Jul 19, 2018 these allow volume licenses with software assurance to be used to cover windows server virtual machines in azure, saving up to 40% over regular azure costs. Demystifying the new windows 10 licensing options kraft kennedy. Microsoft open license is a software volume licensing program designed for corporate, government, charity, and academic customers who order as few as five licenses. Sell software subscriptions through csp partner center. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies to. Sep 04, 2009 first, having software assurance means you get first access to the new versions when they become available. Software assurance is an annuity thats thought to add maybe 25 percent to 27 percent on top of the licensing cost. Windows 7 enterprise the benefits of having software.
May 12, 2020 this article is intended for use by it professionals. So with windows 7, those customers that have software assurance on their windows desktop operating system licenses get first access to the windows 7 code for deployment through the volume license service center download site. Software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price for desktop products e. Software assurance math adds up for microsoft, not as much. Software assurance by product microsoft volume licensing. Windows 10 works seamlessly across all your devices. Everything you ever wanted to know about windows licensing.
Additionally, software assurance is not as robust of a technical support offering. The new windows server premium assurance and sql server premium assurance additions have requirements to consider. If a sql server 2008r2 customer with software assurance purchased a number of cores for their onpremises environment, and is using software assurance to have a secondary passive server e. Microsoft assurance software is a program that was introduced in 2002 to help users deploy and support microsoft windows, microsoft office and. The software assurance costs are based on 2 years open license or 3 years open value and its 25% per year. Even if you have a volume licence that gives you windows enterprise, including software assurance that gets you upgrades to new versions of windows, unless you have a device with a small screen. Software assurance benefits microsoft volume licensing. Once software assurance for windows 10 enterprise e3e5 comes to an end, customers have a 90day grace period to switch their current installation to windows 10 enterprise ltsb. 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.
Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it applies. After the initial order, customers can benefit from volume pricing for all licenses for the remainder of the term of their open license authorization number. Get free extended security updates until january 2023 for your windows 7 virtual desktopoffering more options to support legacy apps while you transition to windows 10. Windows thin pc is useful for reducing the costs of licensing endpoint pcs because each device accesses a virtual desktop environment. 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.
Dec 23, 2014 as i have explained before, a software license is a set of rights granted to you by the manufacturer that governs how you use the software. Through software assurance, you have access to valuable deployment planning. After january 14, 2020, microsoft no longer provides security updates or support for computers that run windows 7. 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. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance, an. Microsoft windows 10 home, pro, enterprise, education cdw. Windows 10 enterprise with or without software assurance. The right to install the software on more than one machine. The windows 7 esu will be sold on a perdevice basis and the price will increase each year. Windows thin pc is useful for reducing the costs of licensing endpoint pcs. Instead of one upfront payment, you spread the costs of your volume licensing and software assurance purchase across three equal, annual sums, helping you forecast your technology budget up to three years in advance.
The software assurance spread payments benefit works with your budget and helps lower your initial licensing costs. Microsoft is stepping up its windows 7 migration campaign with a paid. How can a customer calculate the esu price of the following situation. In 2005 microsoft figured out how to tap into the revenue stream of extended warranties for software. First, having software assurance means you get first access to the new versions when they become available.
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. To do this, they need to uninstall their windows 10 enterprise e3 e5 version and then deploy windows 10 ltsb. In fact, the greatest cost of computer software lies in the installation, training, maintenance, upgrades, troubleshooting and time lost due to system failures and lack of user training. With its simple setup, intuitive management functionality and integration of cloud, windows 10 is the right choice for small business and enterprise customers. Microsoft windows 10 enterprise software assurance. Trying to work out sa total cost over 4 years vs no sa and buying the latest license then. Microsoft is offering a free windows 7 extended security update to. Feb 04, 2020 how much do esu cost for windows server and sql server 2008 and 2008 r2. Microsoft software assurance what it is and how it. What microsoft wont tell you about windows 7 licensing zdnet. In addition to free software upgrades, software assurance provides many other. Microsoft software assurance is a gamble on whether potential upgrades will be worth the expense. The main point is that software assurance sa will be required to use them.
If youre looking for information for home users, see windows 7 support ended on january 14, 2020. I have been using windows 10 however for around 6 or 7 months now and i actually like it. No, you cannot buy linux or windows home edition with the pc and then use this license to gain access to enterprise. Software assurance is described in evaluating software assurance on page 29 of the june 2009 update. Best microsoft windows 7 pricing and deals may 2020 cnet. Microsoft rejiggers windows 10 enterprise subscriptions. These allow volume licenses with software assurance to be used to cover windows server virtual machines in azure, saving up to 40% over regular azure costs. Beyond the software assurance benefit, the key detail is that it is an upgrade license that can be applied to windows 7, 8, 8. Microsoft to offer premium assurance for servers adding 6. You can use the benefit with windows server datacenter and standard edition licenses covered with software assurance. In 2008 we conducted a workshop on business case, and all indications are that there.
Software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price. Jul 21, 2011 both software assurance which includes virtual desktop access and roaming use rights and windows vda which enables virtual desktop access for non software assurance and nonorganization access devices are available through all major microsoft volume licensing programs including the enterprise agreement, select plus, and open value program. I think alot of the misconception was rumors and unfounded speculation about spyware and malware that windows has been infected with. For instance, without software assurance, you wouldnt be able to use windows 2000 server cals on windows server 2003. Jun 14, 2016 software assurance has an annual cost of 29% of the license price for desktop products e.
