Microsoft volume licensing microsoft software assurance. Microsoft is updating software assurance sa through changes to sa benefits, starting in february 2020. With software assurance, you receive access to new versions of licensed software released during the term of your agreement to deploy at your own pace. Software assurance is a collection of benefits for microsoft products. Software assurance sa benefits for sql server are enhanced on november 1 st, 2019 with new rights to build a holistic high availability ha and disaster recovery dr plan for sql server workloads.
Microsoft office pro plus 2016 and software assurance. Microsoft open license is a software volume licensing program designed for corporate, government, charity, and academic customers who order as few as five licenses. Faq about esu for windows server 20082008 r2 and sql server. The ltsb requires a current software assurance agreement with microsoft as of october 1, 2016. Theres no need to leave the comfort of your own home to get your questions answered. The self hosting benefit allows customers with software assurance to provide their own software as a hosted service using a combination of microsoft software and their own software to create a unified solution unified solution, subject to the terms outlined in the microsoft product terms. Dec 11, 2017 companies paying around seven percent of annual software assurance cost for premier support will see a 25 percent to 30 percent cost increase for unified support, gartner calculated. New high availability and disaster recovery benefits for.
With new version rights, each microsoft product license that is covered by active software assurance can be upgraded to the most recent version for no additional cost. The first step is understanding what software assurance is, so in this post i will try to explain it in a clear and concise manner. Customers should refer to their agreements for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under microsoft s volume licensing programs. Software assurance is a collection of benefits included with microsoft. Microsoft assurance software is a program that was introduced in 2002 to help users deploy and support microsoft windows, microsoft office and. Its intended for use by customers that have let their software assurance sa or equivalent subscriptions rights to configuration. Microsoft replacing premiere assurance support with new. It adds the ability to upgrade to the next software. Microsoft volume licensing is the most cost effective, flexible, and manageable way to acquire microsoft software and cloud services.
Roll over the to see entitlement descriptions for individual benefits. Why microsoft software assurance customers never win. Software assurance by product microsoft volume licensing. Rights to use configuration manager current branch can be provided by. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance, an. Click on any software assurance benefit name for a brief description. Licensing and branches configuration manager microsoft docs. Seth explains the benefits to software assurance and helps you weigh whether or not you should buy it with your microsoft licensing. The value and benefit gained under microsoft volume licensing programs and through use of microsoft software and services may vary by customer. By purchasing software assurance with your licenses, you can realise these benefits.
Software assurance is included with some microsoft products available through techsoup, but it can also be requested on its own. Additionally, software assurance is not as robust of a technical support offering. How to use or renew your software assurance benefits techsoup. To renew your software assurance benefits, request a standalone software assurance product through techsoup up to 90 days before your original benefits expire. Jul, 2018 with software assurance coverage on the servers, the azure hybrid benefit program lets organizations save up to 55 percent on the cost of running sql server and windows server in azure. Steven, i n simple terms, what exactly is software assurance and why is it so important with microsoft licenses sk. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance. When sa is discontinued, customers are only entitled to use windows 10 enterprise ltsb.
New high availability and disaster recovery benefits for sql. Trying to work out sa total cost over 4 years vs no sa and buying the latest license then. This branch is supported for use in production environments. Software assurance planning services helps guide your customers through the deployment and business value planning stages of software implementation.
Reduce software and services costs with rights to new software releases and costefficient upgrades. Customers should refer to their agreements for a full understanding of. Microsoft recently announced a common endofsupport date for its microsoft desktop optimization pack tools, which also is a software assurance benefit. There are two different levels of support and service for you to choose from. Microsoft s software assurance gives you automatic access to new technology and provides productivity benefits, support, tools, and training to help deploy and use software efficiently. A necessary cost microsoft vaguely defines software assurance or sa as a comprehensive volume licensing program that includes an extensive set of technologies, services. With our unmatched expertise in microsoft licensing programs, reporting services and software asset management technology, well help you reduce costs and ensure compliance across your organisation. Microsoft updates to software assurance sa, beginning. While buying enough software assurance does come with certain. Faq about esu for windows server 20082008 r2 and sql. Microsoft differentiates license and software assurance. Assure addresses many of your potential microsoft software support needs for one year. Software assurance is a comprehensive volume licensing program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help you deploy, manage, and. Microsoft software assurance changes to favor fasttrack.
