Microsoft News

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update March 2018

Microsoft continue to cement their strong GDPR credentials in Q1 2018 with important feature releases across the EMS portfolio,  and strengthening of their Microsoft 365 offering.

However, the expansive service portfolio, with technical and licensing inter-dependencies is driving growth in indpendent consultancy as organisations balance the demands of GDPR with budget objectives.

As Microsoft see 42% growth YoY in Office365, and command a 350% price increase for end user ‘desktop’ over the last 10 years, businesses are challenging Microsoft to prove value for the increasing cost of productivity.

The advantage of an independent consultancy practices like the one I run for SoftwareONE, is that we can work with the customer to understand their roadmap, enable cloud adoption, support a ‘cloud ready’ strategy, understand ‘smart scale in’, and provide that due diligence on your next contract renewal.

Our team has experience negotiating contracts and critical data insights, and rapid commercial model tooling available, to enable our customers to “buy the right technology, on the right contracts, at the best price”.

Some principle recent Microsoft updates, for February 2017

  • March 1st Product Terms includes Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server. Specified use scenarios, flexible but with a key limitation on concurrent use when comparing to Windows Server Datacenter. Notably no Azure Analysis Services included.
  • Azure Information Protection Scanner enters General Availability. Notably aligned within EM&S E5 or AIP P2. Enables GDPR. https://t.co/XWnUXoBpVz
  • Office365 near term roadmap with new features across Planner, Advanced Threat Intelligence and Advanced Threat Protection https://t.co/b6YBT6cw6J
  • If you want to manage group naming conventions and expiry policies for Office365 groups, you will need Azure AD Premium licenses https://goo.gl/x7HzLc
  • Windows Defender ATP now supports Windows 8.1 and 7 https://goo.gl/T8hQPn
  • Microsoft Compliance Manager enters General Availability. Provided natively for Office365 Enterprise Plans for GDPR https://t.co/qtuvmAN5X5
  • Hybrid Azure AD Premium with on-premises MIM now enables hybrid self-service group management and self-service password reset reporting https://t.co/ikUOzvdHoU
  • The United States vs. Microsoft arguments started on February 27th. One to watch for the future of Azure and data privacy.
  • Microsoft enhance cloud spend management ecosystem for Azure with Budgets API (EA customers only), and ARM (Azure Resource Manager) compliant Price List and Marketplace APIs https://goo.gl/RbzfYK Providing additional valuable APIs to PyraCloud.
  • Windows Client OS have been completely re-written in the March 2018 Product Terms. Now 25% shorter.
  • Microsoft announce that Azure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is now Generally Available on March 1st. Azure ATP resides within EM+S E5. #GDPR https://goo.gl/4qVLh2
  • Azure Stream Analytics introduces new pricing model       “If your customers have existing Enterprise Agreement (EA) enrollments that were valid as of February 1, 2017, they’ll be able to use Stream Analytics at the previous pricing model until the end of their current enrollment period” https://goo.gl/n4uiZA
  • Amazon cloud lead shrinks as Microsoft Azure growth explodes http://tek.io/2BrRdRH
  • Office 365 Multi-Geo address previous challenges of regional tenant requirements? Read More: https://t.co/IpaehntYfq
  • Dynamics NAV 2018 and GP 2018 in the March 2018 Microsoft Services Provider Use Rights: http://bit.ly/SPUR-Mar-18   (Ref: Jelle Kooi)
  • Common Area Phone, Azure Advanced Threat Protection in the March 2018 Microsoft Online Services Terms: http://bit.ly/OST-Mar-18
  • New Feature for Microsoft Teams : “Anyone with a business or consumer email account, such as http://Outlook.com , http://Gmail.com or others, can participate as a guest in Teams with full access to team chats, meetings and files.” https://t.co/izBxjLdn41
  • Microsoft Azure Migrate is now generally available. Microsoft step into commercial TCO with scenario planning inclusive of Azure Hybrid Use Benefit, Right-Sizing, No Charge Dependency Visualization https://goo.gl/N8CofC and further enabled by emerging features for cost and technical optimisation guidance https://goo.gl/gAVTYf within Azure Advisor.
  • Microsoft offer important capabilities around automated classification and encryption of data, GDPR critical features are often enshrined within E5 level services, and the ‘fire hose’ of information available within Office365 Audit Logs are retained for just 90 days within Office365, only extensible for 180 days with ‘premium’ Advanced Security Management (ASM) https://goo.gl/P9QDwL

Thanks All

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.
  • All original content from the author is subject to copyright.

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update November 2017

Hi All

This month we launched a multi-channel marketing campaign, with our “AWS Advantage” service – launched at AWS Re:Invent 2017. Expanding our core competency in Microsoft Advisory and SAM to deliver workload optimisation on AWS as part of a Multi-Cloud strategy.

SoftwareONE co-ordinated a Multi-Cloud service across the SoftwareONE Blog and MicrosoftLicenseReview.com, with Infographic,  Whitepaper, and Event at Mercedes World. Thank you to all our clients that attended with us, and enjoyed some time on the track.

