Software assurance benefits can only be renewed before their twoyear term expires not after. What happens after my microsoft software assurance expires. Windows 7 enterprise the benefits of having software. 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. In a world where virtualization is being employed more and more, where vdi, thin clients, and remote desktop services rds are becoming more attractive and commonplace, microsoft licensing. Visit microsoft software assurance or contact your microsoft volume licensing reseller. The software assurance for an upgrade product has the same end date as for the original product obtained through charity digital exchange. If you just need the price for a single product, start a quick quote. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance, an. Microsoft boosts benefits for software assurance agreement. Version upgrade rights july 6, 2018 this sa software assurance benefit provides the right to deploy new product versions that become available during the term of sa coverage.
The current branch requires an active software assurance agreement or equivalent rights to configuration manager. Upgrade each microsoft product license that is covered by active coverage to the most recent for no additional cost. With this benefit, customers need to only pay for the infrastructure costs of the virtual machine because the licensing for windows server is covered by the. Microsoft assurance software is a program that was introduced in 2002 to help users deploy and support microsoft windows, microsoft office and related server desktop applications. For instance, without software assurance, you wouldnt be able to use windows 2000 server cals on windows server 2003. Guide to software assurance charity digital exchange. Microsoft adds sql server disaster recovery use rights with. Refer to the index for products no longer available. Properly licensed microsoft operating systems such as windows 10, windows 8.
Customers should refer to their agreements for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under microsofts volume licensing programs. Microsoft sql server a deeper look continued flexera blog. Use license advisor to research microsoft volume licensing products, programs and pricing. Conversion of software assurance 24x7 problem resolution support incidents to premier support services.
Improve operational efficiency through access to unique technologies. Microsoft is leveraging the immediacy and urgency of security updates to force customers into paying for software assurance. With new version rights, you can upgrade each microsoft product license that is covered by active software assurance to the most recent version for no additional cost. Software assurance benefits were introduced by microsoft as a way of delivering greater value to its customer base outside of the commonly perceived version upgrade use cases. Microsoft includes two years of free software assurance with most volume licensing products it donates through techsoup. On the create an incident select a payment option page, select use my software assurance agreement. Microsoft software assurance microsoft wiki fandom. The addition of windows thin pc, wintpc for short, does just that. You cant add software assurance to a license if 90 days have passed. Software assurance sa, a subscription that included upgrade rights and the microsoft desktop optimization pack mdop, was also part of volume. If you upgrade from a oem version, it carries the rights of a oem version. Gregor kneitz, who is a microsoft senior product manager for volume license programs will provide information about these benefits and will answer your questions about how to access it. Understanding windows 10 enterprise licensing petri. Can i renew my microsoft software assurance benefits through the donation program.
Solved when is software assurance required with windows. When a new version of microsoft office is released during the term of your agreement, your licenses are automatically upgraded to the new version. In support of the nonprofit community, microsoft has generously included software assurance with virtually all of its product donations through the donation program. The windows client licenses granted through the microsoft partner network are upgrade licenses only. Microsoft partner network software licensing benefits faq. May 25, 2018 software assurance benefits were introduced by microsoft as a way of delivering greater value to its customer base outside of the commonly perceived version upgrade use cases. Feb 17, 2017 software assurance sa, a subscription that included upgrade rights and the microsoft desktop optimization pack mdop, was also part of volume licensing. In addition to free software upgrades, software assurance provides many other. Software assurance spans a broad range of microsoft software and services, including windows, microsoft. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies. Microsoft software assurance benefits royal discount. Microsoft assurance software is a program that was introduced in 2002 to help users deploy and support microsoft windows, microsoft office and. License mobility through software assurance only applies to eligible products as per the product use rights pur document. Microsoft has also announced, effective october 1st 2019, a material update to its longstanding outsourcer licensing terms that will impact customers who have purchased licenses without software assurance sa and mobility rights assigned to dedicated host infrastructure services, provided by a discrete list of named listed providers.
Microsoft windows rights management services software assurance 1 user cal overview and full product specs on cnet. 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. Microsoft offers a range of product specific benefits such as the ones outlined for sql server below in table 1 sql server software assurance benefits overview. Like all products, the licenses remain valid, and you can continue to use the product after software assurance expires. Microsoft volume licensing frequently asked questions. To apply these usage licenses to computers within your environment, each of the computers must have a preexisting, qualifying operating system license that is, a license for windows xp professional, windows vista business, windows 7 professional, or windows 8 pro. Microsoft windows rights management services software. This branch is supported for use in production environments that want to receive regular quality and feature updates from microsoft. Software assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in it. Roll over the to see entitlement descriptions for individual benefits. Windows 10 enterprise features include all the capabilities that customers get with windows 10 pro, plus premium features designed to provide the mobile productivity, security, manageability, and virtualization needs of todays organizations. Type your software assurance access id and email address you use to access the vlsc and click continue.
The value and benefit gained under microsoft volume licensing programs and through use of microsoft software and services may vary by customer. Microsoft licensing is the single largest it expense for many. Microsoft adds sql server disaster recovery use rights. Microsoft plans to offer a new package of training, support and other benefits to customers who bought its controversial software assurance agreement to gain upgrade rights to its products.