Microsoft software assurance has always been a gamble. Software assurance benefits across microsoft volume licensing programs. Software assurance is a comprehensive volume licensing program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help you deploy, manage, and use your microsoft products more efficiently. Windows virtual desktop access rights vda enables users to access virtual instances of windows in a variety of user scenarios. Microsoft could face a backlash from users if changes to its software assurance licensing scheme, due to be announced next month, do not address cost and value concerns.
In 2005 microsoft figured out how to tap into the revenue stream of extended warranties for software. It is often mischaracterized as maintenance or support. License mobility through software assurance gives microsoft volume licensing customers the flexibility to deploy eligible server applications with active software assurance on azure. In order for it to be acceptable, the cost of the software assurance process has to.
Ninety days prior to expiration, your vlsc account owner should receive an email from microsoft saying that the benefits are expiring soon. In support of the nonprofit community, microsoft has generously included software assurance with virtually all of. Software assurance working out costs over 4 year period. Microsoft announced retirement of software assurance deployment planning services and software assurance training voucher benefits on september, 2019. With software assurance coverage on the servers, the azure hybrid benefit program lets organizations save up to 55 percent on the cost of running sql server and windows server in azure. This microsoft office 2016 professional plus open license is an essential tool for individuals and small to mediumsized businesses who want organization and simplicity in addition to fullfeatured, uptodate microsoft software. Office multilanguage packs are available at no cost if you have a license for an office. More and more companies are using this tactic to reduce microsoft costs and drastically so. Microsoft actually refers to premium assurance as a software assurance addon plan. However, customers who have maintained software assurance sa coverage can continue to renew sa on enterprise edition servers and upgrade to sql server 2017 software. Microsoft recently announced a common end of support date for its microsoft desktop optimization pack tools, which also is a software assurance benefit.
How can a customer calculate the esu price of the following situation. For example, an app that needs to support an event for a couple of months every year, or business analysis on mondays. Software assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in it. A customer with sql server licenses with software assurance has historically benefited from a free passive instance of sql server for their high availability configurations.
Paying the sql server licensing per usage is recommended for. Software assurance helps boost organizational productivity with 24. Microsoft announced today changes to their software assurance sa benefits offerings that will be gradually rolled out starting in february 2020 and fully implemented by january 2022. When you are a volume licensing customer, you can enhance your it investment further with software assurance benefits, which can be applied through a broad range of licensing agreements. Rapid economic justification rej microsoft in order for it to be acceptable, the cost of the software assurance process has to. Microsoft collects money in advance for future upgrades during a volumelicensing agreement and then keeps the money if it doesnt deliver. Software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price for desktop products e. The microsoft home use program provides your employees a way to buy office. Microsoft starts selling premium assurance for sql. Software assurance sa is microsofts discounted offer to prepurchase future upgrades of the software title one carries sa on. Should i buy software assurance with my microsoft licenses. Office 2016 professional plus comes with the latest versions of word, excel, powerpoint, outlook, onenote, and publisher as well as access to office web apps and.
The cost is the same for all versions of sql server 2012 sp3 to 2017. For example, if a new version of windows is released during the term of your agreement, your licenses are automatically upgraded to the new version. The slick and sharp looking sorftware are there to help you achieve the maximum productivity in no time, similar to other office software but better. Licensing and branches configuration manager microsoft. Since understanding the overall impacts is obviously one of the primary goals of any software assurance valuation process, tei is an attractive approach. The disaster recovery software assurance benefit applies to microsoft server products protected with azure site recovery. The status of software assurance on your configuration manager licenses, or equivalent subscription rights, on or after october 1, 2016, determines the branch you can install and use. Software assurance is a comprehensive volume licensing program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help you deploy, manage. Hi, im trying to find out how much it would cost as a % of total license fee for a client to renew their software assurance for ms crm 2011, two years from now. Organisations such as businesses that purchase software through microsoft volume licensing must normally purchase software assurance as a separate option.
Assure puts you in touch with support experts right where you are when you chat with. The software assurance benefits calculator is an online tool to calculate estimated software assurance benefits that customers may be entitled to. After the initial order, customers can benefit from volume pricing for all licenses for the remainder of the term of their open license authorization number. Customers may purchase depending on the program, a license without software assurance, software.
