Node4 News
The latest insights, updates and innovations from Node4.
Cybersecurity Month always brings plenty of discussion about AI and the next big threat. Important? Absolutely. But I think we risk overcomplicating the problem.
Attackers are moving faster, while too many businesses are still relying on slow processes, fragmented infrastructure and decisions that take too long.
AI will make phishing more convincing and attacks easier to scale. But attackers are still exploiting familiar weaknesses: compromised credentials, excessive privileges, unsupported systems and poorly configured environments.
More security technology won’t fix weak foundations.
That’s where infrastructure matters. Strong identity controls, limited privileged access, network segmentation, effective patching and recoverable backups can stop one compromise becoming a much bigger problem.
And we need to stop blaming people. Employees will make mistakes. Clicking the wrong link shouldn’t be enough to create a major security incident. Awareness matters, but “people should know better” isn’t much of a security strategy.
The same thinking applies to AI agents. If an agent can access company data, interact with systems or act on someone’s behalf, treat that agent like an identity. Know what it can access, restrict its permissions and be clear about who owns the risk.
I think this is where an MSP should add real value. Customers don’t need another list of 500 vulnerabilities. They need to know which five create a genuine route into something critical, what needs fixing first and what happens if those controls fail.
At Node4, that means bringing our security, cloud, managed services and recovery capabilities together. We have the breadth to understand the infrastructure behind the risk, help customers make informed decisions about where to act, and make sure there’s a tested route back if something does go wrong. That’s the standard we should hold ourselves to.
And my challenge to customers is simple: if one account is compromised tomorrow, how far can an attacker actually get?
If the answer isn’t clear, that’s where the resilience conversation needs to start.
Closer Still Media
CloserStill Media runs content‑driven B2B events across tech, healthcare, transport, HR, and education in global hubs.
Copilot is Changing. Here’s What Usage-Based Billing Means
Microsoft is expanding Copilot beyond the short interactions we’re used to today. Alongside asking questions, summarising meetings and creating content, the next generation of Copilot can take on longer-running tasks, work across applications and, increasingly, complete pieces of work on your behalf.
Microsoft is therefore moving towards a model that combines the existing user subscription licence (USL) with usage-based billing (UBB) for some of these more advanced services.
From 1st December 2026, that change becomes particularly relevant to businesses buying Microsoft 365 Copilot Business through a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) such as Node4.
So, what’s actually changing with CSP?
From 1st December, purchasing a Microsoft 365 Copilot Business license through CSP will enable usage-based billing within your tenant by default.
This applies to new Copilot Business subscriptions, but also to other transactions, including adding Copilot Business seats to an existing subscription or upgrading to a license that includes Copilot Business.
Microsoft will automatically put the supporting Azure subscription and default spending policy in place.
The default spending limit is 4,000 Copilot Credits per user, per month, equivalent to approximately $40 USD per user per month.
$40 is a limit, not an additional monthly charge.
For example, if Sarah has a Copilot Business licence with the default policy applied, she doesn't automatically generate another $40 bill every month. Charges are generated when she uses services covered by usage-based billing, up to the limit configured for her. The spending policy itself doesn't provide 4,000 free credits.
Doesn't usage-based billing mean unpredictable costs?
Microsoft's cost management approach allows administrators to control who can use usage-based services, which services are available and how much users can consume. There are also spending limits, alerts and reporting so businesses can see where Copilot Credits are being used.
More importantly, you don't have to accept Microsoft's $40 default. The spending limit can be changed to suit your business. Usage-based services can also be disabled, including by setting the spending limit to zero.
For some businesses, enabling these capabilities broadly will make sense. For others, starting with a limited set of users or use cases and expanding once the value is understood will be the more sensible approach.
What does Node4 recommend?
We don't think the right answer is simply to switch everything on. Equally, switching everything off because "usage-based" sounds unpredictable could mean missing some genuinely useful capabilities.
The better approach is to understand what has changed, decide which capabilities make sense for your business and put sensible financial controls around them.
For Node4 customers affected by the December change, we'll proactively help review the usage-based billing configuration and spending policy. That includes making sure the limits applied to your business reflect how you intend to use Copilot rather than simply accepting the Microsoft defaults.
If you're already buying Microsoft 365 Copilot Business through Node4, we'll help you prepare for the change. If you're considering Copilot, speak to the Node4 team and we'll take you through what the new model means for your business.
Node4 achieves Agentic Business Solutions Specialisation
Node4 has achieved the Microsoft Agentic Business Solutions Specialisation, recognising our expertise in building intelligent business solutions using Power Apps, Power Automate and Copilot Studio.
The specialisation validates our technical capabilities and proven customer deployments, demonstrating our ability to deliver automation, low-code applications, AI-powered workflows and intelligent agents.
It reinforces Node4’s ability to help organisations streamline processes, reduce manual tasks and build scalable solutions that address real business challenges.
Why Node4's Microsoft Copilot and Agentic AI Specialisations Matter
Node4 has attained both the Microsoft Copilot Specialisation and Agentic AI Specialisation. These are Microsoft-recognised validations of Node4's capability to help customers successfully adopt and scale AI. They demonstrate that Node4 has proven expertise, customer success, and the governance required to deliver AI solutions responsibly and effectively.
For you, our customers, this means having a trusted partner who understands how to move beyond a simple licence deployment and turn AI into real business value. Microsoft Copilot can help your employees spend less time searching for information, create content faster, reduce administrative effort and improve collaboration across your organisation.
The Agentic AI Specialisation takes this a step further, helping businesses automate workflows and routine tasks across areas such as service desk, customer service, HR, finance and sales.
Both specialisations also provide our customers, with confidence around security, governance and responsible AI adoption. We understand that embracing AI comes with questions around risk, and can help you introduce new capabilities securely and in line with your business objectives.
Ultimately, these achievements position Node4 as a trusted AI transformation partner, helping customers focus on what really matters: increased productivity, faster decision-making, improved employee experiences, process automation and measurable business outcomes.
No tricks, Just Threats: Is Your Security Ready for AI
A recent incident involving a major retail giant shows just how easily misplaced trust and compromised credentials can open the door to cybercriminals. AI is giving attackers new tricks, but are your security foundations ready? For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, discover what’s lurking beneath the surface and how to stop a small vulnerability becoming a much bigger nightmare.
Planning a hardware refresh?
Ageing infrastructure and end-of-life equipment can affect performance, reliability and security. Whether you're upgrading servers, storage and networking or replacing laptops and desktops, choosing the right hardware helps keep your business running smoothly.
And don't worry, Node4 can identify the right solution for your needs and manage the process from procurement to deployment.
Speak to your Account Manager to discuss your upcoming hardware requirements.
Come and Visit Our Data Centres
See for yourself how secure, resilient and scalable infrastructure could take the pressure off your IT teams.
Webinar: What’s New in Business Central
The updates that matter in the 2026 release wave 2
No endless feature lists. Just the Business Central updates that could save time and make everyday tasks easier.
When: 5 November | 10.00am - 11.00am
