SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS) Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS)?
A.

SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS) is designed to help your organization plan an effective deployment of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. SDPS includes a broad range of planning tools and services that help optimize the effectiveness of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server's core capabilities and help lower the cost of deployment and improve the productivity of your organization.

SDPS pairs Microsoft's strongest SharePoint partners with organizations that are eligible for deployment planning services as part of their Software Assurance benefits. Your organization can receive a reliable, repeatable process for certified SDPS partners to conduct a 1, 3, 5, 10 or 15-day programmatic planning sessions using your Software Assurance benefits. You will want to ensure you are part of this program!

Q.What is the value of SDPS?
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SDPS enables you to get more value out of your Software Assurance investment

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SDPS offers an engagement that is customized to your needs (Collaboration, Portals, Search or Enterprise Content Management)

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SDPS offers you SharePoint deployment services provided only by qualified SDPS certified partners

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SDPS partners can share best practices, analyze your organizational environment, and provide you with tools and services that help with your SharePoint deployment

Q.What SA benefits are available to me?
A.

The types and levels of the Microsoft Software Assurance for Volume Licensing (SA) benefits you can receive vary depending on your licensing program, which products you have purchased, and how many licenses you have. Based on your SA benefit, your organization may qualify for a 1, 3, 5, 10 or 15 day engagement.

To learn more about Software Assurance review the Software Assurance information on the Microsoft Partner Program site.

Q.Where do I find information on my SA benefit?
A.

To determine the software assurance your organization has purchased, you must identify who, within your organization, "owns" the contract with Microsoft. This could be a legal resource, a contracting specialist, or an IT executive and is known as the Notices Contact or the Agreement Administrator. You can find more information at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/default.mspx.

Q.How do I locate an SDPS certified partner?
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Visit http://directory.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/psbproviders/ to locate a partner in your area certified to deliver SDPS.

Q.What does an engagement entitle me to?
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A 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 day engagements will be offered depending on your SA benefit level.

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The types of services delivered will depend on the length of the engagement

a. A Strategy Briefing defines the vision and is part of all engagements,

b. An Architectural Design Session is added in a 3 day engagement,

c. A Deployment Planning Session is added in a 5 day engagement, and

d. A Proof of Concept in your environment is added in a 10 and 15 day engagement.

Q.How do I activate my SA benefit?
A.

Step 1: Get administrative rights
If you do not have administrative rights, contact your notices contact or benefits administration.

Step 2: Sign on at the MVLS site
Sign on at http://licensing.microsoft.com.

Step 3: Click on SA benefit summary
Select the Software Assurance Benefit page.

Step 4: Select SDPS benefit
Select the SharePoint Deployment Packaged Services Benefit.

Step 5: Create SDPS voucher
Optional: Increase days by applying unused training days. Note: This is the only time you will be able to increase the number of days.

Step 6: Assign SDPS voucher
Assign the SDPS voucher to a project manager within your organization.

Step 7: Indentify qualified partners
The project manager will receive an e-mail message about the benefit, along with a link to a list of qualified SDPS partners.

Step 8: Contact qualified partner
Start your SDPS engagement with your partner.

For a detailed walk-thru video on "How to Activate and Use Assurance Benefits" go to http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/activate.mspx.

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