As of April 2025, it was announced that licenses for on-premises products would be increased as of July 1, 2025. However, the price adjustment for CAL Suites has been postponed to August 1, 2025. Microsoft’s announcement states that these increases are necessary to support ongoing maintenance and updates for their on-premises server products. The prices for standalone local server products such as SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, and Skype for Business Server will increase by 10%, while the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite pricing will rise by 15% and 20%, respectively. Customers with active Software Assurance (SA) or cloud subscription licenses for all users and devices can continue to use these products post-increase. In a separate development, Microsoft announced that due to licensing updates, customers must now hold either SA or cloud subscriptions to deploy and access the Subscription Edition servers released on July 1, 2025. Furthermore, German governmental spending on Microsoft licenses continues to rise each year, reaching new record levels despite efforts towards digital sovereignty. Additionally, if trade negotiations between the EU and USA fail by July 9, 2025, leading to tariffs and counter-tariffs, prices for these products could see another upward adjustment.
German Government Expenditure on Microsoft Licenses Reaches New Records
These price hikes highlight ongoing challenges in licensing costs and digital sovereignty. As an IT professional, it’s crucial to stay informed about such changes to effectively manage budgets and resources. The unpredictability introduced by potential trade disputes underscores the importance of flexible licensing strategies. Considering the current climate, embracing cloud solutions or hybrid models might offer a more resilient approach moving forward. Additionally, keeping active Software Assurance can provide cost stability amidst these price fluctuations. As always, staying proactive and informed is key to navigating such transitions smoothly.
Similar questions
When are the license prices for on-premises products scheduled to increase?
What is the reason behind Microsoft’s decision to raise the prices of their server products?
By how much will standalone local server products such as SharePoint, Exchange, and Skype for Business see an increase?
How do Software Assurance or cloud subscriptions affect the use of these products after price increases?
When does the price adjustment for CAL Suites become effective?
What is the percentage increase for Core CAL Suite pricing?
For Enterprise CAL Suite, what is the expected price rise?
By when must trade negotiations between the EU and USA be concluded to avoid tariffs impacting Microsoft product prices?
How might failing trade negotiations impact future Microsoft license prices?
What has been the trend in German governmental spending on Microsoft licenses over recent years?