Companies paying around seven percent of annual software assurance cost for premier support will see a 25 percent to 30 percent cost increase for unified support, gartner calculated. Software assurance spans a broad range of microsoft software and services, including windows, microsoft office, exchange, system center, sql server, and many others. Microsoft software assurance benefits for office can help your organization. For more information, see software assurance and the ltsb. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies to. With software assurance, you get the tools and training you need to do more with the it investments you plan to make as well as those you have already made. Models for assessing the cost and value of software assurance. Not every microsoft customer needs software assurance on all of the vendors offerings. Enhanced sa rights for sql server enable significant licensing cost savings for sql server both for onpremises and on azure vms. In support of the nonprofit community, microsoft has generously included software assurance with virtually all of its product donations through the donation program. Optimize tco with new sql server software assurance. Otherwise, select the full quote or guided quote option. The persecond licensing cost depends on the number of vm vcpus.
What is software assurance and what benefits it provides. Software assurance benefits included with microsoft donations. If you are in the market for microsoft licenses, one question you should be asking is. As a volume licensing customer, you can enhance your it investments further with software assurance benefits, which apply across a broad range of licensing agreements. Software assurance is an annuity thats thought to add maybe. Visit microsoft software assurance or contact your microsoft volume licensing reseller. Onpremises can be used to describe both an end customer or service provider environment, as long as it is for their own usage and not resold. Microsofts software assurance gives you automatic access to new technology and provides productivity benefits, support, tools, and training to help deploy and use software efficiently. One year of microsoft software support on up to 5 personal devices, via phone or chat. Entitlement summary commercial and government offerings new version rights licensed products with software assurance coverage can be upgraded to the latest version of that product made available during the covered period. Software assurance benefits microsoft volume licensing. When you look at the current price list you will see. Use license advisor to research microsoft volume licensing products, programs and pricing. In order for it to be acceptable, the cost of the software assurance process has to be justifiable in hard economic terms.
Microsoft software assurance sa is a microsoft maintenance program aimed at business users who use microsoft windows, microsoft office, and other server and desktop applications. Oct 30, 2019 a customer with sql server licenses with software assurance has historically benefited from a free passive instance of sql server for their high availability configurations. A base subscription that includes 8x5 access to technical support as well as software patch updates, hot fixes, and entitlement to major software releases. Eliminating sa on some products can lead to savings of 20, 30 or 40 percent of your annual maintenance spend.
Microsofts new unified support plan may result in price. Microsoft provides this material solely for informational purposes. A comprehensive program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help deploy, manage, and use microsoft products efficiently, software assurance helps keep your business up to date and ready to respond quickly to change and opportunity. Software assurance spans a broad range of microsoft software and services, including windows, microsoft office, azure, system center, sql server, and many others. Microsoft announces changes to software assurance benefits. Microsoft volume licensing is the most costeffective and flexible way to manage and acquire microsoft software and cloud services. Do microsoft customers really need software assurance. Software assurance benefits calculated by this tool are an estimate only, and the results generated do not constitute an offer. If your organization has or plans to invest in sa, you will need to understand how these changes will impact your ability to accrue, redeem, and consume these benefits moving forward. May 05, 2011 im trying to find out how much it would cost as a % of total license fee for a client to renew their software assurance for ms crm 2011, two years from now. If you just need the price for a single product, start a quick quote. With this software assurance benefit, there is no need to purchase new licenses and no associated mobility fees so, you can easily deploy existing licenses on the. In this blog post, we will highlight the scenarios to maximize. How long does my microsoft software assurance last.
Enables customers to use sql server licenses with software assurance or qualifying subscription licenses to pay a reduced rate base rate on sql database vcorebased options such as managed instance, vcorebased single database, and vcorebased elastic pool. Software assurance is an extra annual charge on top of microsofts software licensing costs. This change was made in the 2015 product use rights pur. Jun 14, 2016 software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price for desktop products e. That helps to lower the total cost of ownership tco of an application using sql server. A necessary cost microsoft vaguely defines software assurance or sa as a comprehensive volume licensing program.
Microsoft offers software assurance only with its volume licensing programs. Cases in which windows 10 enterprise with software assurance was purchased as part of a microsoft agreement, but the sa was not extended, will impact the deployed windows 10 enterprise version as well. Is foregoing software assurance a viable option for your company. The core premise behind sa is to give users the ability to spread payments over several years, while offering free upgrades to newer versions during that time period. Feb 04, 2020 how can a customer calculate the esu price of the following situation. Microsoft software assurance big risk for a small reward. By delivering planning services engagements, you have the opportunity to generate more leads, drive enterprise agreement renewals, and get paid by microsoft. Sep, 2019 microsoft announced today changes to their software assurance sa benefits offerings that will be gradually rolled out starting in february 2020 and fully implemented by january 2022.
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