1. Microsoft Teams Phone Price Increase – What You Need to Know
Overview
This April 2025 will see a 25% increase in the price of
Microsoft Teams Phone Standard. It’s going to be $10 per user per month, which was previously $8.
This rise in costs is definitely something businesses relying on Teams for Voice Calling will not like, so you can expect that businesses will prioritize finding cheaper alternatives to Teams Voice.
Impact
Businesses will have to pay higher costs for using Teams for voice communication. Their overall IT budgets are also going to soar. Remember, this price raise applies only to the Teams Phone Standard license. It doesn’t include calling plans, which obviously means costs could rise even further depending on your usage of the software.
Action Needed
If you are annoyed with these recurring cost raises, you should start exploring alternatives that integrate with Teams without requiring a Microsoft voice license. Such options could include ComTec’s CXP Anywhere, but these options are not as dependable as a Microsoft product like Teams can be. So, we recommend you bear this cost rise if the quality and dependability of the software is your ultimate goal.
2. Windows Autopatch: Changes to Diagnostic Data Collection
Overview
Windows Autopatch will no longer deploy or even manage the Windows Autopatch – Data collection policy and this change will start taking effect right from March 3, 2025. Before this change, this policy set the Windows Diagnostics data collection level to Optional (formerly Full) for managed devices. Now onwards, your organization will need to configure your own Windows Diagnostics data settings. This way, you will be able to achieve accurate Autopatch reporting.
Impact
If you lack accurate settings of diagnostic data, your Autopatch reports are most likely to fail in capturing device status and updating any info.
If your devices fail to meet the Required diagnostic data level, the reports may miss key details i.e. Client State, Client Substate, etc.
Action Needed
Configure and deploy the Windows Diagnostic data collection policy before March 3. Your policy should meet the recommended minimum setting for all Autopatch devices. If your policy is already in place, you need no action. Simplify deployment by considering using the Windows Autopatch – Devices All group. This group includes all active registered devices.
3. Microsoft Teams: Voice and Face Enrollment Policy Changes – Act Now
Overview
Teams will start enabling voice and face enrollment by default starting mid-March 2025. This development is sure to enhance meeting features i.e. speaker recognition, smart recaps, etc. Then, the change is tied to the new csTeamsAIPolicy as it replaced the current EnrollUserOverride setting in csTeamsMeetingPolicy.
Admins can now use new PowerShell cmdlets to configure settings. However, they need an M365 Copilot license to enjoy full functionality.
Impact
After having been rolled out, the EnrollFace and EnrollVoice settings in csTeamsAIPolicy will be ON by default. This affects Teams on Desktop and allows your organization to leverage AI-enabled Teams features. Microsoft confirms that they will not use voice and face profiles for model training or anything beyond the stated functionality.
Action Needed
Admins need to review and configure settings before March 2025. You can still disable enrollment if you prefer that. For this purpose, you can update settings via PowerShell before the rollout. Also, make sure you properly apply configurations consistently on all levels: global, user, and group levels. The following cmdlets help you with this management:
Get-CsTeamsAIPolicy
Set-CsTeamsAIPolicy
4. Microsoft Fabric: Retirement of ItemReadSucceeded and ItemReadFailed Events
Overview
Microsoft Fabric is retiring the following event types in Fabric Real-Time Hub (preview):
- Microsoft.Fabric.ItemReadSucceeded
- Microsoft.Fabric.ItemReadFailed
These events notify users about workspace item actions. They are also used in Fabric Event streams and Data Activator alerts. Remember, after March 17, 2025, they will no longer be available for any event subscriptions.
Impact
Users are going to be unable to use these event types to create new event subscriptions. Even existing subscriptions currently relying on these event types will stop receiving notifications. If your organization is using these events for alerting, data pipelines, or any other workflows, you will need to adjust their configurations.
Action Needed
No immediate admin action required !!
5. Minimize Downtime with Windows Hotpatch – Key Requirements & Reminders
Overview
Windows Hotpatch lets you install Monthly B release security updates without rebooting. This development aims to reduce downtime and disruptions. Microsoft encourages organizations to test this feature in production. However, only certain devices qualify. And, it is essential to meet the prerequisites for a smooth rollout.
Impact
Devices not meeting the Hotpatch requirements will automatically receive the Latest Cumulative Update (LCU) instead. This update includes security and non-security fixes, and it requires restart for installation. If you ensure eligibility for the new update, you benefit from seamless, uninterrupted security updates.
Action Needed
Devices need to run Windows 11 24H2 with the Jan 2025 security update (KB5050009) to use Hotpatch. Also, they need to enable Virtualization-Based Security (VBS). Also, they need to disable compiled hybrid PE usage (CHPE) by modifying the Windows registry for Arm64 devices at:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
That said, set the HotPatchRestrictions DWORD key to 1 and restart the device.
Now this change persists. Check your environment’s compliance now. If deployment doesn’t go as expected, you can consult Microsoft’s documentation for further guidance.
6. Microsoft Purview: Classic eDiscovery is Retiring – Here’s What You Need to Know
Overview
Microsoft is going to retire the classic eDiscovery experience. They are retiring Content Search, eDiscovery (Standard), eDiscovery (Premium).
The change comes into effect on August 1, 2025. The full retirement completes by September, 2025. Moving forward, we recommend using the new unified eDiscovery. The new experience comes with a combo of standard and premium features in a single workflow. You’ll also leverage more enhanced reporting.
Impact
Any users who are relying on classic eDiscovery will lose access to it post-August. This affects members of the eDiscovery administrator or manager role group and even any users assigned eDiscovery-related roles. If your organization is using classic eDiscovery, you need to transition to the new experience to continue your workflows.
Action Needed
No admin action is required for this transition, it will happen automatically.
7. Microsoft SharePoint: “Spaces” Feature to Be Retired
Overview
Microsoft retires the “Spaces” feature in SharePoint Online. There have been complaints of low usage, so there is a focus shift to Microsoft Mesh. Mesh comes with a more immersive 3D collaboration experience.
The retirement begins in early March 2025 and concludes this August. Post this change, users won’t be able to access SharePoint Spaces, not even existing ones. We recommend you transition some content to SharePoint Pages or start exploring Mesh for future experiences.
Impact
Spaces will be turned off by default starting March 10, 2025. However, sites previously using it can still access the feature but even they can’t enable Spaces on new sites after May 15, 2025. After August 11, 2025, the feature will be fully disabled.
After this date, all Spaces content will become inaccessible.
Action Needed
No admin action is required. But we recommend you start finding alternatives if you are relying too much on Spaces. SharePoint Pages and Microsoft Mesh are two good dependable alternatives.
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