Changes in License Management for D365 Finance & Operations

Starting 30 August 2025, Microsoft will introduce mandatory license management for all Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations applications. From this date onward, access will only be granted to users with a properly assigned license – without exception.

The aim is to standardize license allocation and make system usage more transparent and traceable. This new model replaces the previous practice, where license assignment was not always strictly required and audits often led to retrospective licensing. In the future, access will be technically blocked if no valid license is assigned.

What’s changing?

  • Mandatory license assignment: Every user must be assigned a valid license in the system by 30 August 2025 at the latest.
  • Technical enforcement: No license, no access – enforcement is automatic.
  • New reporting tools: Reports such as the “Finance and Operations User license level overview report” in the Power Platform Admin Center provide a clear overview of roles, usage, and license needs.

Important: Access to these reports requires appropriate admin rights – something that should be checked during the preparation phase.

What companies should do now

Businesses should use the remaining time to systematically review their licensing structure. Recommended actions include:

  • Reviewing the current license status of all users
  • Simplifying and updating existing role concepts
  • Using the new reports for ongoing monitoring

License assignments are managed via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. In areas like Finance, Supply Chain, or HRM – where access roles are typically more complex – a structured review can be especially worthwhile.

Conclusion

The new license management approach increases transparency and reduces the risk of unexpected additional licensing. At the same time, it creates opportunities for optimization – both operationally and financially. The key is not to wait until the last minute.

We’re happy to support you with a structured analysis and implementation – tailored to your system landscape and needs.