Organizations around the world are benefiting from the power, flexibility, and efficiency of cloud computing. Whether you want to deploy server applications in a traditional customer on-premises environment, through a partner or a Microsoft cloud-hosted model, or a combination of all three, Microsoft gives you the flexibility to choose what is right for you, on your terms and on your schedule.

With more businesses moving server workloads and applications to the cloud, customers want to take advantage of their existing licensing investments as part of their IT strategy. With License Mobility through Microsoft Software Assurance (or eligible subscription licenses), you can deploy certain server licenses to Microsoft Azure or in an Authorized Mobility Partner’s data center without having to buy additional licenses. As a result, you can take advantage of lower and more flexible infrastructure costs as business priorities change. Because of this benefit, you do not need to purchase new Client Access Licenses (CALs), and pay associated mobility fees. As an alternative to License Mobility, you can leverage similar cloud deployment options through the Flexible Virtualization benefit.

See the Flexible Virtualization Benefit licensing guidance for more information.

Flexibility:

• Increased flexibility to deploy workloads in a variety of cloud-hosting environments.
• Customers can move Application Server workloads from on-premises to Authorized Mobility Partners or Microsoft Azure at any time without additional licensing.

Cost Effectiveness:

• Take advantage of existing licensing investments when deploying to the cloud.
• Capitalize on a lower-cost infrastructure platform and other value-added services provided by Microsoft Azure or an Authorized Mobility Partner (Service Provider).
• Enhanced value through an additional Software Assurance benefit.

Manageability:

• Easier to adopt cloud hosting via existing Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Open Programs.
• No need for additional Licensing or Agreement Terms to move to hosted Application Server workloads.

For specific Microsoft server products, License Mobility through Software Assurance gives you enhanced flexibility. You can assign you server licenses with active Software Assurance to run server instances on shared hardware via Microsoft Azure or a License Mobility Partner’s data center. Although sharing hardware, server instances (virtual machines) must be dedicated to a single customer and are not shared with other customers.

The list of eligible server products includes Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft System Center servers, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Operations Server. Note: For SQL Server customers with core-based licensing and Software Assurance coverage, broader benefits are available under Azure Hybrid Benefit rights. The steps in this guide do not apply to Azure Hybrid Benefit use. For more information, see Azure Hybrid Benefit. The Windows Server operating system licenses remain assigned to customers’ on-premises hardware with their applicable license terms. Eligible products are identified in the Microsoft Product Terms document under Software Assurance Benefits.

When deploying via License Mobility through Software Assurance, follow these steps to deploy and verify your eligibility with Microsoft.

1. Determine your license eligibility / Assess your licenses
   • Decide which eligible products you want to deploy with Microsoft Azure or an Authorized Mobility Partner and how many licenses you require.
   • Work with your licensing procurement team, your Microsoft representative, or your preferred Volume Licensing reseller to understand your license position. You can access the Microsoft licensing agreement details at Licensing Resources and Documents.
   • Confirm the server licenses you want to deploy are eligible as identified in the current Product Terms.
   • Confirm the server licenses you want to deploy have active Software Assurance coverage. Active Software Assurance is required on all licenses for eligible products.
   • Where applicable, you must maintain appropriate Client Access Licenses (CALs) with active Software Assurance.
2. Choose a deployment method:
   • You may choose Microsoft Azure or an eligible Service Provider as a License Mobility through Software Assurance Partner.
   • The Authorized Mobility Partners list includes all authorized partners and is kept current with monthly updates: Authorized Mobility Partner.
   • Contact your chosen Authorized Mobility Partner before completing the License Verification form.
   • You will need to specify Microsoft Azure or provide the Authorized Mobility Partner name, website address, and email address on the Verification form. Your Authorized Mobility Partner will provide this information.
     Note: Microsoft Dynamics ERP
   • Microsoft Dynamics ERP products (Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, SL) are not available through Microsoft Volume Licensing and are not licensed online. However, these products have mobility rules that allow similar use as License Mobility through Software Assurance when deploying in shared environments.
3. Verify your licenses with Microsoft
   Within 10 days of deployment, complete the License Verification form and provide it to your Microsoft representative or preferred reseller partner representative, so he or she can submit your form to Microsoft.
4. Complete the license Verification Form
   • Find the license verification form for your region at https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/.
   • There are three times you should complete and submit a License Verification form:
     1. When you deploy eligible licenses with an Authorized Mobility Partner. A new form is required each time you deploy additional licenses.
     2. When you renew your Software Assurance.
     3. When you renew your Volume Licensing Agreement.
   • The form can include multiple enrollments or license numbers under a single agreement, if they are supported by the same channel partner. However, you should complete a License Verification form for each agreement under which you are using License Mobility (for example, an Enterprise Agreement and a Select Plus agreement).

Most of the required information for the License Verification form specific to your Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement can be found in the M365 Admin Center, except for the Authorized Mobility Partner information and your channel partner information (the Large Account Reseller or other partner that sold you the Microsoft licenses).

• Your organization’s legal name (as shown on your Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement).
• Your Agreement Type (for example, Enterprise Agreement, Select Plus, Enrollment for Education Solutions, Open Value, or OVS for Education Solutions).
• Your Agreement Number, Authorization Number (for Open License), or Public Customer Number (for Select License).
• Your agreement’s Enrollment Number or License Number for Open License (not applicable for Select License).
  • If you have more than one Enrollment, choose the one with the licenses you are moving to an Authorized Mobility Partner with License Mobility. You can include each enrollment or license number under which you have licenses deployed with License Mobility as long as they are under the same master agreement and supported by the same channel partner.
• The enrollment’s Software Assurance expiration date(s).
• The number of eligible licenses you have on the enrollment.
• Your Authorized Mobility Partner name, website address, and email contact (use the contact information provided to you by your Authorized Mobility Partner; “Microsoft Azure” can be selected as the hosting partner).
• The number of eligible licenses you will be deploying with License Mobility.
  • Once you have completed the required information above, you can specify which licenses you are deploying with License Mobility.
  • In Exhibit A of the License Verification form, you will indicate which licenses will be deployed. In this example, Exchange Server Enterprise Edition will be deployed.
    1. Find the product(s) to be deployed from the list.
    2. Check Selected for Verification.
    3. Choose appropriate product edition.
    4. Input the quantity to deploy.

Please note, since July 1, 2016, in markets where the MPSA is available, Microsoft stopped accepting new orders and Software Assurance renewals through existing commercial Select Plus agreements at your next agreement anniversary date. This retirement does not apply to government and academic Select Plus agreements. More information is at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/licensing-programs/select.

Once you have completed the License Verification form, make a copy for your records and send it to your channel partner (or Microsoft Account Manager). Your channel partner will submit the form to Microsoft for verification. Once Microsoft receives the form:

1. If your organization is verified as eligible for specific licenses, Microsoft will confirm your eligibility and communicate your verification status to you and your chosen Authorized Mobility Partner.
2. If your organization is not verified as eligible for specific licenses, the form will be returned to you with information on why the verification was not granted. You can make the necessary revisions and resubmit the form as many times as required to have your licenses verified by Microsoft.

Work with your Authorized Mobility Partner to deploy the solution in their server farm. You can deploy while you wait for confirmation from Microsoft on your eligibility for License Mobility.

Contact your Microsoft account manager or preferred reseller for more information or visit https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/licensing-programs/software-assurance-license-mobility.aspx. Find Volume Licensing information at www.microsoft.com/licensing, as well as additional program details. For a list of eligible products, refer to the Product Terms at https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/welcome/welcomepage.