Microsoft Updates: Summer Break and Key Changes in Cost Management and Product Terms

While many of us are enjoying a well-deserved summer break, Microsoft is keeping things fresh with impactful updates, especially in Microsoft Cost Management and Product Terms. Here’s an overview of what’s new and how these changes could affect your operations.

Product Terms Updates

• Universal License Terms for Online Services: The Generative AI Services Use of Content for Training section has been updated. Microsoft now references specific terms for Azure OpenAI under the newly named Microsoft Generative AI Services.
• Privacy & Security Terms: Microsoft Defender Experts has been added to the Core Online Services table, along with new security practices and policies for these services.
• Microsoft 365: Microsoft updated eligibility prerequisites for Copilot for Sales and Copilot for Service, extending eligibility to include Microsoft 365 / Office 365 A1 for Sales and Basic/Business/F1/F3/A1/A3/A5 for Services.
• Microsoft Azure: Added “Use of Content for Fine-Tuning” to the Azure OpenAI Services section and moved Azure AI Content Safety under Azure AI Services.
• Microsoft Intune: Frontline Worker products are now available in the MCA (Microsoft Customer Agreement) availability table, including:
  • Microsoft Intune Advanced Analytics Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Cloud PKI Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Endpoint Privilege Management Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Enterprise Application Management Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Plan 2 Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Remote Help Frontline Worker (User SL)
  • Microsoft Intune Suite Frontline Worker (User SL)

Microsoft Cost Management Enhancements

To provide better insights into cloud spending, Microsoft has introduced updates to its Cost Management tools. Here are the latest enhancements:

• FOCUS 1.0 Support in Exports: Microsoft now supports the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) from the FinOps Foundation. The FOCUS data export is available in the Microsoft Azure portal or through the REST API. Find the change log here.
• Cost Card in Azure Portal: The new Cost card shows engineers a cost breakdown of VM expenses directly from the Azure portal before deployment. Currently, this feature is available for VMs on pay-as-you-go subscriptions, with future expansion planned.
• Kubernetes Cost Views (New Entry Point): A new entry point enables engineers and admins to easily reference costs directly from the cluster page.
• Pricing Updates on Azure.com: Microsoft expanded its pricing support to new Azure regions like Spain Central and Mexico Central, and added pricing for new services, including Trusted Signing, Azure Advanced Container Networking, Azure AI Studio, Microsoft Entra External ID, and Azure API Center.

New and Updated Azure Pricing Options

To improve accuracy and support growing demand, Microsoft introduced the following pricing updates and changes across several services:

• Azure AI: Pricing support now includes Basic Video Indexing Analysis for Azure AI Video Indexer, new GPT-4o models, improved Fine Tuning models for Azure OpenAI Service, standard fast transcription, and video dubbing (in preview) for Azure AI Speech.
• Azure Functions and More: Preview and GA features like Azure flex consumption for Azure Functions, Advanced messaging for Azure Communication Services, and AKS Automatic for Kubernetes have been introduced.
• Specific Product Pricing Changes:
  • Azure Bastion: Added premium and developer SKUs.
  • Virtual Machines: 5-year reserved instances (RIs) pricing for the Hx and HBv4 series, plus new pricing for NDsr H100 v5 and E20 v4 series.
  • Databricks, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Data Services: New pricing options for Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Stack HCI, Dataflow RIs in Azure Data Factory, and Azure Backup for Blob Storage protection.
  • Azure SQL Database and PostgreSQL: Enhanced 3-year RI pricing for hyperscale, disaster recovery options for single databases, and Premium SSD v2 pricing for PostgreSQL.

These updates not only ensure that Microsoft’s pricing models align with the latest offerings but also provide organizations with more accurate cost estimation and management tools.

Stay Informed and Optimize Your Cloud Strategy

Microsoft’s recent updates offer a wealth of new tools and terms that can support better cost management, security, and resource allocation. To get the most out of these enhancements, it’s essential to understand how they apply to your specific environment.

For more insights on implementing these updates, optimising your cloud costs, or tailoring a licensing strategy to your needs, contact us today!

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