Please find the latest licensing and Microsoft updates roundup for November 2017 :

  • Azure Reserved VM Instances are now available in all EA programs and on Azure.com https://goo.gl/hqe6xS
  • Azure Monetary Commitment funds can be used throughout the term of the enrollment for new orders through the EA Prepay (3 year upfront) option. New/Renewal direct EA customers will be billed quarterly for all coverages
  • Microsoft extend Microsoft365 GDPR reporting and management with Compliance Manager in Preview https://t.co/BaOQNlNUGI
  • Are you getting ready for the new Microsoft Licensing MCP – you can check out the refreshed online training from Get Licensing Ready
  • New Features for Office365 from October https://goo.gl/NGYQ3X
  • Editions and Supported Features of SQL Server 2017 https://goo.gl/TvG5RJ
  • Azure Info Protection scanner crawls through files in CIFS based file shares and SharePoint sites and apply classification, labeling and protection on files  policies – driving AD Premium – https://goo.gl/vMEXt3
  • Cloud App Security can read files classified by Azure Info Protection Scanner and set policies based on the file labels: https://goo.gl/mo5kZw
  • Need to control/restrict service access to Office365 services with Intune You will currently need Conditional Access via Azure AD Premium P1  https://goo.gl/EYKjc7
  • Microsoft approaching 1 billion identities synced with Azure AD  https://goo.gl/Tq65xy
  • Office365 and Azure are both GA from UK data centers. Microsoft marketing MoD move: https://goo.gl/9KrE7W
  • Microsoft update MAP Toolkit ready for SQL 2017 https://t.co/8YMVDjCTFw
  • If some users do not have a license for Azure Information Protection but do have a license for Azure Rights Management, edit the registry on these users’ computers to prevent them from running unlicensed features https://goo.gl/W9EiJ3
  • Where Microsoft Teams and Yammer fit in a ECM architecture https://goo.gl/RGzdtg

Thanks All

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

 

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update September 2017

Hitting Refresh

This week we have seen updates coming out of the MS Ignite conference in the US. Microsoft have announced Office 2019 ‘perpetual’ aimed at on-premises customers, expected in the second half of 2018, but how does this align with their wider ‘hit refresh’ strategy led by Satya Nadella, to deliver a $20 Billion run-rate cloud business?

Microsoft’s licensing models and commercial strategy greatly incentivise standardisation on an always-up-to-date platform for productivity and communication supported by the Microsoft Cloud. Microsoft exemplify this strategy through the cloud-supported Office C2R client with ongoing security and feature updates provided by Microsoft.

The new generation of cloud supported applications and operating systems act as a ‘traffic light’ that are switched on from ‘red, to amber and then green’. Under the traditional on-premises software model, access to new server features where accessed by upgrade of the Office client to the latest software version on a four or five year run lifecycle. Microsoft have increased this release and update cadence, with an extensive ecosystem of Office365 and Azure Identity Services accessed by Office, and Windows 10, and supported by SCCM, via a continuous service feature and support model, without end-of-support dates on a semi-annual release schedule.

To encourage upgrade of the Office ecosystem, Microsoft made a recent blog announcement  that as of October 2020, the traditional Office on-premise MSI application access to Office365 services will end at the expiration of “mainstream” support. Impacting customers limited to Office 2016 or 2013 releases and driving customers to ‘make a decision’.

Microsoft may have now confirmed a new MSI release of Office 2019 for next year, but importantly, are inferring this is targeted at customers who are running on-premises environments. Their support for “office perpetual” interoperability with cloud services, and the available programmes it will be sold under, remains to be seen.

Microsoft News

Some principle recent Microsoft updates, for September 2017 –

  • Microsoft announce Office 2019 “Perpetual” https://goo.gl/LZNtF3
  • Office365 Use Metering and ‘Reader Role’ designation for Usage Reporting https://goo.gl/m5Ptn1
  • Office365 Usage Analytics and will reach general availability in the beginning of 208, including new metrics on teamwork and collaboration, usage data for Microsoft Teams, Yammer, and Office 365 Groups https://goo.gl/m5Ptn1
  • Office365 Advanced Usage Analytics is also planned. Transmit the Office365 usage dataset to the Azure data store and join with user metadata from Azure AD. https://goo.gl/m5Ptn1
  • SCCM ‘Transition to Modern’ evolves from Windows10 and Office365 ProPlus, WSUS to WUfB, SCCM to Cloud Content Delivery, Win32 to Modern Apps
  • System Center release cadence, expect 1801 in 2018. Active Software Assurance for access to Semi-Annual channel.
  • Microsoft Azure competes with AWS with regional “Availability Zones” https://goo.gl/RZG1zB
  • Azure Cost Management services will be free for all customers. Microsoft Responds to demands of Cloud Spend Management https://goo.gl/cZGdEe
  • Microsoft EA (Enterprise Agreement) Azure cost reporting, enters preview  https://goo.gl/PBmtZN
  • Microsoft365 F1 a bold move to target a wider addressable market. At circa $10/u/m  and 2B users, you can see why https://goo.gl/WukgLu
  • Microsoft SQL Enterprise Edition SA and PowerBI Premium subscribers will access PowerBI report server https://goo.gl/jUzZh6
  • Microsoft announce SQL Hybrid Use Benefit to leverage SA for Azure SQL DB and discounted SSIS rates on data Factory https://goo.gl/M8gRWA
  • Azure SQL DB includes Database Managed Instance – offers managed PaaS  https://goo.gl/vkHpbS
  • SQL Server 2017 will be available for purchase in October 2nd https://goo.gl/rvU24Q
  • RedHat SQL offer – 30% off SQL 2017 subscription on Linux, and additive 30% off RHEL OS when purchased together https://goo.gl/bJS7aG
  • Microsoft announce Microsoft365 Education. New A3 and A5 flavours https://goo.gl/E1tQwo
  • Microsoft365 Education – A3 and E5. Office365 A1 also available. Compare plans : https://goo.gl/jjSb9j
  • Self-Password Reset and Writeback to on-premises AD is a popular Azure AD Premium P1 Feature. However, the licensing not enforced https://goo.gl/XhAxuN
  • Run a report to identify unlicensed users of Azure AD Premium i.e. users and apps using Conditional Access https://goo.gl/8VpiQn
  • New Azure flex CPU VMs “build burst credits” and access full vCPU when you need them: https://goo.gl/78mESL
  • Microsoft state direction of merging of Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams https://goo.gl/cyubH8
  • Skype Cloud PBX renamed to ‘Microsoft Phone System’, PSTN Services renamed ‘Calling Plan’ https://goo.gl/PxKdiX
  • You can now Restrict Windows 10 license reactivation and active state reporting to Microsoft https://goo.gl/8viqSt
  • Microsoft Teams – for users who leave the organisation, their chat history is maintained, with identity anonymised. https://goo.gl/v33KA2

