Microsoft has fully implemented blocking changes for Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) partner attestation, requiring CSP partners to use the enhanced attestation API or direct customer acceptance.
What Changed?
As of January 2026, Microsoft retired:
❌ Legacy attestation API — No longer functional
❌ UX-based attestation in Partner Center — Removed from the interface
❌ Bulk attestation tool — No longer available
New Requirements
All new customer orders are blocked unless one of the following conditions is met:
Option 1: Direct Customer Acceptance
The customer directly accepts the MCA in the Microsoft 365 admin center portal.
Option 2: Enhanced API Attestation
The partner attests on the customer's behalf using the enhanced MCA attestation API.
Why This Matters
These changes ensure:
- Improved compliance with customer agreement tracking
- Better audit trail for customer acceptance
- Enhanced security through API-based attestation
- Clearer accountability between partners and customers
What Partners Need to Do
1. Update Your Systems
If you're still using the legacy attestation methods, you must immediately transition to:
- The enhanced MCA attestation API, or
- Direct customer acceptance workflows
2. Review Documentation
Microsoft has published comprehensive guidance:
- Customer acceptance and create agreement for MCA — Technical implementation guide
- How to confirm that your customer accepted the MCA — Verification procedures
- Attestation enhancements FAQ — Detailed Q&A
3. Test Your Workflows
Ensure your ordering systems handle:
- API authentication for enhanced attestation
- Error handling for blocked orders
- Customer acceptance verification
- Fallback procedures if attestation fails
Impact on New Orders
Any attempt to place a new customer order without proper MCA acceptance will be rejected. This applies to:
- New customer onboarding
- New subscription purchases for existing customers
- Trial conversions
⚠️ Critical: Partners who haven't updated their systems may experience order failures and customer onboarding delays.
Resources
- Customer acceptance and create agreement for MCA - Confirm customer accepted the MCA - MCA Partner Attestation API Enhancement FAQ
Next Steps
- Audit your current attestation method — Ensure you're not using legacy tools
- Implement the enhanced API if not already done
- Train your sales team on direct customer acceptance workflows
- Update internal documentation to reflect the new requirements
- Test end-to-end order placement with the new system
Source: Microsoft Partner Center Announcements — February 2, 2026