Unlock savings with Microsoft NCE licensing updates – What your organisation needs to know 

Microsoft has introduced significant changes to its New Commerce Experience (NCE) licensing offering – and these updates aren’t just about pricing. They’re about giving organisations more flexibility, better security, enhanced productivity, stronger compliance, accelerate AI adoption, and opportunities to optimise spend. Understanding these changes now means you can make informed decisions that protect your budget and strengthen your IT strategy. 

Here’s what’s new and why it matters: 

Price increases from 1 July 

From 1 July, the majority Microsoft NCE plans will see a price rise.  

If your plan is due for renewal before the 1 July, you can lock in at today’s rates, avoiding unnecessary cost increases. 

Now is the perfect time to reassess what you’re using, remove any unused services, and secure the best value before the changes take effect. 

Contact us to speak to our licensing experts

More value built into existing plans 

Updates to plans aren’t just technical tweaks – they’re designed to help you get more functionality without extra spend. Here’s what’s changing and why it matters:  

• Enhanced security features – Basic and Standard plans are getting built-in URL checking, adding an extra layer of protection against phishing attacks, strengthening your security posture. 

• Defender for Office 365  – Microsoft are adding the enhanced email security features of Microsoft Defender for Office Plan 1 to Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3 to help more organisations detect and protect against phishing, malware, and malicious links across their email and collaboration platforms. 

• Extra mailbox storage  – Business plans now include an additional 50GB of mailbox storage, eliminating the need for costly bolt-on purchases. This means more capacity for your growing email needs without increasing your budget. 

 See all the new capabilities coming in 2026 in the table below:  

These upgrades mean better functionality, protection, management and productivity without extra cost. 

Teams is now optional 

Microsoft has unbundled Teams from its core plans, which means you’re no longer have to pay for it if your organisation isn’t using it. This change gives you the flexibility to strip out unused services and reduce unnecessary costs. By reviewing your licences now, you can eliminate wasted spend and redirect that budget towards tools your team actually needs. 

Introducing the new Copilot for Business plan 

Microsoft has introduced Copilot for Business, a new plan that’s 30% cheaper than the original Copilot licence (specifically for SMEs) and capped at 300 users. For organisations with fewer than 300 users, this is an immediate opportunity to cut costs while still unlocking the power of AI-driven productivity. By switching to Business Copilot, you can deliver the same advanced capabilities to your team at a significantly lower price point, freeing up budget for other priorities. 

Bundle discounts that deliver big value  

Bundle and save – Business Premium + Copilot = 25% discount

Microsoft is rewarding smart bundling. When you purchase Business Premium together with Copilot, you’ll save 25% instantly. This is a great way to unlock advanced productivity tools while keeping costs down. If you’re planning to adopt Copilot, pairing it with Business Premium is one of the most cost-effective strategies available. 

Microsoft Purview Suite – Now 50% off

Strengthen your compliance and data governance without stretching your budget. This discount makes advanced security tools accessible at half the usual cost, helping you protect sensitive information while saving significantly. 

Security Copilot included in E5 plan at no extra charge

Enterprise customers get even more value from their E5 plan with Security Copilot now built in. This means cutting-edge AI-driven threat protection without paying a penny more – a major boost to your security posture at zero additional cost. 

Savings on security and compliance

With rising pressure on small and medium-sized organisations to stay secure and compliant, Microsoft has also introduced three bundles that can deliver comprehensive protection at a fraction of the price:  

• Microsoft Defender Suite for Business Premium – Save 65% per licence 

• Purview Suite for Business Premium – Save 47% per licence 

• Defender + Purview Suite for Business Premium – Save 68% per licence 

Annual vs monthly  

Annual commitments now cost less than monthly, which means locking in for the year can deliver significant savings.  

By switching to an annual plan, you not only reduce your overall spend but also gain predictability in budgeting. We can help you compare options and identify the payment structure that maximises value for your organisation, so you pay less and plan smarter. 

CoPilot for education 

Microsoft have announced that Microsoft Copilot is now available to the education sector with a discount of 40%. This applied to faculty and students ages 13 and above, making it easier than ever for schools to empower learning and productivity with AI.  

What do you need to do?  

Microsoft’s changes can be complex, but you don’t have to navigate them alone.
We recently partnered with a new client and uncovered 200 unnecessary licences, saving thousands that their IT manager then reinvested into critical projects, and our goal is to help you achieve the same – a streamlined, sensible and cost-effective licensing structure.  

To give you clarity and confidence before the July price changes, take advantage of our free, no-obligation Microsoft 365 review, that also incorporates a look at your licencing set up, designed to help your organisation remain competitive, enhance productivity and security, and are brought up to standard.