How to use or renew your software assurance benefits techsoup. The software assurance support provides business hours support with a 24hour response time goal. Emerset helps enterprises like yours in software licensing, license agreements. Customers should refer to their agreements for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under microsoft s volume licensing programs. Choose connection for microsoft software virtualization. Go to microsoft software assurance support page and click on submit request. Failover rights and cold disaster recovery rights serve two different, but similar purposes.
Why microsoft software assurance customers never win the. Software assurance membership sam is an integrated set of support services and benefits provided to all enterprise agreement ea customers and those select plus license customers who have selected the sam option for one or more product pools on their select plus enrollment or companywide option available under open value. Microsoft software assurance microsoft wiki fandom. After software assurance expires, you can continue to use cold backup software already installed, but you cannot install any additional cold backups. For example, you purchase a new computer with a microsoft office oem license. Configuration manager periodically checks for new software updates offered online and your software assurance license status should be current to be eligible to use these additional. To qualify for this software assurance benefit, you must have a microsoft. Software assurance swa is defined as the level of confidence that software is free from vulnerabilities, either intentionally designed into the software or accidentally inserted at any time during its lifecycle, and that the software functions in the intended manner. May 27, 2007 there have been some questions in the past about the cold disaster backup recovery rights software assurance benefit and what it provides. Microsoft software assurance for windows server 2012 r2. Technet subscription number of ids available is dependent upon type and level of.
Select plus winsvrcal sngl licsapk mvl usrcal level b 36 months upfront payment option and get great service and fast delivery. Dec 06, 2015 if you do not have your access id, contact your software assurance benefits administrator or microsoft sales representative. Mpsa virtual desktop access e3 vda device subscription level a 35mo annual payment and get great service and fast delivery. What you need to know mdop is a benefit of windows software assurance for volume licensing customers. Commercial and government customers who have purchased. After software assurance expires, you can continue to use cold backup software already installed. Microsoft software assurance sa is a microsoft maintenance program aimed at business. Expert offers tips on microsoft s software assurance program. Microsoft software assurance theonlyknownwaytolegallypowerondrcopiesistohave software assurance inplaceforthoselicenses. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it. Today i wanted to bring to light a large benefit that, as i mentioned, i feel has gone mostly unnoticed. Software assurance sa is a microsoft addon for selected licenses that allows to upgrade microsoft. Be prepared with complimentary cold backup server licenses for disaster recovery. Microsoft desktop optimization pack mdop can help you deploy and manage customer environments effectively, and earn the following competency.
Ninety days prior to expiration, your vlsc account owner should receive an email from microsoft saying that the benefits are expiring soon. Microsoft defines cold server as a backup server that is turned off until a disaster strikes. Steven, i n simple terms, what exactly is software assurance and why is it so important with microsoft licenses. A comprehensive program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help deploy, manage, and use microsoft products efficiently, software assurance helps keep your business up to date and ready to respond quickly to change and opportunity. The first step is understanding what software assurance is, so in this post i will try to explain it in a clear and concise manner. Customers with active software assurance enrolled in an enterprise agreement or under a. Microsoft includes two years of software assurance with most volume licensing products it donates through techsoup canada. Software assurance by product microsoft volume licensing. Jun 07, 20 most of us know that microsoft s maintenance program, software assurance, covers licenses in the event a new version is released during that period.
Benefits must be renewed before the sa expiration date. Licensing disaster recovery solutions for oracle, microsoft. If i have cold disaster backup recovery rights for my. Microsoft, as part of its software assurance program, offers the cold. Software assurance by benefit microsoft volume licensing. Software assurance spans a broad range of microsoft software and services, including windows, microsoft. Deciding on microsoft s software assurance sa option isnt getting any easier, to hear an. A cold server is a server that is turned off until a disaster arises. Expert offers tips on microsofts software assurance program. The value and benefit gained under microsoft volume licensing programs and through use of microsoft software and services may vary by customer. Solved server 2016 licensing second server for dr only.
