Category Archives: Uncategorized

Windows Virtualisation Use Rights in CSP

Microsoft announce that virtualisation use rights in CSP will be available for Windows 10 Enterprise licences on 6th September 2017, enabling Windows VMs to be hosted in Azure or with a qualified multi-tenant hosting partner.

At that time Windows 10 Enterprise E3 will be available with or without virtualisation use rights, and Windows 10 Enterprise E5 and SPE will be updated to include them. There will also be a new Windows 10 Enterprise E3 VDA offering for customers who require access to Windows VMs on non-Windows Pro devices.

Find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/2tGfT3c.

Extended Hotfix Support

Extended Hotfix Support is no longer included as a Software Assurance benefit for new customers.

Existing customers who had SA prior to 1 July 2017 are unaffected. See page 6 of the July 2017 Product Terms document.

Azure Stack

There’s a new (July 2017) Azure Stack Packaging and Pricing 2-page datasheet from Microsoft. It’s well worth a read since it gives an idea of pricing, how billing works, and which existing server licenses can be used with Azure Stack. There are also details on the Azure Stack Plan which is only available through the EA.

Find this datasheet in our Licensing Guides emporium in the Online Services section: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.

Workplace Analytics

Microsoft announce the General Availability of Workplace Analytics, sold as an Add-on Subscription Licence which can be added on to any Office 365 Enterprise plan.

Workplace Analytics is an organizational analytics solution which taps into Office 365 email and calendar data to reveal how an organization collaborates and spends time.

Find the announcement and some examples of how customers are using Workplace Analytics here: http://bit.ly/2uMHe2U.

Azure Government services available in CSP

Microsoft announce that Azure Government services for US government and public sector agencies are now available through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program.

Find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/2tRqMOg.

Power BI Premium Generally Available

Microsoft confirm that Power BI Premium is generally available: http://bit.ly/2s9hhKN. Take a look at our earlier blog post for an overview of Power BI Premium: http://bit.ly/2qMOr4B.

Power BI Report Server is also generally available and page 32 of the June 2017 Product Terms confirms that customers with active SA on SQL Server Enterprise Core licences have rights to run Power BI Report Server.

June 2017 Product Terms Addendum

Microsoft release a special June 2017 Product Terms Addendum to take account of the name changes coming to the Dynamics 365 products on 1 July, 2017.

In summary, Operations becomes the Dynamics 365 Unified Operations Plan, Plan 1 becomes the Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Plan, and Plan 2 becomes the Dynamics 365 Plan.

Download this addendum here: http://bit.ly/2rRqysz.

Dynamics 365 for Talent

Microsoft announce that Dynamics 365 for Talent is now in Technical Preview. Find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/2sjccm9 with an overview of the features and an introductory video where the last line sums up the proposition of this new product: “To find the right people, keep them engaged, productive, and working for you, all you need is Talent.” According to the original announcement in May (http://bit.ly/2r9Bsa7) look out for this product in July 2017.

Dynamics NAV 2017 Licensing Guide

If you need a Dynamics NAV 2017 Licensing Guide, then we’ve just added one to our Licensing Guides library at http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.

This Guide gives you an overview of the NAV 2017 licensing requirements and then focuses on the two licensing models: Perpetual Licensing and Subscription Licensing.

Windows 10S as a Qualifying Operating System

Page 43 of the June 2017 Product Terms document confirms that the new Windows 10S operating system is not eligible as a qualifying operating system for a Windows 10 Pro upgrade licence acquired through a Volume Licensing program. There is, however, the usual exception for Academic and Charity customers