Thanks All

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update August 2017

Some principle recent Microsoft updates, for August 2017

  • Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE) is re-launched as Microsoft365 E3 and E5 https://goo.gl/Zs2hY5
  • Microsoft365 customers up 6,000 to 52,000 with an licensed user base of 50M. Nortably, revenue up >100% for 13th consecutive quarter.
  • Microsoft are rebranding Office365 Plan K1 to F1 https://goo.gl/crr2Xw
  • F1 features include – Video (view only), Skype (multi-party Attend only), Flow (consume, 750 runs), PowerApps (consume)
  • Staffhub available acros Office365 F1, E1, E3 and E5 Plans enables staff schedules https://goo.gl/pEHyrx
  • In 2020, Microsoft to mandate Office ProPlus C2R, or mainstream supported Office MSI Clients for Office365 Services  https://goo.gl/xsuQ1R
  • Notably, Office 2016 MSI will be out of “mainstream support” in October 2020.
  • Microsoft announce that virtualisation use rights available for Windows 10 Enterprise licences in CSP on 6th Sep 2017: .
  • Microsoft Stream for Office365 available in all commercial plans  https://goo.gl/hMnQTn
  • An excellent article on restriction of user access to Office365 services https://goo.gl/uzddac
  • Azure AD group based license management https://goo.gl/uwo7SJ
  • Managing Microsoft Office 365 Licenses – Using Groups https://goo.gl/oXc3pv
  • Groups drives Azure ADP w. Data Classification, Usage Guidelines, Group AD Writeback, Dynamic Groups, Expiry Policy – See the Azure AD Premium feature list for Office365 Groups
  • Advantages of Office365 Groups over Site Mailboxes https://goo.gl/icfY3H
  • Effective July 1st the following Microsoft Dynamics 365, Enterprise edition offerings are being renamed:
    • Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations => Microsoft Dynamics 365 Unified Operations Plan
    • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Plan 1 => Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Plan
    • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Plan 2 => Microsoft Dynamics 365 Plan
  • An updated Microsoft Dynamics pricing page https://goo.gl/ZHfW8V
  • Intune native support for deployment of Office365 ProPlus https://goo.gl/bHPD6x
  • SharePoint “Communication Sites” for Office365 begins rolling out https://goo.gl/ERZd6d
  • Restricted SharePoint sites now  termed “Isolated” https://goo.gl/fjQ5DJ
  • SQL Server 2017 first release candidate on Windows, Linux and Docker
  • Windows 10 service model updates, alligned with Office365 ProPlus https://goo.gl/uc39SA
  • Windows 10 release a plethora of training resources https://goo.gl/xijmcp
  • Microsoft continue to push Windows 10 Enterprise and service ecosystem security features to drive subscription licensing https://goo.gl/euSQwG
  • Azure Stack becomes generally available, effective August 2017, pricing information https://goo.gl/fudphJ
  • Microsoft release a file security whitepaper fo SharePoint and OneDrive https://t.co/HNzjsnHwV4
  • Microsoft365 Business aimed as SMBs offers relevant services like email marketing, invoicing, mileage tracking https://goo.gl/Zs2hY5
  • Microsoft Cloud benefits from GDPR support
  • Microsoft advocate how EMS can support GDPR https://goo.gl/uR7iU5
  • EMS Suite is bolstered by Skycure acquisition – offers mobile anomaly detection, enables conditional access https://goo.gl/8bvwk5
  • A new Office 365 PowerBI pack answers if we are using what we have bought. With expanding suites, that’s a good question
  • Office365 use metering data is also available from Office Graph using PowerShell https://goo.gl/4YGeYd
  • Enterprise Agreement customers will soon be able to view their Azure subscription cost reports https://goo.gl/pysx9i
  • Visio Online ‘view’ is available to all Office365 commercial subscription plans that include Office Online https://goo.gl/Xv5kvv
  • Visio enables new charting capability in PowerBI. Notably, Create and Edit requires a Visio license. ‘View’ doesn’t.  https://goo.gl/m6xGxo
  • A new Visual Studio 2017 Edition comparison table https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/
  • Microsoft launched new ’16 Core’ license packs, in addition to the ‘2 Core’ packs for Windows Server and System Center in May 2017. The Product Terms were updated from May 2017 https://goo.gl/UEVWGL

