Microsoft EA to CSP Conversion: Not Eligible for an EA Renewal—Now What?

By Dan Finn, VP of Sales, Synergy Technical

If you’ve recently been told by Microsoft or your licensing partner that you’re no longer eligible to renew your Enterprise Agreement (EA), you’re not alone. It’s happening more and more—and it’s catching a lot of enterprise customers off guard.

Some organizations are being told this explicitly. Others are finding that the renewal offer doesn’t resemble what they had before: higher pricing, fewer incentives, and less flexibility.

This isn’t a sales tactic. It’s a strategic shift from Microsoft, and it’s something we’ve been preparing our customers for over the past few years.

Read The Ultimate Guide: What is Microsoft CSP?

Why This Is Happening

Microsoft is steering many organizations—especially those with under 2,400 seats—away from the EA model and toward the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. If you’ve historically sat in the 500–5,000 seat range, you’re probably in the transition zone.

There are a few reasons for this:

• Microsoft wants more agility and cloud alignment across its customer base
• CSP allows for more real-time usage tracking and program engagement
• EA incentives are shifting toward cloud consumption—not just seat volume

The result? Even enterprise-scale organizations are being told that CSP is the path forward.

What This Means for You

If you’ve been told you’re no longer EA-eligible, it can feel like the floor is shifting underneath you. But here’s the good news: this isn’t a downgrade—it’s an opportunity.

CSP gives you:

• Month-to-month license flexibility (with options for annual stability)
• Simplified billing aligned to actual usage
• Faster support and more partner accountability
• Access to Microsoft-funded programs and assessments—if your CSP knows how to unlock them

Most importantly, CSP puts you back in control. You’re not stuck waiting for a 3-year renewal cycle to make strategic changes. You can pivot, scale, or optimize on your terms.

What You Should Do Next

Here’s my advice to every enterprise buyer hearing, “You’re not eligible for an EA anymore."

1. Don’t panic—but don’t default. You have choices. EA isn’t the only enterprise-scale model anymore.
2. Ask hard questions. What does your current partner actually know about CSP? Can they walk you through billing models, security licensing, and transition plans without handwaving?
3. Think strategically. This is a chance to re-evaluate not just how you license, but how you operate.

At Synergy Technical, we help organizations navigate this transition every day. Some move fully to CSP. Some use a hybrid approach. Some restructure licensing alongside broader digital transformation initiatives. What they all have in common? They walk away with more clarity and more flexibility than they had before.

If you’ve just learned that your EA isn’t being renewed, don’t treat it as a setback. Treat it as a reset.

This is your chance to rethink how licensing supports your business—not just your budget.

Let’s have a real conversation about what comes next.

Ready to transform your licensing strategy? Contact us today to schedule a consultation, learn more about the Microsoft CSP licensing benefits, or start optimizing your Microsoft cloud services with a trusted partner by your side. Let’s modernize your cloud journey together!