This service includes beta and final versions of the latest software versions of windows server essentials when they are released. The software assurance benefit around cold server backup for disaster recovery includes the ability to install the server software, to configure it, to test disaster recovery procedures periodically, for example several times a year, and of course to move the backup server into production mode in the event of an actual disaster. Visit microsoft software assurance or contact your microsoft volume licensing reseller. On the create an incident select a payment option page, select use my software assurance agreement. This secondary server would only be powered on or see production use when the primary has failed and i need to temporarily run the vms on. Microsoft software assurance elearning courses provide interactive selfpaced training, designed to help employees get more out of using a broad range of microsoft products. Software assurance is a microsoft programme that allows recipients to receive free upgrades to new versions of their products. You can use it as a reminder of your expiration date. They can be renewed by requesting a standalone software assurance product through techsoup up to 90 days before the end of the twoyear term, but not after the benefits have already expired. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies to. Microsoft open programs licensing guide microsoft volume licensing 4 software assurance microsoft software assurance for volume licensing helps boost productivity across your organization by enabling you to get the most out of your microsoft software with 24x7 support, deployment planning services, enduser and technical training, and the latest.
Customers with active software assurance enrolled in an enterprise agreement or under a select plus agreement for qualifying server products and related cals are eligible for complimentary server licenses for. Mcp exam 70672 preparation module 3 software assurance august 2012 2. Effective june 1, 2004, customers with software assurance for microsoft server software, as well as related client access licenses cals, will be eligible for complimentary cold backup server licenses for the purpose of disaster recovery. If you are purchasing larger volumes of microsoft software. Learn more about the software assurance training vouchers benefit learn more about the software assurance elearning. Software assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in it. Managing datacenter server software licenses, as we all know, can be a challenge.
For sql server, cold disaster recovery dr rights are a software assurance sa benefit while failover rights do not require sa coverage, but to february 6, 20 9. There have been some questions in the past about the cold disaster backup recovery rights software assurance benefit and what it provides. Get genuine operating systems do not include software assurance benefits. Software assurance benefits microsoft volume licensing. Microsoft offers several volume licensing programs, each tailored to the needs of different sizes of businesses and types of organizations. So, if we purchase enterprise upgrades under vl without sa for windows 10 enterprise anniversary update, the license could be perpetual, but it would really be usable for for the support life of anniversary update 12 years. How to decide which renewal is best for your organization. Feb 14, 2020 microsoft permitted use, cloud, and software assurance ibm hot vs. For sql server customers with corebased licensing and software assurance coverage, broader benefits are available under azure hybrid benefit rights. To renew your software assurance benefits, request a standalone software assurance product through techsoup up to 90 days before your original benefits expire. For example, it may be necessary to provide a nonsecurity update that enables continued connectivity and servicing through the automatic update or windows server update service.
Microsoft licensing is the single largest it expense for many. Microsoft software assurance and azure virtual machines. Software assurance is a collection of benefits included with microsoft products. The core premise behind sa is to give users the ability to spread their payments for the software over multiple years, while offering free upgrades to newer versions in that time period. For example, if a new version of windows is released during the term of your agreement, your licenses are automatically upgraded to the new version. Microsoft software assurance, do you really need it. Software assurance provides you with the tools you need to do more with your microsoft it investments. Type your software assurance access id and email address you use to access the vlsc and click continue. Youre getting warmerlicense management for hot, warm. Microsoft software assurance is a service option for windows server 2012 r2 essentials during your license agreement term. Software assurance includes a core set of benefits to help improve workforce productivity, streamline software deployment, and reduce costs in a variety of ways across devices.
Software assurance benefits calculated by this tool are an estimate only, and the results generated do not constitute an offer. There is no grace period after the end of the benefit period to renew. Microsoft chief executive steve ballmer explains why he saw a need for the companys radical change in software licensing and what the company learned from trying to push through the new programme. The software assurance benefits calculator is an online tool to calculate estimated software assurance benefits that customers may be entitled to. Software assurance spans a broad range of microsoft software and services, including windows, microsoft office, exchange, system center, sql server, and many others.