Thanks All

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update January 2017

In 2017, Microsoft continue to develop a modern digital licensing strategy, with a new focus on the ‘Cloud Solution Provider’ (CSP) and a deprecation of MPSA for strategic cloud services.
CPS enables Microsoft to develop a scalable ‘self service’ digital Office365 and Azure partner ecosystem, enabled with digital delivery and digital management platforms, cloud support, and managed services. Partner enabled “Self Service” web options enable on-premise and cloud native businesses to purchase, adopt, and manage their digital portfolio.

In the long term, Microsoft will improve “Microsoft Assisted” (EA) and Partner self-serve web options (CSP), hinting at continuance of both ‘MS Supported’ digital direct, and partner enabled indirect digital channels.

Accordingly, SoftwareONE, a digital platform, solutions and services company, are well place strategically in the market, with PyraCloud, Cloud Support and Managed Services to ‘wrap’ around the CSP model, while leveraging global scale for local support and sourcing intelligence.

Reflecting this strategy, from February 1st, Microsoft will stop adding new Azure customers through the Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA). [Edit: From April 1st, Microsoft will also only provide subscriptions to cloud services like Office365, EM+S, SPE, Windows 10 Enterprise CBB and Dynamics 365 to 1 year or less. Removing Multi-Year subscriptions for 2-3 Years.] MPSA customers who want to buy Azure and commit to Office365 will now be guided primarily to the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. An evolving programme which provides a platform for ‘self service’ and flexible access to Microsoft cloud solutions and services extensibly via rich partner ecosystem of digital platforms, support and managed services to enable a ‘digital ready business’.

Microsoft continue to direct customers towards ‘strategic cloud’ initiatives like Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE) and Azure via EA, with classical resellers maintaining revenue streams based on rebates and incentives in the short term; but success for partners and customers will be dependent on their investment in digital platforms to enable and manage the cloud, technology and advisory services to enable return on investment and cost reduction over the digital lifecycle.

The Microsoft partners that thrive would have seen the course and not only reacted, but accelerated ahead of the competition, balancing Microsoft’s ‘modern licensing’ strategy with the needs and interests of their customers to manage a digital ready business. 

January and December saw a number of important licensing and solution updates from Redmond, including but not limited to:

  • Microsoft increased UK pricing goes into effect from January 1st. Office365 and Azure will now cost 22% more than in December, and on-premise solutions will increase by 13%
  • Microsoft removed 5% additional Azure discount from SCE in December as part of ‘flat’ pricing strategy for Azure across channels.
  • Microsoft VDA Subscription USL/ Upgrade USL now benefit from Windows 10 Ent CBB on Azure
  • Microsoft VDA Subscription Device will not benefit from the Windows 10 Enterprise CBB on Azure Benefit.
  • The Azure Hybrid Use Benefit (AHUB) is available from February 1st in all Azure regions https://t.co/VuHmYJ7UCJ pay only compute for Windows Server Images.
  • The Windows Server 2016 Nano Configuration will require CALs with SA
  • Microsoft clarify disabling cores for CIS, Windows Server and System Center 2016 DOES NOT reduce licensable cores in Volume Licensing.
  • System Center Client Management Suite is broken down to components from January 1st. Client MLs for DPM, SCOM, Service Manager, Orchestrator.
  • Effective March 2017, Windows Server and SQL Server Premium Assurance will be available as an SA add-on SKU https://t.co/OJgZ7P1J6Z
  • SQL Server 2016 SP1 includes Feature Updates. Microsoft assure customers Software Assurance (SA) is not required.
  • Standalone Yammer SKU retired on January 1st 2017. Existing EA customers can use retired SKU for 2 years, or for term or current EA
  • Software Assurance – Home Use Program (HUP) employees can now purchase Office Pro Plus 2016 AND Office Home & Business 2016 for Mac
  • Microsoft will standardise the naming for meters across all Azure services based on a common naming convention https://goo.gl/7I5JgV
  • Download Center: For all meters and their before/after attribute values: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=836939&clcid=0x409
  • Microsoft have released ‘talking points’ for SPE https://goo.gl/3nLbzY
  • Office365 Advanced eDiscovery is renamed ‘Advanced Compliance’ from January 1st with all E5 components being rebranded as ‘Advanced’ packages with ongoing features evolution. https://goo.gl/zFdN03

Thanks All

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update October 2016

I’m expecting to see a continued focus in 2017 on digital transformation, with SoftwareONE Advisory enabling our client’s to become a ‘digital ready business’. We are well positioned with our core competency as a License Design Authority (LDA) to provide tightly integrated work programmes aligning with client or our internal Technical Design Authority (TDA), supported by our core SAM expertise, and digital platforms like PyraCloud, to deliver an optimised digital transformation programme for our clients.

