Data and Copilot news, 13 November 2026: Purview Data Governance is retiring

Microsoft is retiring Purview Data Governance, with support ending on 12 November 2027, and making the OneLake catalog in Fabric its governance tool. It has also delayed default usage-based billing for partner-bought Copilot Business licences from 1 December to January–March 2027. Unlicensed Copilot Chat users now meet usage limits, and Business Central gets Copilot bundles in January.

This covers 3 to 13 November, the run-up to Microsoft Ignite (17 to 20 November). Our Ignite watchlist sets out what to look for next week, and last Friday's Power BI October update covered the month's Power BI features.

What is happening to Microsoft Purview?

Its data governance half is going. Microsoft's November partner announcements (updated 12 November 2026) say Purview Data Governance is retiring as of 12 November 2026, with end of support on 12 November 2027. That covers the Unified Catalog, Data Map, Workflows and the older Azure Purview solutions.

Microsoft's announcement on the Security community blog (12 November) names the OneLake catalog in Microsoft Fabric as the single place to govern data from now on. It says governance there is included in Fabric capacity rather than billed through separate meters, and that the catalog can govern data outside OneLake through shortcuts, mirroring and supported connectors. Fabric also connects to third-party catalogues such as Atlan, Alation, Collibra and Informatica.

The other half of Purview stays. Data security and compliance, meaning classifying, labelling and protecting sensitive data and preventing data loss, is unchanged.

For most small businesses this changes little on the day. Few SMEs ever bought Purview's catalogue. If you did, or your IT partner set up Azure Purview to scan your data estate, you now have a year to move, and Microsoft tells regulated customers to talk to their account team early. If you were planning a catalogue, our view is to start with the OneLake catalog if your reporting already runs on Microsoft Fabric, and to write down owners and definitions first. Our data governance guide explains why the tool comes second.

When does Copilot usage-based billing start now?

Later than we reported. The same partner page, in an update dated 3 November, moves default usage-based billing for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences bought through a Cloud Solution Provider to Microsoft's FY27 Q3, which is January to March 2027. Our 16 October news and AI strategy guide gave 1 December 2026, which was Microsoft's date at the time. We have queued corrections to both, and to our earlier posts that carry the same date.

What has not moved: the default spending limit is 4,000 Copilot Credits per user per month, admins can change it in Partner Center or the Microsoft 365 admin centre, and a new purchase also switches usage-based billing on for Copilot Business licences already in the tenant. Microsoft has not yet given an exact start date.

Why are staff seeing limits in Copilot Chat?

Because Microsoft has started rationing the free version. From 2 November 2026 for organisations with 2,000 or fewer Microsoft 365 seats, and from 9 November for larger ones, more Copilot Chat features have fair use limits for people without a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. Copilot Chat stays included in Microsoft 365, and Microsoft's support page on Copilot Chat limits says it does not publish the numbers.

Admins cannot view or adjust the limits. When someone hits one, Copilot tells them, work already in progress carries on, and the message usually offers a way to request a licence, which an admin approves or declines in the Microsoft 365 admin centre. If your organisation allows self-service purchases, users may also see an option to buy a licence themselves. Admins can switch that off for each product, which is worth checking before a few people buy their own seats.

What are the new Business Central and Copilot bundles?

Two partner bundles go on sale on 1 January 2027 for businesses with up to 300 seats, and appear in the partner price list preview on 1 December. As of November 2026, Microsoft lists Business Central Essentials plus Copilot Business at USD 95 per user per month (USD 101 bought separately) and Business Central Premium plus Copilot Business at USD 125 (USD 131). Sterling prices are due before launch.

The bundles need no Microsoft 365 base subscription, but Microsoft notes that Copilot only works inside the Microsoft 365 apps you are licensed for. If you already have Microsoft 365, Microsoft itself steers partners to Business Standard or Business Premium with Copilot instead. For firms weighing an ERP move, our CRM and ERP integration guide covers the joining-up work the licence does not.

What we would do this week

If anyone uses Purview to catalogue data, put the move on next year's plan. Ask your IT partner whether self-service Copilot purchases are switched on. Then watch Ignite next week before making any Copilot decision.

If you want help, our data strategy and governance service sets up owners, definitions and catalogues, and the data practice page explains how we work.

Frequently asked questions

Is Microsoft Purview being retired?

Only its data governance part. On 12 November 2026 Microsoft announced that Purview Data Governance, including Unified Catalog, Data Map and Workflows, is retiring, with support ending on 12 November 2027. The OneLake catalog in Microsoft Fabric replaces it. Purview's data security and compliance tools, such as sensitivity labels, are unchanged.

When does Copilot Business usage-based billing start now?

As of 3 November 2026, Microsoft plans to switch it on by default for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences bought through a partner during January to March 2027, not on 1 December 2026. The default spending limit is 4,000 Copilot Credits per user per month, and admins can change it.

Why are my staff seeing limits in Copilot Chat?

From 2 November 2026, Microsoft added fair use limits to more Copilot Chat features for users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, in organisations with 2,000 or fewer seats. Microsoft does not publish the limits and admins cannot see or change them. Reaching one is expected behaviour, not a fault.

How much do the Business Central and Copilot bundles cost?

As of November 2026, Microsoft lists Business Central Essentials with Microsoft 365 Copilot Business at USD 95 per user per month, and Premium with Copilot Business at USD 125, each USD 6 less than buying separately. They go on sale through partners on 1 January 2027. Sterling prices are not published yet.

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