Microsoft volume licensing microsoft software assurance. Microsoft office pro plus 2016 and software assurance. Microsoft licensing and disaster recovery by luca delloca is licensed under a creative commons attributionnoncommercialnoderivs 3. The slick and sharp looking sorftware are there to help you achieve the maximum productivity in no time, similar to other office software but better. Microsoft alters licensing to cover disasterrecovery. The backup license lasts for the duration of the customers software assurance contract. Through software assurance, small businesses can gain access to a range of benefits designed to help them get back on their feet, including homeuse licenses of microsoft office, deployment planning assistance, training for it staff as well as endusers, access to phone and web support, and cold backup server licenses as they shore up their.
My question is about the transistion of software assurance from ws2012 to ws2016. Gregor kneitz, who is a microsoft senior product manager for volume license programs will provide information about these benefits and will answer your questions about how to access it. Choose connection for microsoft software operating systems. Do my licenses expire after three years with open value. Microsoft software assurance is a program for businesses to pay for microsoft windows, office or server software over a period of years, and receive free software upgrades and benefits during that period. Microsoft licensing and disaster recovery virtual to the core. Apr 03, 2007 one of the questions i hear from time to time is around what happens after the three year open value term ends. Microsoft software donation programme overview charity. Expanded benefits in microsoft software assurance deliver. Microsoft software assurance gets customers to pay in advance for products about which they often know little, including whether theyll want to use it, which is a remarkable feat of salesmanship. Microsoft elearning courses, cold backups for disaster recovery, and multilanguage packs.
It provides the greatest flexibility for how your organization uses windows because it includes access to enterprise offerings and use rights that are not available through other licensing programs. Microsoft windows server standard edition software assurance 3 year acquired year 1, additional product p7301425. Guide to software assurance charity digital exchange. Software assurance adds value to your software donation in a number of other ways your organisation can get. Software assurance spans microsoft s range of software products and services, including the windows operating system, microsoft office, exchange, sql server, and many others. Microsoft continues to expand hurricane relief efforts. Software assurance benefits expire after two years. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
For every 50 windows client licences covered with software assurance, you are entitled to 1 day of training up to 5 days. Software assurance sa is an offering available with microsoft volume licensing programs that helps you get the most from your software. Please reference your agreement summaries for your software assurance agreement renewal. Software assurance cover coverage and save money additional back resources cover your software assurance coverage must be renewed every two or three years, depending on your type of volume license agreement. Your organizations software assurance benefits administrator receives an access id after clicking activate on the 24x7. The microsoft home use program is available for employees of microsoft 365, office 365, and office software assurance customers. Microsoft software assurance sa is a microsoft maintenance program aimed at business users who use microsoft windows, microsoft office, and other server and desktop applications.
Ten years ago this month, microsoft introduced the most controversial licensing program in its history. Select the product and problem for which you need support. Microsoft software assurance benefits for office can help your organization accelerate deployment and improve enduser. Sep 15, 2005 to ease the transition stage of a companys software lifecycle, software assurance now provides greatly expanded and lowercost coverage for microsoft products that have transitioned from the mainstream support period typically, the first five years of a products lifespan into the extended support period. Roll over the to see entitlement descriptions for individual benefits. Software assurance is a comprehensive maintenance program that can help you gain control of your technology strategy, improve it staff skills, decrease support spending, and effectively plan for new software. Benefits taken from sa website see also licensing name description software lifecycle 24x7. Cold backups for disaster recovery for each server license covered with software assurance, you are entitled to run 1 instance of the software on a cold server for disaster recovery purposes. Microsoft backups for disaster recovery knowledge base.
