What’s Changing for Microsoft EA
Microsoft has announced that beginning November 1, 2025, volume-based discounts on online services purchased through Enterprise Agreements (EA) will no longer be offered in the United States. Moving forward, online services (including Microsoft 365 and Azure) will be priced consistently at the same list rates available on Microsoft.com. This means EA customers will lose the ability to leverage tier-based discounts tied to user counts or spending thresholds.
What This Means for EA Customers
- Pricing alignment with list rates – No matter your organization’s size or EA tier, online service pricing will be standardized.
- Reduced value from EA renewals – Without discounts, the historical advantage of the EA for many organizations disappears.
- Greater need to evaluate alternatives – With simplified, consistent pricing, organizations have more reason to explore other licensing channels, such as Cloud Solution Provider (CSP).
How a CSP Partner Like Sanity Solutions Can Help
As a certified Microsoft CSP provider, Sanity Solutions is uniquely positioned to help organizations adapt to these changes and maximize value from Microsoft investments. Here’s how:
- Flexibility Without Long-Term Commitments. Unlike the EA’s three-year lock-in, CSP licensing allows you to scale licenses up or down monthly or annually, ensuring you only pay for what you actually need.
- Simplified Billing and Management. We provide consolidated billing, usage visibility, and access to a single management portal, reducing administrative overhead and increasing transparency.
- Licensing Optimization. Our team conducts license audits and right-sizing reviews to ensure you’re not overspending. We proactively identify underutilized or redundant licenses and recommend adjustments to keep your costs aligned with actual usage.
- Dedicated Support. Sanity offers tier one support with a direct, U.S.-based team ensuring fast, personalized responses when you need them most. EA customers often lack this level of attention, relying instead on Microsoft’s broader support model.
- Strategic Guidance. As Microsoft evolves pricing and licensing models, we help customers stay ahead. Whether you’re considering migration to CSP, hybrid cloud with Azure, or planning for security and compliance, Sanity serves as your trusted advisor.
Next Steps
If your organization is currently on an EA or considering renewal, now is the time to:
- Review your licensing strategy
- Engage with Sanity Solutions to evaluate whether a CSP model provides better flexibility, savings, and support for your business needs.
- Plan early, before November 2025, to avoid potential surprises and take advantage of the most cost-effective licensing structure.
Bottom Line
The removal of EA discounts marks a fundamental shift in Microsoft’s licensing strategy. While it creates challenges for EA customers, it also opens the door to greater flexibility and customer-centric support through CSP partnerships. Sanity Solutions can help you not just weather this change but turn it into an opportunity to optimize your Microsoft environment.