Starting today July 1, 2026, Microsoft is expanding the value of Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 by including several premium Microsoft Intune capabilities that were previously available only as separate add-ons. At the same time, Microsoft is introducing pricing updates across several Microsoft 365 commercial plans to reflect continued investments in AI, security, and IT management.
While many organizations are focused on the pricing changes, the bigger story is the additional capabilities now included in these licenses.
This Is More Than a Licensing Update
Over the past few years, businesses have faced growing challenges:
- Supporting hybrid and remote work
- Managing an increasing number of laptops and mobile devices
- Protecting against evolving cyber threats
- Giving IT teams better visibility and control without adding more complexity
To help address these challenges, Microsoft is bringing more advanced endpoint management capabilities directly into Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, making enterprise-grade device management more accessible to organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
What’s Being Added?
Depending on your licensing, organizations may gain access to capabilities such as:
- Intune Remote Help
- Intune Advanced Analytics
- Intune Plan 2 capabilities
- Endpoint Privilege Management
- Enterprise Application Management
- Microsoft Cloud PKI
These features help IT administrators simplify device management, improve endpoint security, provide secure remote support, and gain deeper visibility into device health and performance — all from a unified Microsoft platform. Rollout begins today and is expected to complete by early August for eligible tenants.
Why This Matters for Business Leaders
Technology decisions shouldn’t be based solely on new features — they should be based on business outcomes.
Organizations that have been evaluating separate endpoint management or security solutions may now find that many of the capabilities they need are already included within their Microsoft licensing.
This creates opportunities to:
- Simplify IT management
- Reduce reliance on multiple third-party tools
- Strengthen endpoint security
- Improve employee support through built-in remote assistance
- Maximize the value of existing Microsoft investments
For many businesses, this isn’t just an IT improvement — it’s an opportunity to reduce complexity while enhancing security and operational efficiency.
Should You Make Any Changes Today?
Not necessarily.
Before purchasing additional licenses or making changes to your environment, it’s worth reviewing your current Microsoft 365 subscriptions and understanding which new capabilities you’re entitled to receive.
Many organizations may already have access to features they haven’t yet enabled or fully adopted.
The real value isn’t simply having these capabilities — it’s implementing them effectively to support your users, strengthen security, and streamline IT operations.
Our Perspective
This update reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy of delivering more integrated security, device management, and AI capabilities through Microsoft 365.
For organizations already using Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, now is an excellent time to reassess your licensing, evaluate the new capabilities available to your team, and identify opportunities to get more value from your existing investment.
At VISTAS Cloud, we help organizations navigate Microsoft licensing changes, optimize their Microsoft 365 environment, and implement modern workplace solutions that improve security, productivity, and long-term business growth.
Have questions about how these changes impact your organization? We’d be happy to help you assess your current environment and identify the best path forward.
