Software Assurance Benefits for Volume Licensing Agreements
This table shows you which Software Assurance benefits you get with each of the
different Microsoft Volume Licensing agreements. You can compare up to three agreements
by ticking the boxes below. The columns under each agreement type show you the benefits
available by product pool. Essentially, you need to have bought licences within
a particular product pool to get the corresponding benefits. For example, to receive
a benefit in the SER column, you would need to have bought a Microsoft server product.
These are three product pools:
- APP = application, eg Microsoft Office
- SYS = system, eg Microsoft Windows operating system
- SER = server, eg Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Server, Server Client Access Licences
(CALs)
For a full list of which products sit in which product pool, please read the relevant
FAQs on this page.
Key
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gives you information about each benefit
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shows you’re entitled to a benefit
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shows you’re entitled to a benefit, and gives further information
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Licence Agreements
Step-up licences, plus two of Microsoft’s virtualisation products are available
only to customers with Software Assurance:
- Step-up licences Software Assurance coverage allows you to migrate from a lower
level edition of certain products to a higher level edition by buying a special
step-up licence, instead of having to buy a full licence for the new, higher level
product.
- Microsoft
Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP)
A suite of innovative technologies that can help you increase desktop manageability,
reduce the total cost of ownership, and improve your overall infrastructure.
-
Vista Enterprise Centralised Desktop (VECD)
This allows you to run Windows in virtual machines that live on servers. Your users
can access these virtual machines through either PCs or thin clients.
Both MDOP and VECD are available on a subscription basis.
New Version Rights
New Version Rights is a benefit included with Microsoft Software Assurance that
allows your organisation to take advantage of the latest software innovations. The
New Version Rights benefit gives you access to new software versions that are released
during the term of your Software Assurance coverage-at no extra cost.
It's simple: if a new version of a Microsoft product-the Microsoft Office system,
for example-is released during the term of your coverage, your licences will automatically
be upgraded to the new version; you won't have to go through the traditional buying
process.
Spread Payments
With Software Assurance you can spread payments annually, without extra fees or
interest. You reduce upfront costs and can forecast software budget requirements
up to three years in advance, helping your cash flow position. Payments can be spread
annually for all three-year Volume Licensing agreements.
Desktop Deployment Planning Services
Desktop Deployment Planning Services (DDPS) can help you ensure successful deployment
of Microsoft Office or Windows software to increase usage, increase productivity,
and lower costs. Your consultant collaborates with you to create a comprehensive
deployment plan that includes analysis, business case, process, and technical procedures.
The service is based on the Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment
and best practices from Microsoft, and its objective is to help reduce the cost
and complexity associated with high levels of process and automation. The number
of engagement days is 1, 3, 5, 10, or 15, depending on your Software Assurance coverage.
SharePoint Deployment Planning Services
SharePoint Deployment Planning Services (SDPS) are designed to help your organisation
plan an effective deployment of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. Your consultant
shares best practices, analyses your business environment, and provides tools and
services to help you get the most from Office SharePoint Service's core capabilities.
This tailored benefit helps lower the cost of deployment, and improve the productivity
of your organisation. The number of engagement days is 1, 3, 5, 10, or 15, depending
on your Software Assurance coverage.
Exchange Deployment Planning Services
Exchange Deployment Planning Services (EDPS) are designed to help guide your organisation
through the deployment planning stages of a Microsoft Exchange implementation. Through
a structured process, your consultant reviews new Microsoft Exchange product features,
shares best practices, analyses your business requirements, provides hands-on deployment
training, and helps create comprehensive deployment and implementation plans. The
number of engagement days is 3, 5, 10, or 15, depending on your Software Assurance
coverage.
Business Value Planning Services
Business Value Planning Services (BVPS) help your organisation's business decision
makers develop a plan to maximise the business value of the Microsoft Office system.
Your consultant works with you to help you unlock the potential of your existing
investment, drive change, and improve your business processes. The number of engagement
days is 3, 5, 10, or 15, depending on your Software Assurance coverage.