Licensing is increasingly impacting technology choices in the enterprise Architecture Development Method, with a common complaint from our clients that their TDA are not supporting optimisation in software spend, or incurring unbudgeted costs to the business.

Our clients often tell us they “want the best deal”, and to feel confident when going to cloud, with an accurate commercial forecast, and driving negotiation advantage by incorporating license design into the IT roadmap decision making process. Advisory can deliver an tightly integrated license design and technology investment roadmap, we can incorporate license design and strategic procurement into the DNA of a digital transformation strategy.

As always, we have compelling events to help drive our wider services.  MAS (Microsoft Advisory Services) are offering an integrated service for Windows Server Per Core. Great opportunity to integrate into a wider renewal programme of work for your upcoming Microsoft renewals.

We can also support clients with the announced UK GBP Price Increase with a forecast uplift of 13% for on-premise software, and 22% for cloud services for renewals after January 1st 2016.

Here is my brief update on some of the principle roadmap and licensing updates from Microsoft in September and October 2016:

  • Microsoft Increase UK Prices for commercial on-prem software 13% and 22% for cloud effective Jan 1st 2017 https://goo.gl/dRbS4j
  • SoftwareONE FAQ http://bit.ly/2eZpjCf
  • Microsoft offer Office365 API extensibility to PowerBI pre-built dashboards in development. New Office365 user adoption metering and Azure metering on horizon offered natively by Microsoft by PowerBI dashboards, powershell scripting and APIs. SoftwareONE need to integrate PyraCloud Pro with Cloud Insider with client adoption and zero touch services.
  • Application Guard for Windows Defender. Edge virtual sandbox for untrusted sites. https://goo.gl/yeCL3H
  • Azure Site Recovery gives 1 click migration of Apps and OS. Pay only for compute, storage while you test for 31 days https://goo.gl/BJOeCZ
  • Here’s how you assign Azure Hybrid Use Benefit (HUB) in PowerShell to BYOL WinSvr Licenses w. SA to Azure and save https://goo.gl/KNCXc9
  • New ‘Commercial Cloud Gross Margin’ metric in Annual Earnings Report, at 49%, reflects strong focus on cost reduction from Microsoft.
  • Compare EM+S E3 and E5 Plans https://goo.gl/lUjUhi
  • New security and reporting in Yammer Extensibility via Management APIs and Office365 Security and Compliance Ctr https://goo.gl/A8kyQo
  • Dynamics 365 will be GA on November 1st. Microsoft have published a basic Licensing overview: https://goo.gl/IBxtgG
  • Hicurdismos is a fake Microsoft Security Essentials installer. Mimics BSoD to install malware https://goo.gl/LHTBYU
  • SCCM update 1610 Tech Preview. New features: limit updates to subset of devices, retract prior App permissions https://goo.gl/DMabqz
  • Great introductory resources on Windows Server 2016 https://goo.gl/U6OZ2D
  • What impact will the change to per core licensing have on your Windows Server estate? https://goo.gl/WABnBQ
  • New Article: A Primer on Secure Productive Enterprise (And Why It’s Great for Microsoft) http://www.microsoftlicensereview.com
  • Windows 7 and 8.1 pre-installed OEM End of Sales on Oct 31st. Expect a price increase on Windows10 Pro OEM downgrade SKUs from supplies like Dell https://goo.gl/NM3pUM
  • Great article from Neil Lomax on the Azure price changes on the SoftwareONE blog https://goo.gl/8Xe63s
  • Windows Defender ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) has Office365 ATP interoperability via Win Enterprise E5 offering https://goo.gl/G6ORd1
  • Microsoft confirmed general availability of Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE) platform suites on October 1st https://goo.gl/ZzyKb1
  • Windows10 Enterprise E3 now with App Guard. Virtual Container Isolation for Edge. https://goo.gl/CyQu5M
  • Microsoft drop Azure pricing. Flatten prices across Azure.com , EA, MPSA. Enables AWS comparison https://goo.gl/RHJGrv
  • Microsoft re-brand Delve as MyAnalytics and provide its own App in the AppLauncher https://goo.gl/rAiGKt
  • Microsoft launching Azure Av2 VMs on November 17th with SSD storage and 30% cheaper than A-series
  • Microsoft announce Azure Reserved Compute coming GA in H2. Using Volume Licensing to reserve compute at discounted rate vs. hourly
  • 1st October Azure Existing SCE Customers can do a one-time renewal for lower minimum commit, with roll over of existing terms.
  • 1st October Azure Monetary Commit for SCE moves to 10 MCUs ~1K Per Month$100 minimum commit still available for existing EA, or on MPSA
  • AzureAD Identity Protection, AD Premium P2 was GA September 15th https://goo.gl/Rf6kcc The September Product Terms added Azure AD Premium Plan 2
  • Microsoft officially launched Azure and Office365 datacenters in UK in September https://goo.gl/6KVeFM https://goo.gl/VgBTWz (Durham and London)
  • New – Project Online, Professional and Premium were generally available from August 1st. Project Online Pro via EA/EAS have 15% off promo
  • Operations Management Suite (OMS) Security generally available, and Azure Log Analytics subscribers https://goo.gl/FndmEC from September 1st.

