Microsoft has recently announced substantial price increases for Microsoft 365 that will come into effect on July 1, 2026. For some organisations this could be as much as a 33% hike, which will cause significant cost pressures and operational challenges.
Although the change will bring additional AI and security features for certain plans, optimising use will be a priority for many organisations as they look to manage costs and maximise ROI from Microsoft.
Preparing for 2026
Despite the upcoming price rise there are several steps your organisation can take to reduce costs and improve ROI.
1. Conduct a gap analysis
The first step is to ensure that your environment is aligned with your business goals. Conducting a gap analysis will reveal any discrepancies between your current environment and best practices. This process should include assessing the security posture, licensing, features and adoption, as well as governance and compliance.
The results of the analysis will guide your roadmap to reduce risk, improve productivity, increase efficiency and manage costs, all while meeting the unique requirements of your organisation.
2. Optimise Your Microsoft Licensing and Usage
As companies grow and evolve it’s easy for licensing costs to spiral. A comprehensive licence audit can identify and eliminate underused services to ensure you’re only paying for the licences you need. By comparing licences to active usage, you can spot any misalignment and uncover the premium features that aren’t being used. Rightsizing strategies help to align bundles with actual user requirements, enabling you to cut costs without losing key functionality.
3. Explore Alternatives to Microsoft Unified/Premier Support
Microsoft Unified and Premier Support represent a significant cost for many organisations. However, a Gartner report revealed that 60% of customers are dissatisfied with the quality, speed, or cost of Microsoft Unified Support.
Alternatives to Microsoft Unified/Premier support are available, such as Enhanced and Advanced Support from bluesource, which deliver cost efficiencies and better performance against SLAs. However, despite these benefits it can feel like a big step to move away from services delivered directly by Microsoft. Look for solutions provided by Microsoft accredited support partners as they will have passed Microsoft's rigorous audit to receive the Microsoft Support Services Designation. With flexible contracts and performance break clauses, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re getting support that delivers.
4. Strengthen Security and Compliance
Security and compliance issues can be costly. It’s vital that any cost-saving measures aren’t at the expense of a secure and compliant environment. Proactive monitoring and governance alongside the integration of advanced security modules and conditional access policies ensure that your environment is secure.
How bluesource Can Help
Working with experts, such as bluesource, can help you feel prepared before the price rise comes into effect.
Our clients report up to 60% reduction in overhead costs for managing Microsoft 365 environments and automated onboarding delivers measurable value within the first month.
Proven Track Record
bluesource has over 22 years of managed service expertise and Microsoft partnership credentials, including being one of Microsoft’s first designation support partners worldwide. We provide:
- Deep Microsoft expertise combined with a customer-first approach.
- End-to-end delivery and world class support management.
- Solutions designed to reduce complexity, improve governance, and maximise value.
How to Get Started
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