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 7 Enterprise is the premium edition of Windows 7 for businesses
and is available exclusively to Microsoft Software Assurance customers. It helps
businesses lower IT costs, reduce risk, and stay connected. Windows 7 Enterprise
includes all the features in Windows 7 Professional along with extra capabilities
designed to help reduce the cost and complexity of deploying and managing corporate
computers. In addition, Windows 7 Enterprise provides easier application management,
improved standardisation for global operations, and higher levels of data protection
for a growing, mobile workforce. With Windows 7 Enterprise, your employees can
find information faster and use it better.
Windows 7 Ultimate
If you have fewer than 600 licensed devices with active Windows Software Assurance,
you have the option to use Windows 7™ Ultimate in place of Windows 7 Professional
on up to five of those licensed devices. Customers with 600 or more licensed devices
with active Software Assurance have the option to use one Windows 7™ Ultimate
in place of Windows 7 Professional on up to one for every 100 of those licensed
devices.
Windows 7® Network Use Right (Remote Boot)
As a benefit of Software Assurance coverage for Windows desktops, you have access
to an extended use right in Volume Licensing. This new right allows you, as an alternative
to installing the software on your desktop PC, to install copies of Windows 7
on a storage device, such as a network server. You can then run those copies locally
on your desktop PCs by remote booting an operating system image over an internal
network from the storage device. This right applies to Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate (available through Software Assurance), or any eligible prior version of Windows 7 Professional, if you choose to run either of those editions instead of Windows 7 Professional.
Extended Training vouchers
With Software Assurance you receive training vouchers for selected courses from
Certified Partners for Learning Solutions. Over 1,600 of these Partners worldwide
offer authorised instructor-led or online training, self-paced courses and consultative
learning services to IT professionals and developers, leading to Microsoft certification.
eLearning
The eLearning benefit provides access to self-paced, interactive training that is
developed by Microsoft experts. It incorporates features that are designed to help
improve your organisation's product proficiency, plus boost productivity and lower
training costs. eLearning helps end users get the most out of new technology and
the software they use every day.
Courses are designed for maximum skills-transfer in minimal time. Assessments, hands-on
virtual labs, expert advice, and an interactive approach make eLearning an engaging
and flexible experience. What's more, as this kind of training isn't constrained
by time or location, your staff can study when and where it's convenient.
Home Use Programme
You can increase employee productivity and maximise the value of your Microsoft
Office investments by enabling your employees to work at home. The Home Use Programme
allows employees to get licensed copies of selected Microsoft Office desktop applications
to install and use on a home computer, if they use them on their PC at work. It
can also be useful in terms of attracting and retaining staff, as it allows you
to offer what amounts to an extra employee benefit. (Eligible Microsoft Office System
applications include Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft
InfoPath, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project
Standard Edition, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Visio and Microsoft Word.)
Microsoft Office Multi-Language Pack (MLP)
All Software Assurance customers with qualifying licences in the applications pool
have access to MLP. MLPs enable customers to run and switch between different language
versions of licensed products.
Employee Purchase Programme
Our Employee Purchase Programme gives staff significant discounts on retail prices
for Microsoft's most popular business and consumer products. Your employees can
order discounted products directly through our secure e-commerce site.
Enterprise Source Licensing Programme
If you have 1,500 or more licensed PCs, you can take advantage of the Enterprise
Source Licensing Programme and access Microsoft Windows source code for internal
development and support. This means your IT staff can adjust and develop systems
and applications, and help maintain security with improved debugging. (Please note
that eligibility and areas of availability are subject to Microsoft terms.)
24x7 Problem Resolution Support
With Software Assurance, you also get online and telephone support for your server
products. For every £135,000 of Software Assurance spend for Microsoft Office Applications
and Windows desktop, you are entitled to one phone incident. For every £13,500
of Software Assurance spend for servers and CALs, you are entitled to one phone
incident plus one complimentary phone incident. You will have unlimited web support
for servers covered with Software Assurance. Premier customers will be able to transfer
their Software Assurance incident into their premier contracts.
