secure. MFA requires the consumer to utilize two methods to confirm that they are the rightful account owner. By setting up these types of verification, you add an extra layer of security to your nonprofit’s Microsoft 365 accounts.
  • Microsoft 365 uses several strong encryption protocols, and technologies including Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL), Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Encryption technology is a great way to protect important data. By making data unreadable to anyone who isn’t supposed to have access to it, you can secure files stored on your systems, servers, and mobile devices, as well as files sent via email or through file-sharing services.
  • Built-in Mobile Device Management in Microsoft 365 Business allows you to manage access to your data securely. The built-in Mobile Device Management (MDM) lets you secure and manage your users’ mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, Androids, and Windows phones. You can create mobile device security policies, remotely wipe a device, and view detailed device reports.
• Automatic Updates: Enjoy the latest versions of your preferred apps like Microsoft Word and Excel, thanks to automatic patches and updates. No need to pay for version upgrades — updates are included in your subscription. New features are rolled out to Microsoft 365 customers regularly.
• Pay As You Go Pricing: Using Microsoft 365 is often more cost-efficient than alternatives, as you pay a low cost per month for access to the desktop, mobile, and cloud-based applications you need. This tends to be less expensive with no upfront costs. Plus, upgrades are automatically released so there’s no need to pay for new software.
• Flexible And Customizable Plans: Custom fitting your Microsoft 365 plan to your individual needs is easy with the flexible plans offered. There is no need for an IT overhaul, as you can easily fit the new services into your existing strategy.

Want To Harness Microsoft 365’s Benefits?

Don’t settle for a sub-par cloud experience, and don’t think you have to be the one managing it. The Safe Network Solutions team can take that off your plate for good, allowing you to take advantage of its optimized user experience and focus on your work.

Questions about these new rates? Get in touch with the Safe Network Solutions team.

Alan Sielbeck

·

Feb 15, 2022

Alan Sielbeck

Safe Network Solutions is a technology consulting firm located in Nashville, TN. We are focused on reducing our Clients’ stress and the time they spend handling IT related issues. As technology has become more integrated with daily business tasks, downtime is not an option. Whether your systems reside on-premise, in the cloud, or in a hybrid setup, you need a partner with expertise in a wide array of technologies, with a security focus.