Optimizing Your Business Microsoft License

It’s important for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to regularly review their Microsoft licensing package. Because as the technology industry evolves, you can be assured that Microsoft’s suite of products will too.

Optimizing will improve security, ensure compliance and boost productivity. Additionally, it’s crucial to confirm that your licensing package fits both your needs and your budget.

Without these regular reviews, SMBs could be left behind in the dust of their larger competitors.

How to Make the Most of Your Microsoft Licensing Package

At Elevity, we are a trusted Microsoft partner with extensive experience in optimizing cloud environments. We have the expertise to help you enhance your Microsoft workplace environment efficiently and within budget.

To stay ahead of growing cyberthreats and make the most of Microsoft’s evolving ecosystem, it’s essential to understand the latest developments shaping the future of security and productivity.

In this guide, we’ll explore key updates and innovations that every SMB should know, including information about:

• Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative and Alignment with Zero Trust Strategies
• Azure Updates from Microsoft Build 2025
• Increasing Office Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot
• The Future of Microsoft Windows
  

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: Your Microsoft Copilot Playbook

Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative and Alignment with Zero Trust Strategies

Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI) was designed to outline Microsoft’s new direction in cybersecurity protection. This initiative, launched in November 2023, focuses on AI cyber defenses, advances in fundamental software engineering and advocacy for stronger application of international norms to protect civilians from cyber threats.  

In a 2025 progress report, it was noted that Microsoft’s SFI had:

• Enhanced protections for signing keys using hardware-based security modules and confidential VMs
• Integrated over 200 new threat detections into Microsoft Defender
• Added new security features such as Network Security Perimeter (NSP), DNSSEC, Azure Bastion Premium and private subnet capabilities

Zero Trust strategies have become popular among workplaces to enhance all modes of security. These strategies focus on the mindset of “never trust, always verify” to minimize the attack surface and make it significantly harder for threat actors to gain access.

Microsoft’s SFI is designed to align with and advance the principles of Zero Trust strategies for greater organizational security posture. As a part of the 2025 progress report, Microsoft published these five lessons that they’ve learned during their SFI implementation journey.

We suggest that businesses review these findings and find ways to implement them as they can help accelerate organizational security improvements.

1. Set priorities and measure progress.
2. Align culture with security goals.
3. Strengthen security governance.
4. Create an inventory of your networked environment, because you can’t protect what you can’t see.
5. Share learnings and build feedback loops.

There is sure to be more to come with Microsoft’s SFI. Elevity’s vCIOs are keeping a close eye on any new developments.

RELATED: Want to Avoid Cyberattacks? Update Your Organization’s Technology

Azure Updates from Microsoft Build 2025

Interest in Microsoft’s Azure platform has grown in recent years. This platform offers a wide range of services such as cloud computing, networking, analytics, storage and AI capabilities.

Here’s some of the top Azure announcements from the Microsoft Build 2025 annual developer conference:

• SQL Server 2025 is designed to securely power AI applications, transforming into a vector database.
• Azure and SAP launched SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) and SAP Databricks on Azure. Developers can use this innovation in addition to core business data in SAP apps.
• Chat with your data in Power BI allows users to interact with their data through natural language, across any of their inputs, semantic models, apps and data agents.
• Foundry Local, a new runtime for Windows and Mac for AI models and agents. This allows developers to build apps that work offline, keeping sensitive data local and reducing bandwidth costs.
• Project Amelie, a new autonomous AI agent from Azure AI Foundry Labs with Microsoft Research, was unveiled. This agent can build complete machine learning pipelines from a single prompt.

Recent data has shown that AI is expanding the scope of Azure and businesses have found new and innovative ways to leverage these advances. Particularly among employees with hybrid work schedules, Azure has increased organizational productivity.

Increasing Office Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot

Searching for new ideas on how to increase office efficiency? Many of our clients have used Microsoft Copilot to transform the way they work. This innovate integration leverages a large language model (LLM) to power an AI assistant capable of aiding in tasks across applications within Microsoft 365.

Copilot continues to evolve with the following newly introduced features:

• Copilot Notebooks in OneNote, transform voice notes and fragmented thoughts into structured, actionable insights.
• Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint apps, now includes features for summarization, citation generation and content creation tools.
• Copilot Analytics, can now be used to generate detailed usage and billing reports for administrators to manage AI consumption and costs.

There are a multitude of ways that we’ve seen Copilot used. The easiest way to find out how accessing Copilot within your workflows can best benefit your business is to schedule an introductory consultation. Elevity is here to answer your Microsoft Copilot questions and help to optimize your Microsoft 365 environment.

The Future of Microsoft Windows 

If your business hasn’t updated to Windows 11 yet, now is the time. Microsoft will be ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After this date, a paid extended security update program will be temporarily available for those needing more time to transition. Otherwise, you could be leaving your network vulnerable to unnecessary risks.

Looking ahead, Microsoft has not yet announced a release date for Windows 12, but industry experts have suggested that 2026 might be primetime for an updated product launch.  

Communication, Collaboration and Productivity 

Does your business use Microsoft products? Make sure that you are getting the most out of your Microsoft licensing package. For starters, check out our handy guide giving you the tips you’ll need to make the most of Microsoft Copilot. Download for free. This guide will help jump-start your creativity, boost organizational productivity and more!