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October 2024: Microsoft 365 Copilot is the artificial intelligence assistant to help people work smarter, faster and with less effort. If is available for purchase by businesses and governments around the globe. There are licensing prerequisites, customers must have licensed users with Microsoft 365, Office 365 or other cloud subscriptions (click for full detail, or contact us for assistance).
Starting October 1st, 2024, Microsoft allows individuals to purchase Copilot subscriptions within the organizations tenant: self-service purchase. Potential problem: a purchase outside the companies licensing agreement and purchasing department and policies.
Microsoft 365 Business
The self-service purchase for Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription licenses is available to users licensed through Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard and Premium. Currently the Microsoft Enterprise plans are excluded, so are tenants labelled as ‘government’ and ‘education’.
When users licensed with one of the above mentioned Microsoft 365 suites log into their Microsoft 365 portal, or use Apps, they are prompted to the purchasing option. The person who subscribes will be responsible for payment through credit card. When paid, the subscription becomes available to them and in the organizations tenant.
Manage
Tenant admins can view all self-service purchases mad in their organization in the Microsoft Admin Center (MAC). The admins are able to manage the licenses.
There is an option to block self-service purchases and trials for administrators with Global Admin rights. There is a middle-way between allowing and blocking: managing self-service requests. When a user tries to make a self-service purchase for a product that is blocked, they can submit a request for a license to the license admin. When they make a request, they can add the names of other users who also need licenses for the product. It is up to the organization to purchase the requested licenses (or not).
Control
When you want full control of your cloud subscriptions, with the option to save on costs, you might consider entering into the Quexcel Microsoft 365 Optimize Service. We even help you setting up governance for your cloud subscriptions. Contact us for more information.