Microsoft introduce a new edition of Windows 10 Pro – Windows 10 Pro for Workstations. It’s a high-end edition for server grade PC hardware and is designed to meet the demanding needs of mission critical and compute intensive workloads. It will be available later in the year as part of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
Find out more here: http://bit.ly/2uP53H5.
Microsoft release an Azure Stack Licensing Guide for Hosters and Service Providers which gives a good overview of how partners can provide Azure Stack services through CSP and license Windows Server workloads through SPLA. Find this guide in the Online Services section with the rest of the Microsoft Licensing Guides here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
Microsoft release an Azure Stack Licensing Guide for end customers. If you want an overview of how Azure Stack is sold and how you can use existing licences to license workloads on Azure Stack then this document is worth a read.
Find it in the Online Services section with the rest of the Microsoft Licensing Guides here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
Microsoft confirm that from 1 August 2017 organisations licensed with Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5 or VDA E3/E5 User SLs will be able to install Windows 10 Enterprise Current Branch in a virtual machine running on Microsoft Azure or a shared server with a Qualified Multi Tenant Hosting Partner.
See page 42 of the August 2017 Product Terms and read more here: http://bit.ly/2wwUsli.
Microsoft update the August 2017 Product Terms and Online Services Terms with the name change of Secure Productive Enterprise to Microsoft 365 Enterprise. There are no changes to the licensing.
Microsoft confirm that from September 2017 the Windows 10 servicing branches will be updated. The Long Term Servicing Branch is renamed the Long Term Servicing Channel and both the Current Branch and Current Branch for Business are replaced with the Semi Annual Channel.
This page has more details as well as an excellent video which is well worth a watch: http://bit.ly/2vdBIKT.
Microsoft have released a new (July 2017) FAQ on Microsoft 365 Business: the new suite aimed at businesses with up to 300 users which will include Office 365 Business Premium, Windows 10 Pro, and security and management features.
It will be in preview from 2nd August 2017, and this FAQ gives you a headstart in learning what this suite is, how the public preview will work, deployment and compatability considerations, and potential opportunities for partners selling the suite.
Find the FAQ in the Online Services section of our Licensing Guides emporium: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
There’s a new (May 2017) Remote Desktop Services VL Brief from Microsoft. It replaces separate briefs on server and desktop licensing considerations for RDS. Use it to understand when RDS CALs are required and what might catch you out in licensing Office in an RDS environment.
Find it in the Core Infrastructure section of our Licensing Guides emporium: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
Microsoft announce that Windows Server 2016 will have a new option for releasing updates which will align to the upcoming servicing channels for Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus. There will be two primary release channels available to Windows Server customers: the Long Term Servicing Channel (replacing the Long Term Servicing Branch) and the new Semi Annual Channel.
In the Semi Annual Channel there will be new releases of Windows Server twice a year (in the spring and autumn) and each release will be supported for 18 months. The different releases will be identified by the year and month – for example, the expected release in September this year will be 1709.
Not all Windows Server installation options are available through all channels: Nano Sever will only be available through the Semi Annual Channel, and Server with Desktop only available through the Long Term Servicing Channel. Server Core will be available through both channels.
For further information – including device compatibility and servicing tools – read the full Microsoft article here: http://bit.ly/2w5OKql.
Microsoft re-brand Office 365 K1 as Office 365 F1. Previously the “K” was for “Kiosk” – those workers who typically use a PC for less than 10% of their time. “F” is for “Firstline” where firstline workers are those who are the first in line to engage with customers in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, government, and many other sectors. Currently the F1 plan gives access to the same services as K1.
Check out this page to see what F1 includes and for a couple of useful FAQs: http://bit.ly/2uwemPH.