The countdown is on. Microsoft’s enforcement of licence requirements for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O) is set to begin on 30 August 2025. After this date, any user not correctly licensed via the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre will be denied access to their F&O applications.
If your organisation hasn’t taken action yet, the time to act is now.
Urgency Is Growing, And So Is the Risk
Microsoft has already begun issuing in-product notifications to users who don’t have valid licences. These alerts began rolling out on 30 April 2025 and are a clear indication that enforcement is progressing as planned.
While the move to centralised licensing will bring long-term benefits, such as simplified administration, improved compliance, and streamlined reporting, the short-term risk is significant. Without the proper licensing structure in place, critical users could find themselves locked out of essential systems.
Consider the impact: your finance team preparing for month-end reporting, or your procurement function placing urgent supplier orders, only to discover their access has been revoked. That’s the type of disruption this update could cause if not addressed ahead of time.
What You Need to Do – Now
To avoid disruption, every F&O user in your organisation must have a valid licence assigned in the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre. This means that:
- Licence assignment must be completed using Microsoft’s official tools.
- Manual tracking or reliance on outdated licensing practices will not be sufficient.
- Teams must collaborate to ensure there are no gaps in access or compliance.
Start with a licence audit. Identify which users currently access Dynamics 365 F&O, what roles they perform, and whether their licences are properly assigned. If you’re unsure how to complete this step, Microsoft provides guidance via the Power Platform Admin Centre and Microsoft Learn.
Next, use the Power Platform Admin Centre to monitor licence allocation and consumption. This will help you identify any discrepancies or users who are currently unlicensed but active.
Finally, involve key stakeholders from across IT, finance, operations, and compliance. This is a cross-functional priority that should not fall solely to your technical team. Everyone needs to be aligned.
What’s Changing and Why
Microsoft is moving to a centralised licence management model to align Dynamics 365 F&O with the rest of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This means that all licence activity, assignment, reporting, and monitoring must now go through the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre and supporting tools.
This change reduces complexity, increases visibility, and helps organisations remain audit-ready at all times. However, it also represents a major shift for teams accustomed to legacy licensing models or hybrid deployment environments.
Why Partner with Mint Group?
Navigating these changes can be complex, especially for organisations with diverse user roles, global operations, or limited internal capacity. That’s where Mint Group comes in.
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner with deep expertise in Dynamics 365 deployments and licensing optimisation, we offer the experience and insight to help you stay compliant and avoid business interruption.
Mint Group provides:
- Tailored licence audits to map your current state against Microsoft’s new requirements
- Step-by-step implementation support to ensure every user is properly licensed
- Compliance tracking and ongoing visibility through best-practice tools and processes
- Strategic advisory services to future-proof your licensing model
With a global footprint across the UK, South Africa, and beyond, we’re trusted by leading enterprises, government agencies, and growing businesses to deliver results, fast.
Don’t Delay, Take Action Today
We’ve developed a clear, concise Licensing Prep Checklist to help your teams take the necessary steps now. Whether you’re looking to self-assess or ready to engage our expert team, the time to act is now.
The 30 August deadline is non-negotiable. Failing to prepare could mean costly downtime, frustrated users, and operational delays. But with the right guidance and support, you can make this transition smoothly and turn compliance into a competitive advantage.