Sa benefits expire after two years, though they can be renewed for a fee. Achieve the lowest cost of ownership when you combine the azure hybrid benefit, reservation pricing, and extended security updates. Get answers to frequently asked questions about software assurance. What is software assurance and what benefits it provides.
Access windows 10 enterprise and windows 7 enterprise desktops and apps at no additional cost if you have an eligible windows or microsoft 365 license. With software assurance, the cals are also usable on the upgraded product. Cdw offers windows 10 home, pro, enterprise and education. Volume licensing service center software assurance benefits. Windows 7 esus will be available to all windows 7 professional and windows 7 enterprise customers in volume licensing, with a discount to customers with windows software assurance, windows 10 enterprise or windows 10 education subscriptions. Windows 10 enterprise upgrade w software assurance pack has had a lot of hate when it came out, and understandably so. What does it cost to continue support for windows 7. Microsoft to offer premium assurance for servers adding. Software assurance is a collection of benefits included with microsoft products. The windows 10 enterprise per user addon is an optional subscription license that provides windows 10 enterprise per user rights for a primary user whose primary device is licensed with windows covered by software assurance, or windows per user vda rights for a primary user whose primary device is licensed with windows vda. Microsoft to offer paid windows 7 extended security updates zdnet. Microsoft windows 10 its a blissful union of the best qualities of windows 7 and windows 8, the desktop features of 7 with some of the touchfriendly attributes of 8. Learn about microsoft software assurance tools and resources that can help your.
As i have explained before, a software license is a set of rights granted to you by the manufacturer that governs how you use the software. Extended security updates for sql server and windows. Microsoft volume licensing microsoft software assurance. If a customer purchases a new pc between july 31 and august 31, and if a customer attaches software assurance to a new pc, that pc is eligible to upgrade to windows 7 enterprise as soon as it is. Full terms of the limited time esu promotion are available in this document. Software assurance sa, a subscription that included upgrade rights and the microsoft desktop optimization pack mdop, was also part of volume. Windows 10 licensing guide and upgrade paths spiceworks. Depending on the edition, you can convert or reuse your licenses to run windows server virtual machines in azure and pay a lower base compute rate. Software assurance benefits included with microsoft donations.
Models for assessing the cost and value of software assurance. Software assurance helps boost organizational productivity with 24. Windows 7 upgrade strategies are described in looking ahead to licensing windows 7 on page 5 of the apr. Mar 27, 2019 the software assurance costs are based on 2 years open license or 3 years open value and its 25% per year. Receive free extended security updates when you migrate your windows server and sql server 2008 and 2008 r2 workloads to azure virtual machines. Faq about esu for windows server 20082008 r2 and sql server. Find microsoft windows 7 prices and learn where to buy. Determining the value of microsoft software assurance. Volume licenses can be purchased with software assurance,a microsoft program that provides additional benefits beyond the core volume license including software version upgrade rights at no additional cost, a home use purchase program providing a significant discount for purchasing an additional license for home use e. Software assurance working out costs over 4 year period.
The ideal model for calculating the cost and value of software assurance may be one of these, or it may be a new model that builds on the common features that we have discussed. Benefits taken from sa website see also licensing name description software lifecycle 24x7 problem resolution support enhances existing premier support agreements by providing aroundthe. Editions and availability windows 10 edition main options for business users software assurance windows 10 enterprise ltsb does not include software assurance windows 10 enterprise e3 and e5 editions do include software assurance which includes the following rights. The best windows yet the greatest thing about windows 10 is that it feels like windows. Demystifying the new windows 10 licensing options kraft. Software assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in it. Should i buy software assurance with my microsoft licenses. Thin pc, a smallerfootprint, lockeddown version of windows 7. For example, shortly after windows 7 came out, microsoft offered volume customers a 15 percent discount on windows 7 upgrades. Through yearend 2007, at least 30 percent of microsoft customers will not renew their eas 0. 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. Windows 7 modifies license rights directions on microsoft. Faq about esu for windows server 20082008 r2 and sql. Microsoft volume licensing frequently asked questions faqs.
Review software assurance benefits the comprehensive set of software assurance benefits combine to offer a powerful advantage as you plan, deploy, and use microsoft products. When you buy computer software, the purchase price is only a fraction of the real cost. Save up to 40 percent on windows server virtual machines using your existing licenses and software assurance, and get all the benefits of cloud computing. Software assurance benefits for windows include a core set of technologies, services, and use rights to help improve productivity, streamline software deployments, and reduce costs in a variety of ways across devices. Microsoft rolls out premium assurance plans for windows.
Understanding windows 10 enterprise licensing petri. For each windows license you have with software assurance, you have access to windows thin pc, a smallerfootprint, lockeddown version of windows 7. Organizations additionally pay each year for premium assurance coverage under. Windows 7 enterprise the benefits of having software assurance. Nov 03, 2009 this might be the case if you get a great deal on a new pc with a specific edition of windows 7, such as a netbook running windows 7 starter or a notebook running windows 7 home premium. 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. Aws is 5 times more expensive than azure for windows server and sql server. Microsoft software assurance big risk for a small reward. Windows 10 enterprise upgrade w software assurance pack. Microsoft software assurance is a gamble on whether potential. Both software assurance which includes virtual desktop access and roaming use rights and windows vda which enables virtual desktop access for nonsoftware assurance and nonorganization access devices are available through all major microsoft volume licensing programs including the enterprise agreement, select plus, and open value program.