Microsoft updates newsletter: April 2025 

AI and Azure 

Copilot 

Set to launch this spring, the next wave of Microsoft 365 Copilot brings powerful new features designed to boost productivity across your organisation. Highlights include an AI-powered Search for faster insights, a new Create experience that simplifies design for everyone, intelligent Copilot Notebooks for turning content into action, and an Agent Store to help you discover helpful AI agents within your daily workflow.  

Azure infrastructure
If you’re considering moving more of your estate to the cloud, now’s the time.  

We’re seeing Azure VMware Solution (AVS) helping organisations take the next step in their migration journey. Whether you’re just starting out or building on previous VMware conversations, we’re ready to support you in making cloud migration simpler and smarter. 

Azure data
Many organisations are beginning to make the shift to Microsoft Fabric. We’re helping organisations make the transition smoothly by setting up secure, well-governed environments that unlock new opportunities for innovation, insight, and growth. 

AI
Azure AI is helping organisations across sectors make faster decisions, improve outcomes, and build future-ready strategies. From education to commercial sectors, AI is unlocking smarter ways of working every day.

Hybrid cloud 
Microsoft’s push for Arc-enabled SQL is helping organisations like yours unlock deeper insights, smarter monitoring, and stronger future planning, especially with ESUs in mind. And if you’re looking to modernise VMware-based data centres, Azure VMware Solution is creating a powerful hybrid cloud option that blends on-premises resilience with the flexibility of Azure.   

Business applications

Microsoft continues to further develop Power Platform with several new capabilities:

• AI Agents for Power Apps now automate tasks and provide in-app support during development
• Copilot in Power Automate adds AI-driven document processing and generative actions
• Copilot Studio has introduced custom agents gain more features, with support for WhatsApp, SharePoint, and enterprise knowledge
• AI Builder is starting to support multi-modal content and expanded data source connectivity
• Admin Center now has improved interface and tools for Power Platform management
• Enhanced security and governance with new policy controls and features to secure low-code assets at scale

Cloud endpoints 

This month brings a wave of enhancements across Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), and Microsoft Intune.  

Windows 365 sees major updates for flexibility and recovery, including cross-region Cloud PC moves, health checks for restore points, shared license support in Frontline mode, and improved disaster recovery options.  

AVD now offers faster deployment with Quickstart, enhanced security via Conditional Access, and new regional data support, while users should prepare for the deprecation of MSIX App Attach by June.  

Over in Intune, there’s improved Remote Help for multi-session AVD, enhanced Tunnel readiness tools for Linux, better security with low-privilege Intune Connector support, and upcoming granular AI controls for smarter policy management. 

Additionally… discover our upcoming webinar all about Windows 365 Link! 

Join us as we explore Windows 365 Link, a revolutionary new technology from Microsoft that transforms the way organisations across all industries and sectors manage cloud-connected workspaces. 

Microsoft licensing

Several key Microsoft licensing changes are on the horizon…

• Skype Retirement: Skype will be retired on May 5, 2025. Microsoft recommends transitioning to the free version of Microsoft Teams
• Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection: no longer available for purchase after February 3, 2025. Support ends on February 3, 2026
• Exchange Online TERRL (Tenant External Recipient Rate Limit): a new outbound email limit based on your organisation’s licence count will be enforced from April 3, 2025
• Microsoft 365 E5 Security: now available as an add-on to Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Looking ahead, Exchange Server SE and Skype for Business Server SE will be available from July 2025, following a new “version-less” model with regular updates. Note: pricing for standalone on-premises server products (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype) will increase by 10%.

For our education customers…

Microsoft will discontinue complimentary Additional Storage Packs for eligible JISC 24 institutions from August 1, 2025, unless already included in the contract. Meanwhile, organisations can now move from OCRE 21 to OCRE 24, continuing access to cloud services with simplified procurement and cost savings.

Microsoft Security 

Microsoft Security has introduced several new enhancements. Purview Data Security Investigations is now in preview, helping security teams use generative AI to investigate data breaches, insider risks, and sensitive data exposure.  

A new two-tiered consumption model for Microsoft Security Copilot (based on Security Compute Units) helps better manage costs and scale usage. Security Copilot agents now accelerate response times, automate key tasks, and strengthen your security posture. 

Additionally, the Microsoft Zero Trust Workshop helps organisations build a tailored roadmap, measure Zero Trust progress, and improve end-to-end security using existing Microsoft tools. 

Modern work

Microsoft is enhancing collaboration and customer service with several new tools…

• Teams places: this fairly new addition to the collaboration tools from Microsoft offers a deeper collaboration experience and the capability to optimise time management by bringing physical and virtual assets together
• Microsoft Dynamics Contact Centre: offering customisable services to take advantage of generative AI, ultimately boosting efficiency
• AI for the modern workplace: exploration continues in how to modernise the user experience, with many organisations now having adopted an AI-first approach whilst having very realistic plans and use cases

Surface 

Organisations are still buzzing about Copilot+ PC Surfaces. Initially, these devices were only available with ARM processors (Qualcomm Snapdragon), but new models featuring Intel (X86) processors are now available, including the Surface Laptop 7 (Series 2) and Surface Pro 11 (Series 2). These devices are AI-ready and perfect for helping organisations future-proof, with NPUs (neural processing units) taking on all the AI workloads (e.g. Windows Studio Effects, Copilot for M365 etc.), leaving the CPUs to focus on day-to-day tasks, helping to enhance the overall performance of the devices.