Microsoft Updates to Software Assurance (SA), beginning February 2020

Microsoft is updating Software Assurance (SA) through changes to SA Benefits, starting in February 2020.

Microsoft announced retirement of Software Assurance Deployment Planning Services and Software Assurance Training Voucher benefits on September 13, 2019. These changes will take place over two years, starting in February 2020:

• The phased retirement of Software Assurance Deployment Planning Services benefit.
• Increasing investment in FastTrack as the primary way to help customers adopt Microsoft cloud services.
• The phased retirement of Software Assurance Training Voucher benefit, and putting a major effort into improving access to new skills programs and platforms.
• Adjusted eligibility criteria for Software Assurance 24x7 Problem Resolution support with as-needed base support for qualifying customers and credit toward Unified Support.

The Software Assurance Benefits program is separated into a package of ‘soft benefits’ to enable technology adoption, and product-specific extended use rights that extend how software can be used by enterprises.

As Microsoft have modernized their go-to-market and channel ecosystem, the SA benefits program will be re-aligned towards FastTrack and Microsoft or Partner support offerings.

Important SA benefits like ‘New Version Rights’ and ‘License Mobility’ will be maintained, and Microsoft continue to expand the scope of ‘Azure Hybrid Rights’ to enable extensibility and migration to Microsoft Azure. Accordingly, the rationale to maintain active Software Assurance has not been curtailed, but adjusted to drive adoption of strategic services across Microsoft 365 and Azure.

These changes will take place over two years, starting in February 2020, to give you, our customers time to plan for changes and use their existing benefits. The last day to redeem Software Assurance Deployment Planning Services and Software Assurance Training Voucher benefits is January 1, 2022.

Please work with your SoftwareONE representative to understand how we can support your current SA benefits, evaluate FastTrack adoption of your Microsoft cloud investments, access our Managed Support, and work with our Microsoft Advisory Services  team to plan your Microsoft technology roadmap and licensing strategy.