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update June 2016

My brief update on some of the principle roadmap and licensing updates from Microsoft in June 2016:

  • Microsoft MCP prep resources, also good If you are new to SoftwareONE and Microsoft Licensing. https://goo.gl/ot76EO July 4th – July 7th
  • Azure Information Protection emerges w. Secure Island acquisition. Persistent IRM data classification at file level.https://goo.gl/Sa1A5d
  • Best article on TechNet so far on Windows10 feature update deferment models and withdrawal to security updates https://goo.gl/KDyafy
  • Fantastic article on Compute Capacity Limits by SQL Edition https://goo.gl/FC7gsx
  • Microsoft acquire LinkedIn w. 433 million corporate identities. Race for identity layer. What Reid Hoffman terms “Web 3.0 human network data”
  • SharePoint 2016 hybrid configuration roadmaps https://goo.gl/zSi5Ww
  • Gartner Magic Quadrant for EMM – Enterprise Mobility Management – Microsoft EMS recognised as visionary https://goo.gl/vRCmvg
  • Great information resources on Azure security https://goo.gl/rk71GH
  • Enterprise State Roaming is GA on Azure AD Premium. | Sync App + OS state data across devices without Microsoft Account https://goo.gl/QQrIzx
  • Citrix and Microsoft to offer Windows10 VDI on Azure with CBB XenDesktop Solution | DaaS Desktop-as-a-Service https://goo.gl/NfkTyZ
  • Citrix to provide new EMM service on Azure that will integrate and wrap around EMS (Enterprise Mobility Suite)  https://goo.gl/NfkTyZ
  • Citrix to integrate NetScaler conditional access into Intune App SDK  https://goo.gl/NfkTyZ
  • Citrix XenMobile benefits from EMS Integration with Self Service Password Reset and Write-back and Azure MFA  https://goo.gl/NfkTyZ
  • Citrix Worx and Receiver Apps to get Intune SDK and Azure AD Support.  https://goo.gl/NfkTyZ
  • MSDN Subscriber migration starting June 15th to http://my.visualstudio.com
  • SCCM update 1605 Win Defender ATP and EDP data policies, Tagging devices as ‘corporate owned’, by cluster patching https://goo.gl/VV2ooz
  • Office Online Server GA was available from May 1st 2016. Create, Edit, Save will require SA or Office365 ProPlus USL. View Only without SA.
  • Office365 E4 customer with contract renewal after July 1st? Office365 E4 will need a new Office365 plan. Time for a roadmap and licensing strategy review with Microsoft Advisory Services
  • SQL on Azure VMs FAQs https://goo.gl/8itpO1
  • Skype for Business PSTN Calling FAQs https://goo.gl/pGAqyY
  • Essential resource on side-by-side installation scenarios for Project and Visio and Office 365 ProPlus C2V Versions https://goo.gl/4mOxNb. The June Product Terms provides an MSI Install! (p59)
  • Office365 Planner is now GA for all Enterprise Plans E1-E5 https://goo.gl/3fDHtW
  • Q1 Windows 10 ‘Anniversary Update’ for Windows 10 Enterprise SA CBB and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB. The first new LTSB release since August 2015. Available August. Microsoft will create Windows 10 Enterprise “Premium” to include Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) integrating Endpoint Protection with ML enabled analytics and  breach response management.
  • Windows Defender ATP will complement Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) available in EMS, ECS.

Enterprise Agreement

  • Applicable Use Rights: Clarification of Use Rights language to show that the Use Rights at the time of purchase apply to the customer’s software.
  • Downgrade Use Rights: Clarification of Use Rights language to show that customers have the right to downgrade to prior versions, but the Use Right at time of software purchase would apply.

Enterprise Enrolment  

  • EA500 New contract terms do not support Enterprise/SCE Enrolments with fewer than 500 Qualified Users/Devices. However, there is another option to renew an Enterprise Enrolment or SCE by using the Enterprise Renewal Form. By using this form, a customer essentially extends the prior Enrolment Terms & Conditions. The customer keeps the existing Enrolment number and continues his contractual relationship. An Enrolment with fewer than 500 Qualified Users/Qualified Devices can be continued with this method, even after July 1st 2016. The Enterprise Renewal Form can be used only one time. You must submit a new Product Selection Form and new CPS for the extended term and negotiate new pricing for that order. Any Change of Channel Partner must be completed before using the Enterprise Renewal Form.
  • Effective Date: Clarification of language about contract effective date at renewal. The update shows more clearly that the effective date of the new contract period is the day after the prior contract ends. (There had been differences and confusion when a customer renewed using the Enterprise Renewal Form).
  • Order Requirements: The Enterprise Commitment has been updated from 250 to 500 Qualified Users/Qualified Devices.
  • Pricing: Certain consumption based Online Services will now be exempt from Price Protection. For now, these are Skype for Business consumption services only. These are known also internally at Microsoft as “floating prices”. Online Services that are sold on a per user basis such as EMS, CRM Online, O365 etc. will continue to have Price Protection. For now, there is no change to Azure. There will be new information in the Product Terms to show which products have the “Floating Prices”.
  • Introduction of Indefinite Extended Term: Online Services can be maintained for up to a year after the Enrolment (under which they were purchased) expires. Online Service will continue to run for a customer even after enrolment expiration. Similarly, for Azure, after the first 12 month term has expired, the service will be continue indefinitely at level A plus 3%
  • EMEA only From July 1st the new EE/MEA Enrolment will no longer have the affiliate location restriction.
  • SCE contract wording will support reservations for eligible products.