For example, if microsoft office is worth two points, software assurance is worth one point for each year it is maintained during the term of the open license agreement. Some of the questions have been about what cold means vs. Microsoft software assurance 25% microsoft dynamics ax microsoft dynamics nav microsoft dynamics sl microsoft dynamics gp microsoft dynamics crm microsoft dynamics pos microsoft dynamics rms service and support plan benefits product releases, service packs, hot. Solved when is software assurance required with windows 10. If i understand the november 2016 product terms document from microsoft correctly, we will not need to license an additional 16 cores as long as we follow the given guidelines and maintain software assurance. Cold servers ok with software assurance organizations that have software assurance sa upgrade rights on server applications can now maintain a cold server a fully configured backup server without requiring an additional license for the server software. License mobility you can run eligible server application products in a virtual space in a microsoft approved server farm from microsoft. Microsoft assurance software is a program that was introduced in 2002 to help users deploy and support microsoft windows, microsoft office and. For every 50 office application licences covered with software assurance, you are entitled to 2 days of training up to 10 days.
You have 90 days from the date of computer purchase to acquire software assurance for this oem license. After ga of windows server 2016, customers are encouraged to inventory their environment using appropriate tools, including software inventory logging sil, or thirdparty inventory tools. Should i buy software assurance with my microsoft licenses. Discounted microsoft products are available with or without software assurance. The answer depends on your situation and what you want to achieve with your purchase. Software assurance benefits across microsoft volume licensing programs. Click on any software assurance benefit name for a brief description. Application server products eligible for license mobility through software assurance, including microsoft exchange server, microsoft sharepoint server, and microsoft sql server, are identified in the microsoft product terms. For those of us that have to deal with the microsoft licensing world a usually dark and dreary and often completely confusing world we are probably aware of something that is called software assurance. Microsoft volume licensing frequently asked questions welcome to lemington consultings microsoft volume licensing frequently asked questions. Microsoft have published the following guide, the important thing to remember is that the license is applied to the physical server and not the virtual machine. Microsoft includes two years of free software assurance with most volume licensing products it donates through techsoup.
Product licenses do not expire and are valid for as long as you own the product. The core premise behind sa is to give users the ability to spread payments over several years, while offering free upgrades to newer versions during that time period. For any operating system environment ose in which you are running instances of sql server you may use up to the same number of passive failover running instances in a separate ose on any server for temporary support. For sql server, cold disaster recovery dr rights are a software assurance sa benefit while failover rights do not require sa coverage, but to get the maximum benefit of failover rights you will want to consider sa coverage for your sql server licenses. Volume licensing services center vlsc single license management site for all volume licensing agreements view aggregated volume licensing information. Open value is a volume licensing program that allows companies to acquire their microsoft software and receive benefits such as.
Softwear assurance does indeed give you the right to install the same software product on a cold backup server for. Software assurance spans microsofts range of software products and services, including the windows operating system, microsoft office, exchange, sql server. Microsoft volume licensing frequently asked questions faqs. Youre getting warmerlicense management for hot, warm, and. Proposed as answer by jeff ren moderator tuesday, july 10, 2012 6. As a volume licensing customer, you can enhance your it investments further with software assurance benefits, which apply across a broad range of licensing agreements. Software assurance benefits are not the same as product licenses. Microsoft doesnt validate the expiration date you entered, and wont use this date for license validation. Could someone explain to me what 3 year acquired year 1 in this license means.
With new version rights, each microsoft product license that is covered by active software assurance can be upgraded to the most recent version for no additional cost. It can combine the latest software with telephone support available 24 hours a. Dec 23, 2014 if you are in the market for microsoft licenses, one question you should be asking is. Software assurance is a collection of benefits for microsoft products.
Youre getting warmerlicense management for hot, warm, and cold backup servers. Software assurance can be purchased on retail or oem licensed products if done within 90 days of acquiring the retail or oem license. Software assurance benefits included with microsoft donations. Aug 17, 2015 his session software assurance placing bets on microsofts future will delve into why he thinks microsoft software assurance customers never win.
1613 1680 8 1187 1305 1218 1661 313 452 368 1282 426 1284 1480 309 1615 691 128 1160 1673 1396 1484 605 1684 1457 1658 250 182 406 1182 1247 977 1233