Microsoft 365 Copilot Business and Security: Act now before prices increase

Microsoft has opened a significant window of opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses. Powerful AI with Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, attractive discounts, and clearly announced price increases from 2026 onward. Now is the ideal time to rethink licensing, security, and your Copilot strategy—before costs rise and opportunities are missed.

Why is this topic so important right now?

Microsoft has announced that additional security and management features will be integrated into Microsoft 365 suites starting in 2026, along with a global price increase effective July 1, 2026. Organizations that act now can secure current pricing with one- or three-year commitments while upgrading their functional capabilities.

For SMBs, this means that those who wait until 2026 to review their Microsoft 365 strategy will pay more and begin using Copilot and security solutions later than their competitors. Taking action now will enable higher productivity, stronger security, and financial advantages.

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Business?

Designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business integrates generative AI into the daily use of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and other applications. It is technically based on the same Copilot capabilities as Microsoft 365 Copilot for Enterprise. However, it is offered as a “Business” version with a fixed monthly fee of around $21 USD per user.

Currently, three bundles are available, each combined with Copilot Business: Business Basic + Copilot, Business Standard + Copilot, and Business Premium + Copilot. These bundles allow organizations to extend their existing Business licenses without immediately upgrading to Enterprise suites, such as E3 or E5.

Take advantage of our limited-time Copilot and security promotions.

Several promotions are currently available, making investments in Copilot and security significantly more attractive for SMBs. Particularly relevant are:

• 15% discount on the Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on (USD 21) for 1–300 seats, valid until March 31, 2026
• 35% discount on the Business Standard + Copilot Business bundle (10–300 seats)
• 25% discount on the Business Premium + Copilot Business bundle (10–300 seats)
• 50% discount on Microsoft Purview Suite for Business Premium customers using Copilot, enabling a substantial expansion of data protection and compliance

In parallel, Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and security promotions for CSP partners on the New Commerce Platform have been extended until June 30, 2026 (e.g., discounts on E5, security suites, and three-year E3 subscriptions). Together, these offers create a unique opportunity to implement AI and strengthen security while keeping budgets under control.

Looking ahead: Price and incentive changes from 2026

From 1 July 2026, prices for Microsoft 365 suites will increase worldwide. At the same time, the suites will be integrated with additional security and management features. For customers, this means that the new conditions will apply upon their next contract renewal, unless they secure current pricing in advance through longer-term commitments.

Microsoft is also adjusting Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) incentives to place a stronger focus on high-value solutions, such as Copilot Business and security suites. This benefits customers because partners will be incentivized to invest more in consulting, adoption and services, rather than simply reselling licences.

Don’t forget security: Purview and Sentinel.

The Purview Suite for Business Premium enables SMBs to significantly enhance their data classification, DLP, information protection and compliance capabilities. The suite is currently available at 50% off when licensed alongside Copilot Business or Microsoft 365 Copilot. This is particularly relevant for organizations facing an increasing number of regulatory requirements, customer demands, and stricter data protection regulations.

For security-critical scenarios, the Microsoft Sentinel Pre-Purchase Plan (P3) is also an option. Customers can purchase commit units at a reduced price, saving up to 44% compared to pay-as-you-go pricing. This makes it possible to budget for security projects with clearly predictable costs, which is an important foundation for budget approvals.

How we support you

As a specialized Microsoft partner, we support you in selecting the right licenses and addressing strategic and organizational questions around Copilot and security. Our goal is to help you achieve measurable business value, not just purchase additional licenses.
Typical steps in our projects include:

• Analysis of your current licensing landscape (Business and Enterprise plans, add-ons, contract terms, renewals) and usage scenarios
• Identification of quick wins for Copilot adoption in departments such as sales, HR, management, and customer service
• Development of a business case including productivity gains, cost savings, and total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Definition of a concrete licensing and timeline strategy to optimally leverage promotions and pricing windows
• Technical implementation (rollout), governance and security concepts, training, and change management

Use Case: Efficient Use of Microsoft 365 Copilot Business in a Mid-Sized Company

At the beginning of 2025, a midsized consulting company with 120 employees was challenged to increase productivity while improving IT security. Management decided to take advantage of current Microsoft promotions and adjust the company’s licensing strategy.

Initial situation:

The company was using Microsoft 365 Business Standard without AI support and had only basic security measures in place. The IT team identified the potential to automate routine tasks and meet compliance requirements more efficiently.

Approach:

A joint license and Copilot assessment was conducted, resulting in the following steps:

• Analysis of existing licenses and identification of quick wins for Copilot usage, such as automated email summaries in sales and AI-supported document creation in HR
• Migration to the Business Standard + Copilot Business bundle with a 35% discount, significantly reducing monthly licensing costs
• Expansion of the security solution with the Microsoft Purview Suite at a 50% discount to strengthen data protection and compliance
• Development of a business case with measurable productivity gains: time spent creating reports and presentations was reduced by 30%, while IT security improved demonstrably

Result:

By leveraging promotions early and strategically introducing Copilot Business and Purview, Müller & Partner GmbH was able to reduce costs and increase competitiveness. Employees benefit from AI-powered tools in their daily work, and the company is well prepared for upcoming price and feature changes from 2026 onward.

Your next step: Act now!

If you are using or considering adopting Microsoft 365, now is the right time to reassess your strategy, especially with regard to Copilot, security, and upcoming price changes in 2026. Each renewal delay reduces the timeframe for securing price advantages and promotions.

Take advantage of the current pricing window before Microsoft 365 prices increase on July 1, 2026, and before the promotions expire.

• Request a non-binding license and Copilot assessment for your organization
• We review your current situation, identify savings and optimization potential, and outline a tailored Copilot and security strategy

Contact us directly by email or schedule a meeting—together we ensure that you benefit from current Microsoft offers instead of being surprised by future price increases.