Starting May 1, 2025, Microsoft is changing the rules—and most Office 365 customers have no idea they’re at risk.

If you’re a business with 11+ users on Microsoft 365 workloads like:

• InTune
• Exchange
• Microsoft 365 Apps
• SharePoint
• Teams (Meetings, Phone, Apps)
• Viva (Engage, Insights, Topics, Learning, Connections)

You need to read this.

What’s a CSP and Why Should You Care?

CSP stands for Cloud Solution Provider—it’s the Microsoft partner responsible for your Office 365 billing and support.

There are two types:

• Indirect CSP: A middleman who resells Microsoft licenses through a large distributor. They’re not vetted annually and often provide little or no support.
• Direct CSP: A Microsoft Solutions partner who works directly with Microsoft, is vetted annually, and provides full support and services.

If you don’t know which one you have, you could be at serious risk.

Serious Problem

Most customers don’t realize they’re working with an Indirect CSP Partner—a reseller that:

• Has no annual Microsoft assessment
• Has no solutions competency
• Only needs to sell $1K/year to stay in the program
• Often does nothing but take a cut of your licensing

Even worse?

If you’re still paying Microsoft directly with a credit card, you only get limited online support. If you call Microsoft, you may be forced to pay up to $500 per incident or $9/user/month for help on critical issues. 👉 See Microsoft’s support pricing

How to Check If You Have an Indirect Reseller

1. Log in to Microsoft 365 Admin Center https://admin.microsoft.com
2. Go to Billing > Your Products Click on any subscription.
3. Look for the Partner Information section. If it says Indirect Reseller, you’re not working with a Direct CSP.
4. Still unsure? Contact your IT provider and ask: “Are you a Direct Microsoft CSP with annual Microsoft vetting and Premier Support access?”

Caution: Big Names ≠ Better Support

Don’t be fooled by big brands like Dell, Cox, or large distributors. Many of them:

• Don’t even use Microsoft 365 internally
• Outsource support to offshore call centers
• Can’t advise on current security or compliance requirements
• Only care about volume—not your business

New Shift

Microsoft eliminated the Advisor program in 2013 and moved billing and support to partners. Now, from May 1 to October 1, 2025, Microsoft is enforcing new CSP Authorization requirements.

Indirect partners won’t make the cut in the near future. And your business may be unsupported for critical Office 365 issues.

Best Solution

Matrixforce is a Direct CSP—not a reseller middleman.

✅ Annual Microsoft vetting & assessment

✅ Premier Support access

✅ Live phone support (no bots, no waiting)

✅ Oklahoma’s oldest Microsoft Partner since 1994

✅ No third-party distributor access to your data

✅ Seamless license transfer (no downtime, no cost)

Special Bonus

We’re on a mission to help 1 Billion people with Streamlining Technology® to avoid loss and improve business!

Switch to Matrixforce and get a free Delta System Plan ($1,497 value) that documents your systems with findings and recommendations for normal operations and disaster recovery.

✓ Review your external digital profile for ownership, security, search criteria, and service consolidation.

✓ Identify and document key contacts for disaster recovery and normal troubleshooting.

✓ List critical system accounts and missing vital information such as server system tags and software activation keys.

✓ Develop a logical overview diagram of the system for quick visual reference and identification of risk points.

✓ Document crucial system and application configurations for business continuity.

✓ Check for security updates and patches to validate that your network really IS secure.

✓ Review your firewall and security settings.

✓ Check the integrity of your server and workstations hardware. (Side note: Did you know that hardware failure is one of the leading causes of data loss that CAN be detected early and avoided with proper monitoring?)

✓ Audit your virus definitions and protection.

✓ Check your overall system performance, space and settings to see if your network is running as fast as it could be.

Bottom Line

You’re trying to go the distance. But you’re trusting your business to questionable support that’s idle on security and compliance.

It costs nothing to switch. It costs everything if you don’t.

🔒 Secure your Office 365 support now 📞 Call Matrixforce (918) 622-1167 or Schedule a Consult to get started.

Published by Kevin Fream

Many people don't understand their current situation and become frustrated in business and life, so I created the Delta Method and wrote the #1 Best-Seller "Change Your Game" - as featured at Harvard and NASDAQ as well as national TV news. Streamline your technology for competitive advantage using vetted IT support and take a divergent approach to personal growth. View all posts by Kevin Fream