 

Microsoft Licensing and Services Update May 2016

May News Roundup

Windows 10 Anniversary Update

  • Q1 Windows 10 ‘Anniversary Update’ for Windows 10 Enterprise SA CBB and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB. The first new LTSB release since August 2015.
  • Windows10 Anniversary update adds Windows Hello NGC (Next Generation Credentials) http://goo.gl/5Ziipl
  • EDP (Enterprise Data Protection) for local device file encryption from corporate sources w. privileged app admin to control access to corporate data http://goo.gl/vu7Lq5 managed via SCCM and Intune.
  • Updates to MDOP.
  • Microsoft will create Windows 10 Enterprise “Premium” to include Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) integrating Endpoint Protection with ML enabled analytics and  breach response management.
  • Windows Defender ATP will complement Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) available in EMS, ECS.
  • Microsoft will actively compete with Chrome OS, with new IOT strategy with Windows and Intune ‘wrap’ offers led by Business Desk.

SQL Server 2016

  • SQL Server 2016 is now generally available from June 1st.
  • SQL Server Enterprise Edition no price uplift in June,
  • Consolidation of BI and PDW into the Enterprise SKU. Enterprise Edition licenses required to run PDW on the APSA (Application Platform Systems Appliance).
  • BI edition licenses with SA will have transition to Enterprise Server SA at renewal.
  • SQL Enterprise Server SA SKU renewal has been extended. 20 core limit applies.
  • Software Assurance still required for passive failover server, and to support license mobility at point of failover. The December 2015 failover to cloud SA benefit applies.
  • Microsoft have a specific sales motion to respond to consolidations at renewal below 75% of original spend, positioning SCE
  • For SQL, ALL renewal EAs must include SQL recapture of 75% or more of the expiring SQL license count. If the deal has less than 75% of the expiring SQL license count, it will require Microsoft executive empowerment approval to support the decision. So be aware in positioning for any bill of materials where we have successfully reduced licensable footprint through licensing or technical optimisation!

Office365 Plan E5

  • Office365 Advanced Security Management service will be included into the existing Office365 E5 Suite on June 1st
  • All Office 365 commercial workloads are designed following the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle and include built-in security capabilities such as encryption at-rest and in-transit, along with access to the Office 365 Management Activity API (which provides a programmatic way to pull events related to information protection and compliance in Office 365).
  • The Office365 plans are intended to meet a range of security and compliance needs. ‘Advanced’ security capabilities such as Advanced Security Management provide an additional level of security and control, and are available as Add-Ons to all enterprise plans in addition to being included in the Office365 E5 plan.
  • It is important to note that when Microsoft learns about threats from the new advanced security capabilities, those insights are used to improve security for all Office 365 customers – So could arguably be seen as not more secure, but providing better visibility of Office365 security.

Operations Management Suite (OMS) Add On

  • The OMS Add-On is an Azure Plan offered in the EA/EAS customers with System Center (Server) customers with active SA an OMS “Add On” to Standard or Datacenter Edition to pre-purchase Azure metered services for System Center or CIS.
  • The normal standalone Azure meters for OMS Incl.
  • Op Insights: Per GB, Automation: per minute, Backup: Per VM and Azure Site Recovery: 2 VMs.
  • The OMS suite Add-On will extend for Std/DC Annually – Opp Insights: 100GB/500GB, Automation: 10K min/ 50K min, Backup: 2VMs/10 VMs, Azure Site Recovery ASR: 2VMs/10 VMs
  • Promo until June 30th at circa 40% discount
  • The OMS Suite is available through EA/EAS/SCE
  • The standalone is available on PAYG or Azure monetary commit.
  • Usage above the annual entitlement is subject to overage charges. Azure Site Recovery could result in additional charges for Storage, Storage Transactions and Outbound Data.
  • The OMS Add-On is locked to the same enrollment as System Center or CIS. If Azure MC is purchased on a different enrollment, it can be used to pay for overage or other charges related  to OMS Add-On.

