Microsoft 365 has quietly become the engine behind modern work. Email flows through it. Meetings run on it. Files live in it. Identity, access, and increasingly security controls sit inside it.

So when Microsoft announces a list price increase for many Microsoft 365 and Office 365 commercial and government plans effective July 1, 2026, it is not “just another subscription change.” It is a signal for organizations to check whether their licensing and security strategy still matches the way they operate today.

What is happening in 2026?

The 2026 pricing update will affect many plans and will show up when renewals fall after July 1, 2026. Depending on your licensing mix, some roles may be impacted more than others, especially in environments with a large number of frontline users or a mixed business and enterprise footprint.

Microsoft’s message is that pricing reflects ongoing platform improvements, including enhancements in security, management, and AI-related experiences. That may be true. But there is also a practical reality: many businesses are not using everything they already pay for.

The opportunity hidden in the price increase

A price increase is frustrating. But it can also be useful, because it forces a conversation that often gets postponed:

• Are we licensed correctly?

• Are we getting value from the tools we already own?

• Are we paying twice for the same protections?

When organizations take inventory, they often find duplicate tools, unused features, and licensing choices made years ago that no longer align with current workflows. Fixing those issues can reduce the impact of the increase and improve your security posture at the same time.

What we recommend you do before renewal season

Start with clarity, not complexity.

Review your license assignments and group users by role. Confirm what each role truly needs. Then compare that to what is currently assigned.

Next, review your security baseline. If Microsoft 365 includes security controls you are not using, those controls may offer meaningful risk reduction if enabled properly. This is especially important for identity and access, because compromised accounts remain one of the most common entry points in real-world incidents.

Finally, look for overlap. If you are paying for tools that duplicate what Microsoft 365 already includes, you can make an informed decision: consolidate, or keep the additional tool because it brings clear value. The goal is not to remove tools blindly. The goal is to eliminate waste and increase confidence.

How Total Secure Technology Can Help

Total Secure Technology helps organizations prepare for Microsoft 365 changes by aligning licensing, configuration, and security governance. We focus on practical outcomes:

• Clear license-to-role alignment

• Reduced duplication and unnecessary spending

• Security controls are enabled and managed appropriately

• A renewal readiness plan that leadership can act on

Final thoughts

July 1, 2026, will come quickly in budget cycles. The organizations that handle this well will not be the ones with the biggest budgets. They will be the ones with a plan.

If you want to reduce the impact of the Microsoft 365 price increase and improve security at the same time, Total Secure Technology can help you map your current environment and build a straightforward path forward.