Software Assurance FAQ

Microsoft Software Assurance spans a broad range of Microsoft software and services, including Windows, Microsoft Office, Exchange, System Center, SQL Server, and many others.

These benefits can vary by volume licensing program (such as an Enterprise Agreement or Open Value Agreement), and the number of qualifying licenses you have enrolled in Software Assurance.

For more details about each benefit, review the Microsoft Product Terms or visit the Software Assurance website.

Step 1: Register the Agreement by signing into the Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products > Volume licensing

Step 2: Agreement administrators wanting to delegate software assurance management to others should assign them the role Benefit Reader.

Agreement administrators and VL users with the Benefits reader role can manage software assurance benefits.

The Benefit Reader role may be assigned by a VL Administrator in Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products > Volume licensing > Role Assignment.

Or, the role may be assigned automatically to users identified as "Software Assurance Manager" when the contract was submitted to Microsoft.

This benefit provides new software versions, when available, to help you stay up to date and take advantage of productivity gains from the latest technology.

• Sign into Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products > Volume licensing
• Select Downloads and Keys
• Select your chosen product link and select Download to start the download process.
• Choose Download Method, Language and Operating System Type from the dropdown list
• Select Continue

Workplace Discount (formerly Home Use Program) provides your employees with the latest version of Microsoft Office for use on their home computer through a low-cost download. To learn more about the Workplace Discount Program benefit, review Microsoft Workplace Discount Program.

To activate and manage the Workplace Discount Program benefit Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products > Volume licensing > Benefits tab

Note: MPSA-only customers, Workplace Discount is activated when the Purchase Administrator has signed in to the Business Center with an Microsoft Entra ID work (previously known as a work or school account.

License Mobility through Software Assurance gives you the ability to deploy certain server applications with active Software Assurance on-premises or in the cloud, without having to buy additional licenses.

For information on using this benefit, visit License Mobility through Software Assurance.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) offers innovative technologies, including application virtualization, asset management, policy control, and device diagnostic and recovery tools.

1. Sign into the Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products > Volume licensing

2. Select Downloads and Keys.

3. Select the Windows check box under the 'All Products' list.

4. Select your MDOP product link and select Download to start the process.

5. Choose Download Method, Language, and Operating Systems Type from the drop-down list.

6. Select Continue.

This Software Assurance benefit retired, effective February 1, 2023. No new incidents are allocated from that date.

Any unused Software Assurance access IDs (SAIDs) - also known as "incidents" - are no longer valid to initiate support requests.

This includes any 24*7 incidents previously displayed in the VLSC, (or Business Center for MPSA), for Year 2 and/or Year 3 coverage periods starting on or after February 1, 2023.

For more information, see Retirement of Software Assurance 24x7 Problem Resolution Support.

There are alternative support options for Microsoft products and online services in the absence of Software Assurance 24x7 Problem Resolution Support.

Support plans are available for Azure, M365 and Dynamics 365.

For most other Products | Pay-per-incident (PPI) - or a pack of five incidents are available at Microsoft Professional Support.

For customers requiring a higher level of support services, we recommend Microsoft Unified Support.

Detailed information about Software Assurance, including information about activating Software Assurance Benefits, see the Software Assurance customer site.

VLSC customers may also Contact Us by phone or by Web Form. Microsoft will respond to Web Form submissions within 24 hours.