April News Roundup

  • Originally under NDA until May 2nd Microsoft confirmed SQL BIS would go end of sale. After SQL 2016 GA, Enterprise Server license grant  at renewal of BIS with active SA (1:1). EA customers can TUP with 25% cap.
  • Microsoft explicitly now confirmed SQL Enterprise Server SA renewals can continue. Applicable 20 core restrictions apply.
  • SQL PDW SKU discontinued on June 1st 2016. Features will be licensed per core under SQL Enterprise Edition. Representing a ~27% price increase for PDW.
  • Windows Server 2016 new licensing data metrics must be considered – Datacenter Edition supports unlimited OSEs, Hyper-V Containers and Windows Server Containers. Standard Edition provides rights TO 2 OSEs of Hyper-V contained and unlimited Hyper-V containers. Shielded VMs only available in Datacenter Edition. Nano Server available in both editions. Expected GA in October (TBC).
  • Reminder: July 1, 2016 Select Plus Retirement for Commercial customers – no new orders.
  • Windows10 “Anniversary Update” adds Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Windows Hello. http://goo.gl/5Ziipl
  • Windows10 “Anniversary Update” will provide Bash Linux terminal http://goo.gl/DqF8cD
  • Windows10 “Anniversary Update”: EDP (Enterprise Data Protection) for local device file encryption from corporate sources w. privileged app controls http://goo.gl/vu7Lq5
  • Office365 Cloud App Security was added to Product Terms and OST in April 2016. Generally Available.
  • SQL Server 2005 now out of support from April 12th 2016. https://goo.gl/2uAApc
  • Exchange Server 2007 is out of support in less than a year. http://goo.gl/WwxbTc
  • SQL Server ‘Incremental Servicing Model’ will proactively place CUs to Windows Update Catalog  https://goo.gl/tjmJmW
  • SQL 2016 Release Candidate 3 Available https://goo.gl/R2HqDz
  • April 1st SQL Developer only available via Dev Essentials (free). Enterprise Bits. No Downgrade Rights: look to MSDN https://goo.gl/ZacH8U
  • Azure Container Service own Generally Available
  • Skype for Business PSTN licensing FAQs https://goo.gl/HOV6BA
  • Customer Lockbox Office365 E5 expands. Exchange Online to SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business from Q2 2016
  • Office365 App Discovery and App Permissions available via E5 from April 2016
  • Cloud App Security Broker, incorporating the Adallom acquisition, rolls out April 2016 for Office365 Plan E5
  • Dynamics AX “For SA” and “Step-up” licenses available: April 1,2016.

Dynamics AX

  • Microsoft Dynamics AX transition from an on-premises to a cloud release. The cloud offerings of Microsoft Dynamics AX include three levels of user subscription licenses (Enterprise, Task, Self-Serve) and one device SL. Customers can also purchase additional storage and sandbox instances if needed.
  • A seat minimum of 50 Enterprise Users (or device equivalent) will be required for Microsoft Dynamics AX for both CSP and EA offerings. It takes 2.5 Device SLs to equal 1 Enterprise User SL.
  • The seat minimum will be a technical enforcement in Life Cycle Service (LCS) on Enterprise and Device counts.
  • Available worldwide in EA/EAS/EES from February; CSP in March.

Dynamics CRM 2016 ‘Spring Wave’

  • CRM Portal capabilities from Microsoft are delivered as an add-on product for customers that have upgraded to the latest version (Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2016 Update 1).
  • CRM Project Service is delivered as an add-on product for customers that have upgraded to the latest version (Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2016 Update 1).
  • Field Service is delivered as an add-on product for customers that have upgraded to the latest version (Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2016 Update 1).
  • Microsoft are expecting general availability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Portal and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Portal additional Pageviews in VL by May 10, 2016, important to advise customers interested in Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Portal and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Portal Pageviews to NOT order prior to the service available date. Orders for these SKUs will be accepted starting on May 10th.
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Field Service: User must have at least a CRM Online Basic license. Additional capabilities for CRM Online Field Service may require CRM Online Professional.
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Project Service: available as a user subscription license via EA in lead status only. Requires CRM Online Basic license or above.
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Portal:  Requires a pre-existing CRM Online subscription and may only be associated with one instance per Portal. Each portal includes 1,000,000 page views per month.
  • Full Mobile Offline capabilities: Included in CRM Online Professional or above.
  • Microsoft Dynamics Employee Self-Service (ESS): Self-Service solution via CRM Portal requires separate CRM Online Portal Add-On, and at least one CRM Online Professional to set up and manage service. ESS users are not licensed for CRM Online user interface; access is only allowed via Portal or other Application.*
  • *Please note that the use right to Publish knowledgebase articles moves down from CRM Online Enterprise to CRM Online Professional with the ‘Spring Wave’ Release. Self-Service solution management via Parature Portal needs Parature deployment, which requires at least one (1) CRMOL Enterprise or at least one (1) Parature Enterprise.

About

This website is a way to give back to the licensing community and as an information resource for all customers that work with Microsoft software and licensing. I hope you find it of value.

Tony Mackelworth is Head of Microsoft Advisory Services at SoftwareONE

If you would like to reach out for a coffee or a meeting under NDA, Email or connect via Twitter or LinkedIn

Disclaimer

  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Terms
  • This article is not intended to replace the Product Use Rights or Product List or Online Service Terms or other binding contractual documents
  • Please be aware that any licensing, or product information could be subject to change.
  • This document confers no rights and is provided for information purposes only.
  • Please be aware, my own emphasis may have been added to quotations and extracts from 3rd party sources.
  • This is not official guidance from Microsoft or its subsidiaries.
  • The following article is based on open information shared with Licensing Solutions Providers (LSPs) and based on  personal inference and understanding.
  • This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product.
  • Please be aware that nothing in this document constitutes specific technical advice. Some of the material in this document may have been prepared some time ago and therefore may have been superseded. Specialist advice from the vendor should be taken in relation to specific circumstances.
  • The contents of this document are for general information purposes only. Whilst the author endeavors to ensure that the information on this document is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and the primary author or it’s contributing Authors do not accept any liability for error or omission.
  • The contributing authors and owner of this document shall not be liable for any damage (including, without limitation, damage for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use, this website or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this website or any such material.
  • This Disclaimer is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights.