Microsoft increases prices, which will take effect on March 1, 2022. Learn how this impacts your organization and how to optimize your current licensing. 
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Summary of Changes/Timeline:

Over the last ten years, Microsoft has continued to add new apps (Teams, Planner, Power Platform, Steam, Whiteboard, Shifts, Forms, etc.) and over 1,400 new features and capabilities into the bundles while keeping the pricing the same. Even with additional value continuously being added, no substantive pricing updates occurred. For the first time in 10 years, Microsoft has announced pricing changes, which will go into effect in six months. On March 1, 2022, Microsoft will update its pricing for the following commercial products: 

Every organization is overloaded with data and challenged to turn that data into the best decisions possible. Power BI is an interactive business intelligence tool that allows any user to build powerful reports and dashboards to provide valuable insights into their data.
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Using these insights everyone can then make more informed business decisions. Having the best data can mean seeing market trends before they emerge, spotting issues with manufacturing faster, or selling more of their own solution by building in Power BI into their own product offerings.

Microsoft has a number of different options for Power BI and how it is deployed and licensed. 

Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop is a complete data analysis tool that allows for advanced report creation. This software is installed directly on your local desktop, where there is more functionality available than inside of the Power BI Service. Power BI Desktop allows you to connect to many data sources, transform that data, as well as create calculated columns and measures for the data that you pull in. Once you have your report created, you can publish it to the Power BI Service, where licensing dictates who it can be shared with.

Learn what is coming next regarding Software Assurance and keep your organization prepared.
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What is Software Assurance?

Software Assurance is a comprehensive Volume Licensing program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help you deploy, manage, and use your Microsoft products more efficiently. Starting next month and continuing over the next two years, Microsoft has announced they will be making substantial changes regarding Software Assurance benefits. Make sure your company is prepared and knowledgeable about what comes next!  

Moving Forward 

Microsoft is making changes to Software Assurance, specifically with Planning Services, Training Vouchers, and 24x7 Problem Resolution Support. June 2021 will be the last chance to create planning services and training vouchers, so taking the time to understand the changes and put a plan together is important so you don’t miss the deadlines. 

Traveling in an unknown country, going on a safari, or climbing Mount Everest all have one thing in common – to get the most out of the trip and stay safe along the way you need the services of a reliable, knowledgeable guide. Moving to the Microsoft 365 or Azure may not present as many personal perils, but it is also a journey you should take accompanied by a guide well versed in the territory.

Partnering with a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) like Interlink provides you with expert guidance and years of experience to navigate around the potential pitfalls that exist when you decide to move new workloads to the Cloud and as you decide to enhance your cloud experience with new tools, security options, and collaboration features. There are a number of ways a CSP can help with your adoption of the Cloud.

You’ve already decided to build your next great idea in the Microsoft Azure Cloud or to take advantage of a new feature with Microsoft 365, but a big decision still looms: What is the best way to procure these Cloud offerings? You have several options, such as EA, CSP, MPSA, Pay-as–you-Go, and they all come with implications in service and cost. Which direction should you choose? After looking at the alternatives, more and more clients are choosing the one that offers the most economic flexibility and cost savings - is to engage with a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP).