Extended Hotfix Support
The Extended Hotfix* Support benefit available through Microsoft Software Assurance helps make it easier for customers with a Premier or Essential Support contract to get the support they need as their software transitions from Mainstream Support to Extended Support.
If you are a Software Assurance customer with Premier or Essential Support, Extended Hotfix Support can help you achieve the following:
| • | Greater savings. With annual fees for the Extended Hotfix Support benefit included with Software Assurance, you pay only the per-hotfix fee for new, nonsecurity hotfixes when you need them. |
| • | Peace of mind and flexibility. As a Software Assurance customer, you can take advantage of Extended Hotfix Support (on selected products**) at any time during the Extended Support phase to request new, nonsecurity hotfixes. |
As always, security fixes are automatically available to all customers during the Mainstream and Extended Support phases.
Eligibility
The fee for Extended Hotfix Support is included with Software Assurance, so all you pay for is the actual hotfix. You must sign up for Extended Hotfix Support within 90 days of product purchase, except on selected products.
The following Volume Licensing programs are eligible for this benefit:
| • | Open License |
| • | Open Value |
| • | Open Value Company-wide |
| • | Open Value Subscription |
| • | Select License |
| • | Select License Software Assurance Membership |
| • | Enterprise Agreement |
| • | Enterprise Subscription Agreement |
Getting Started
You can get Extended Hotfix Support on selected products at any time during the Extended Support phase for which you have Software Assurance coverage. All you need to do is work with your Microsoft Support Team to enroll in the Extended Hotfix Support program and sign an agreement (which is an attachment to your Premier or Essential Agreement). The enrollment fee is paid for through Software Assurance.
About the Microsoft Support Life Cycle Policy
Microsoft provides a minimum of five years of Mainstream Support and five years of Extended Support for business and developer products.
During the Mainstream Support phase, all support options are available, including all paid and complimentary support options. Security updates and nonsecurity hotfixes are provided at no additional charge.
During the Extended Support phase, paid support options continue to be available and security updates continue to be provided at no additional charge. However, customers who want new, nonsecurity hotfix support during the Extended Support phase must sign up for Extended Hotfix Support.
The Extended Hotfix Support benefit for Software Assurance customers includes the annual fee for Extended Hotfix Support on specific products covered by Software Assurance. Customers are not required to sign an Extended Hotfix Support agreement within 90 days of a product's transition from Mainstream to Extended Support. Instead, they can enroll at any time during the Extended Support phase for selected products for which they have Software Assurance coverage.
Learn more about the Microsoft Support Lifecycle
Learn More
Software Assurance Transition Benefits Datasheet
(Portable Document Format file, 492 KB)
Download the datasheet to learn more about Extended Hotfix Support and other benefits that can help your organization during the transition and maintain phases of the software life cycle.
View a table listing the Microsoft Volume Licensing programs eligible for this and other Software Assurance benefits.
Learn how to activate Software Assurance benefits.
Find out how to get Software Assurance.
Read real-life examples of how other businesses are deriving value from their Software Assurance benefits.
*A hotfix is a single cumulative package composed of one or more binaries used to address a change in a product. Hotfixes are designed to address a specific customer situation and may not be distributed outside the customer organization without written legal consent from Microsoft.
**The Software Assurance Extended Hotfix Support benefit covers Microsoft Office Professional, Windows, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (formerly known as Microsoft Operations Manager), Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager (formerly Microsoft Systems Management Server), and Windows Server.