Microsoft has revised the enforcement timeline for Extended Service Terms (EST) in the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, pushing the date from April 1 to May 4, 2026.

Background

Microsoft is modernizing the end-of-subscription experience for CSP partners by replacing the free grace period with Extended Service Terms. This change gives customers and partners three clear options when a subscription expires:

  1. Renew the subscription
  2. Cancel at expiration
  3. Move to paid EST to maintain service while deciding next steps

Revised Timeline

Due to delays in EST production availability, Microsoft has updated the key milestones:

February 6-15, 2026

Conversion backfill begins — The system automatically converts eligible subscriptions from "autorenew false" to EST. Specialized offers will be converted March 1-8.

February 16, 2026

Production availability — Partners can manage and schedule end-of-term preferences (renew, cancel, move to EST) for all eligible subscriptions in both sandbox and production environments.

February 28, 2026

Data export available — Partners can export a list of subscriptions scheduled to move to EST, enabling proactive customer alignment.

May 4, 2026

Enforcement begins — Eligible subscriptions follow the selected end-of-term preference. If autorenew is off and no action is taken, eligible subscriptions automatically move to EST unless set to renew or cancel.

Eligible Subscriptions

Subscriptions are eligible for EST if they meet ALL of these criteria:

- Purchased or renewed on or after April 1, 2025 - Expiration date on or after May 4, 2026 - Set to Auto-renew OFF

What Partners Should Know

⚠️ EST is NOT required — If a customer doesn't want EST, partners can select "cancel at expiration" or "renew" before the subscription's end date.

⚠️ Selecting "cancel" means service ends — No service will be provided after the term ends if "cancel" is chosen.

✅ Renewal discussions are key — Partners should engage customers early and confirm the appropriate end-of-term option before the service term expires to avoid unexpected billing.

Partner Action Items

  1. Share the revised timeline with your organization
  2. Review the coming changes with customers and discuss the best option for their business needs
  3. Prepare for technical implementation — Coordinate with your technical teams to schedule and test necessary updates
  4. Register for CSP partner enablement calls to learn more

Resources

- Extended Service Terms documentation - Partner FAQ - EST scenarios deck - CSP partner enablement calls

Source: Microsoft Partner Center Announcements — February 5, 2026