Microsofts bill landefeld on software assurance changes. Even after microsoft software assurance expires, benefits that were accrued in that period are still valid. How long does my microsoft software assurance last. Software assurance upgrade benefits for licenses are automatic. Apr, 2017 if you have a server with 20 cores running windows server 2012 with software assurance, then microsoft will grant you 20 core licenses for windows server 2016. Select the product and problem for which you need support. Volume licenses can be purchased with software assurance,a microsoft program that provides additional benefits beyond the core volume license including software version upgrade rights at no additional cost, a home use purchase program providing a significant discount for purchasing an additional license for home use e. Organisations such as businesses that purchase software through microsoft volume licensing must normally purchase software assurance as a separate option. First, having software assurance means you get first access to the new versions when they become available. Microsoft collects money in advance for future upgrades during a volumelicensing agreement and then keeps the money if it doesnt deliver. Microsoft open programs licensing guide microsoft volume licensing 4 software assurance microsoft software assurance for volume licensing helps boost productivity across your organization by enabling you to get the most out of your microsoft software with 24x7 support, deployment planning services, enduser and technical training, and the latest.
Microsoft software assurance big risk for a small reward. Licensed products with coverage can be upgraded to the latest version of that product made available during the covered period. What to know about upgrading to windows server 2016 with. Appendix b software assurance microsoft volume licensing. Microsoft software assurance has always been a gamble. Software assurance is a comprehensive volume licensing program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help you deploy, manage. Licensing and branches configuration manager microsoft. Software assurance benefits microsoft volume licensing. If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version. Microsoft volume licensing microsoft software assurance. Software assurance is a collection of benefits for microsoft products. Seth explains the benefits to software assurance and helps you.
Microsoft office, online elearning, training vouchers, an employee purchase program, and many other benefits. Software assurance is what some people call upgrade insurance or version upgrade rights. Microsoft software assurance sa is a microsoft maintenance program aimed at business. Customers should refer to their agreements for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under microsoft s volume licensing programs. Solved when is software assurance required with windows 10. The right to install the software on more than one machine. So, if we purchase enterprise upgrades under vl without sa for windows 10 enterprise anniversary update, the license could be perpetual, but it would really be usable for for the support life of anniversary update 12 years. Licensing programs eligibility requirements microsoft. 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.
Reduce software and services costs with rights to new software releases and costefficient upgrades. Microsoft provides helpful selfaudit tools and reports to quantify and assess software assurance benefit utilization, but you may need to engage your it department to ensure that you are not utilizing some of these rights e. Otherwise, select the full quote or guided quote option. Software assurance benefits included with microsoft donations. Dec 23, 2014 as i have explained before, a software license is a set of rights granted to you by the manufacturer that governs how you use the software. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies to. But heres the catch you must provide microsoft with sufficient documentation to receive the extra licenses. 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. So, if we purchase enterprise upgrades under vl without sa for windows 10 enterprise anniversary update, the license could be perpetual, but it would really be usable for for the support life of anniversary update 12.
Microsoft differentiates license and software assurance. Microsoft software assurance benefits for office can help your organization accelerate deployment and improve enduser. As outlined in the product list, for any licensed product covered with active sa, youre given the right to upgrade and run the latest version of that product that is made available during the coverage. Should i buy software assurance with my microsoft licenses. With software assurance, the cals are also usable on the upgraded product. Go to microsoft software assurance support page and click on submit request. Azure hybrid benefit for windows server microsoft docs. Click on any software assurance benefit name for a brief description. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance.
Use consulting services to plan new, onpremises and cloudbased deployments. Software assurance benefits across microsoft volume licensing programs. Software assurance by benefit microsoft volume licensing. Fail over rights allows a passivefailover instance i. When sa is discontinued, customers are only entitled to use windows 10 enterprise ltsb. As outlined in the product list, for any licensed product covered with active sa, youre given the right to upgrade and run the latest version of that product that is made available during the coverage term. All products that are currently eligible for license mobility within server farms and covered by software assurance are eligible for license mobility through software assurance. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it. Are my microsoft product licenses still valid after software assurance expires. Licensing and branches configuration manager microsoft docs. Get a full quote that you can share with colleagues or your reseller. For more information, see software assurance and the current branch.
Under software assurance, customers pay an annual fee of 25% of the volumelicense fee for server products and 29% for desktop products to gain upgrade rights to products. Software assurance microsoft partner 500 equivalent employees. How to use or renew your software assurance benefits techsoup. Microsoft volume licensing product licensing search. Software assurance microsoft partner 500 equivalent.
Software assurance is optional under a select plus or microsoft products and. The azure hybrid benefit for windows server allows you to save up to 40% on windows server vms in azure by utilizing your onpremises windows server licenses with software assurance. Microsoft makes significant licensing changes softwareone. Software assurance by product microsoft volume licensing. 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. You cant, however, upgrade to versions that microsoft releases after your software assurance expires. So with windows 7, those customers that have software assurance on their windows desktop operating system licenses get first access to the windows 7 code for deployment through the volume license service center download site. Woody walton microsoft is always looking to increase the value of software assurance sa. When a new version of microsoft office is released during the term of your agreement, your licenses are. Windows 10 licensing guide and upgrade paths spiceworks. Nov 07, 2011 microsoft is leveraging the immediacy and urgency of security updates to force customers into paying for software assurance. Software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price for desktop.