Cold Backups for Disaster Recovery
Customers with Software Assurance for Microsoft server software, as well as related
Client Access Licences (CALs), qualify for complimentary 'cold back-up' server licences
for disaster recovery. (Note: a 'cold server' is one reserved exclusively for disaster
recovery.)
TechNet Subscription Through Software Assurance
TechNet Subscription Through Software Assurance provides IT professionals with three
distinct TechNet Plus benefits: TechNet Online Concierge Chat, TechNet Managed Newsgroups,
and TechNet Plus Direct. TechNet Plus Subscription content includes resources such
as Microsoft Knowledge Base, utilities, drivers, how-to articles, beta release candidate
software and evaluation copies of the latest applications.
TechNet Plus Direct
Customers with Software Assurance for qualifying products within the server pool
are eligible for a TechNet Plus Direct during the term of their Software Assurance
coverage. This provides IT professionals with access to TechNet Plus Direct content
that includes the Microsoft Knowledge Base, technical training, downloads, security
patches, service packs, and how-to articles. In addition, customers will also receive
the following benefits:
- Access to download full-version software licensed for evaluation purposes; includes
Microsoft operating systems, servers, and Office System software
- Access to download beta software - pre-release versions of Microsoft software
- Two complimentary technical support incidents per year and a 20% discount on additional
phone support incidents a customer purchases
- Unlimited Managed Newsgroup Support and Online Concierge service
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 moves from Mainstream Support to
Extended Support. It offers greater savings, flexibility and peace of mind.
Windows Fundamental for Legacy PCs
Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a Windows-based operating system designed
for legacy PCs running legacy operating systems, which are not likely to be replaced
with new hardware. Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs provides the same security
and manageability as Windows XP SP2, whilst providing a smooth migration path to
the latest hardware and operating system.
Every licence covered under Software Assurance may be
upgraded to the newest version.
Payments for Licence and Software Assurance can be spread
into equal annual instalments.
Eligible customers receive a number of Packaged Services
days based on the number of qualifying Office application licences and the number
of Core CAL suites and Enterprise CAL suites that have Software Assurance coverage.*
Refer to the Microsoft Product List at www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights.
* Can increase service level up to 15 days by converting unused training days. Please
refer to the Microsoft Product List to see eligible conversion options at www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights.
For every Windows Operating System licence covered under
Software Assurance, you are entitled to 1 Windows Vista Enterprise Upgrade licence.
Customers with fewer than 600 licensed devices with
active Windows Software Assurance have the option to use Windows Vista™ Ultimate
in place of Windows Vista Business on up to five of those licensed devices. If you
have 600 or more licensed devices with active Software Assurance you have the option
to use 1 Windows Vista™ Ultimate in place of Windows Vista Business on up to one
for every 100 of those licensed devices.
This new right allows you, as an alternative to installing
the software on your desktop PC, to install copies of Windows Vista on a storage
device, such as a network server. You can then run those copies locally on your
desktop PCs by remote booting an operating system image over an internal network
from the storage device.
OFFICE: For every 50 Office Application licences
covered with Software Assurance you are entitled to 2 days of training (up to a
maximum of 20 days)
WINDOWS: for every 50 Windows operating system licences covered with Software
Assurance you are entitled to 1 day of training (up to a maximum of 10 days)
FOR OFFICE APPLICATIONS
(Minimum # SA Licences = # days)
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250 = 20 |
50,000 = 250 |
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2,400 = 30 |
100,000 = 400 |
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6,000 = 50 |
200,000 = 600 |
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15,000 = 110 |
400,000 = 800 |
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30,000 = 160 |
600,000 = 1400 |
FOR WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
(Minimum # SA Licences = # days)
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250 = 10 |
50,000 = 125 |
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2,400 = 15 |
100,000 = 200 |
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6,000 = 25 |
200,000 = 300 |
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15,000 = 55 |
400,000 = 400 |
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30,000 = 80 |
600,000 = 700 |
The number of users who can access courses is based
on the number of licensed copies of qualifying products covered by Software Assurance.
