Microsoft announce that ISVs can now choose to make their Azure Marketplace offerings available through the CSP channel, so that CSP partners will be able to sell these solutions alongside the regular Azure services.
Partners will transact SaaS Subscriptions through Partner Center, and Azure resources such as VM or container images through the Azure Management Portal.
Find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/2JefMam, where you’ll also find an updated CSP Operations Guide.
Microsoft announce the General Availability of Azure DevOps Server; this is the latest version of the product you may know better by its previous name of Visual Studio Team Foundation Server.
There are no changes to the licensing of this new version and you can buy Server and CAL licences through a Volume Licensing agreement.
Alternatively, Visual Studio standard subscriptions include rights to the Server licence and one User CAL, and all users licensed for Azure DevOps Services have CAL rights too.
You can find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/2FgTv7U, along with confirmation that Azure SQL Database can now be used with Azure DevOps Server in an Azure virtual machine.
Microsoft announce that Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 will be available for purchase starting 1 April, 2019.
This is where you’ll find the announcement: http://bit.ly/2THC3SZ, along with a link to download some FAQs.
If you’re interested in some facts and figures around running older software then this infographic is worth a look: http://bit.ly/2TcV7TU, and there’s a customisable sales guide for partners who want to help customers transition to a modern desktop with Microsoft 365 here: http://bit.ly/2Y3Ymk3.
Windows and SQL Server reach the end of mainstream support in July 2019 (SQL) and January 2020 (Windows). Customers who want to continue to run 2008/2008 R2 workloads will have the option of purchasing Extended Security Updates from 1 March, 2019.
There’s a new FAQ from Microsoft which is useful, and if you don’t want to read all 57 questions then focus on question 9 (pricing details), 34 (options for hosted environments), and 37 (how these ESUs will be delivered).
Find this FAQ in the Core Infrastructure section of our Licensing Guides emporium: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides, and add it to your weekend reading list.
Microsoft announce the rebranding of Skype Room Systems as Microsoft Teams Rooms. You can find the announcement as well as details of new and upcoming features here: http://bit.ly/2E3bMVw, and if you’re a bit hazy on the licensing of Skype Room Systems then this is a good article to get started with: http://bit.ly/2Snjwut.
For a detailed comparison of what’s in each of the Microsoft 365 E3, E5 and F1 plans, this site is useful: http://bit.ly/2t8ckU2.
It’s right up-to-date with the recent inclusion of MyAnalytics in all plans, the merging of Office 365 Cloud App Security into Microsoft Cloud App Security, and the combining of Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence into Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection Plan 2.
The Visual Studio Licensing Guide has some updates, mainly for the name changes of Visual Studio Online Services to Azure DevOps, and Microsoft BizSpark to Microsoft for Startups.
As usual, find this guide here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
If you’ve got an interest in deploying Office 365 ProPlus in an enterprise environment then the list of articles here (http://bit.ly/2GaurkA) is worth a look.
Of particular usefulness to those focusing on licensing is an “Overview of Shared Computer Activation for Office 365 ProPlus” (http://bit.ly/2t4biIn) and an “Overview of Licensing and Activation in Office 365 ProPlus” (http://bit.ly/2MLhSwy).
One for your weekend reading list!
The new Office 365 Home Use Program benefit is added to the February 2019 Product Terms. If a customer has SAM coverage on the Applications pool then employees may buy an Office 365 Home or Personal subscription through the Microsoft Home Use Program website at a discounted rate.
What’s interesting (and different to its Office 2019 HUP counterpart) is that employees may renew the subscription at the special HUP price regardless of whether they’re still employed by the qualifying organisation and that organisation’s SAM coverage status.
Find these details on page 80 and get the February 2019 Product Terms here: http://bit.ly/MSproductterms.
Microsoft announce that effective 16 January, 2019, Microsoft Social Engagement will no longer be included as part of any Dynamics 365 licence for new customers. Existing customers will be able to continue to use the service until 16 January, 2020, or the end of their subscription, whichever occurs earlier. As an alternative solution, customers are recommended to evaluate Dynamics 365 Market Insights which is currently in public preview.
Find the announcement and more information here: http://bit.ly/2MzL7SW, and a comparison between Social Engagement and Market Insights here: http://bit.ly/2DCestb.