Changes to Microsoft education storage limits in Microsoft 365
On the 1st August 2023, Microsoft announced changes to their Microsoft 365 for Education suite, which will affect storage limits and see the retirement of the Office A1 Plus programme. These changes will take effect in February 2024 for Microsoft A1, with wider changes to other plans occurring in August 2024.
Users of the free Office 365 A1 plan will now be limited to 100GB of OneDrive storage, which will count towards their combined storage limit. A1 users will continue to have 50GB of capacity in their mailbox. For Microsoft 365 A5 and A3 plans, changes will take place from August 2024 for all renewals of the Microsoft Enrolment for Education Solutions.
These changes include a combined starting capacity of 100TB storage across SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange, with an additional 50GB capacity per paid A3 license and 100GB capacity per paid A5 license. However, there will be no additional storage for free A1 licenses. Additional storage capacity can be purchased to add to the total capacity.
It is important for users to understand the amount of data they have in these storage plans and who has access to it. Microsoft has released a new Storage report in the usage reports of the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre, but this is only high level. Phoenix can offer tailored assessments of your storage estate to help you understand your data and prepare for these changes.
If you are unsure how these changes will affect you, do not hesitate to get in touch with Phoenix to get the right information and follow your strategy.
FAQ’s
How will the changes in Microsoft 365 storage limits impact current users of the Office A1 plan?
From February 2024, users on the Office A1 plan will see their OneDrive storage limit capped at 100GB. This storage will now count towards their overall combined storage limit, affecting the amount of data that can be stored across various Microsoft 365 applications. Additionally, mailbox capacity for A1 users will remain at 50GB.
Are there any options available for expanding storage capacity beyond the new limits introduced for Microsoft 365 A3 and A5 plans?
Yes, users have the option to increase their storage capacity beyond the provided limits. Microsoft is offering additional storage that can be purchased to supplement the combined starting capacity of 100TB across SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange. This allows for flexibility in accommodating larger storage needs beyond the standard allotment.
How can Phoenix assist in understanding and managing data within these new storage limits?
Phoenix can provide tailored assessments of your storage estate to help comprehend the data distribution and utilisation within the updated storage plans. While Microsoft offers a high-level Storage report in the usage reports of the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre, our specialists offer more detailed insights to help users strategize and prepare for the upcoming changes.
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