Qualifications vary by product pool (Applications, Systems, Servers). Refer to the
Microsoft Product List at www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights
For each Office application licence covered with Software
Assurance, a user of the licensed device is entitled to 1 copy of the corresponding
product for use at home.
All Software Assurance customers with qualifying licences
in the applications pool have access to MLP.
The Employee Purchase Programme offers your employees
potential savings when they buy Microsoft licences and other consumer products.
The retail products bought through this benefit remain with the employee even after
your Software Assurance coverage has expired or if the employee leaves the company.
Visit http://epp.microsoft.com
for more information.
If you have Software Assurance Membership and 1,500
or more licensed desktops in the systems pool you could be eligible to join the
Enterprise Source Licensing Programme (ESLP) while your Software Assurance coverage
is active. ESLP provides access to Microsoft Windows source code for internal development
and support. ESLP is not available in all countries and the benefit is granted per
agreement/enrolment. For more information and geographic availability visit http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/source_code.mspx
CLIENT:
For every US$200K of Software Assurance spend on Microsoft Office applications and
Windows operating system, you are entitled to 1 phone incident.
SERVER:
- For every US$20K Software Assurance spend for Servers and CALs, you are entitled
to 1 phone incident. In additionly, a complimentary phone incident is awarded to
customers who have at least 1 Server licence covered with Software Assurance *
- Unlimited web support is included for all servers covered with Software Assurance*
- Premier customers will be able to transfer their Software Assurance incident into
their Premier Contracts.**
* Web support is for medium (severity C) cases only. Phone call-back will be decremented
against your Software Assurance or other support agreement. After hours support
is for critical incidents (Severity A) only. Default language after business hours
will be English. Translation services can be used where available.
** Software Assurance phone incidents are eligible to be exchanged for Premier incidents
on a 1:1 basis. The transfer of incidents to Premier Problem Resolution hours is
allowed. The conversion ratio will depend on the local Premier list prices and can
vary by country.
For each server licence covered with Software Assurance,
you are entitled to run 1 instance of the software on a "cold" server for disaster
recovery purposes.
Software Assurance customers with qualifying licences
within the product server pool are eligible for TechNet benefits through Software
Assurance. For each eligible product covered with Software Assurance, you will receive
one User ID for access to the online services site, including Online Concierge Chat
and Managed Newsgroups. In addition, you'll receive one subscription to Technet
Plus Direct. For more details refer to the Microsoft Product List at
www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights
Customers with Software Assurance for qualifying products
within server pool are eligible for a TechNet Plus Direct subscription during the
term of their Software Assurance coverage. This provides IT professionals with access
to TechNet Plus Direct content that includes the Microsoft Knowledge Base, technical
training, downloads, security patches, service packs, and how-to articles.
CLIENT: Not eligible
SERVER: 90-day enrolment not required. Annual contract fees for Microsoft
Exchange Server, System Center Operations Manager, System Center Configuration Manager,
SQL Server and Windows Server are included as part of Software Assurance.
CLIENT: 90-day enrolment not required. Annual
contract fees for Windows operating system and Office Professional are included
as part of Software Assurance. SERVER: 90-day enrolment not required. Annual
contract fees for Microsoft Exchange Server, System Center Operations Manager, System
Center Configuration Manager, SQL Server and Windows Server are included as part
of Software Assurance.
Customers (other than Open Value customers) with Software
Assurance Membership in the systems product pool are eligible for this benefit during
the term of their Software Assurance coverage. For each Windows Professional licence
covered under Software Assurance, you can run Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
in place of either or both of their licensed copies of Windows Professional during
the term of your Software Assurance coverage. Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
is a smaller footprint Windows-based operating system solution designed for customers
with Legacy PCs that gvess the same security and manageability as Windows XP Professional
SP2, while providing a smooth migration path to the latest hardware and operating
system. Your use of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is subject to the terms
and conditions of your licence agreement.
Windows Fundamental for Legacy PCs
Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a Windows-based operating system designed
for legacy PCs running legacy operating systems, which are not likely to be replaced
with new hardware. Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs provides the same security
and manageability as Windows XP SP2, whilst providing a smooth migration path to
the latest hardware and operating system.
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