Want to know where the Microsoft Azure data centres are and what services are available in what region?
This is a useful page showing the current 30 regions including the two newest UK ones: http://bit.ly/2cIXMTG.
Project Online Plan Change Information
If you’re an existing user of Microsoft Project Online then you may know that the plans have changed – see our blog post: http://bit.ly/2buEoam for details.
There’s now also a useful page from Microsoft which is great if you’re wondering when you should take action to move off the retired plans, what happens at renewal, and how you can choose to switch plans.
The article is worth a read here: http://bit.ly/2cfQJhm.
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Available
Microsoft announce that Azure Active Directory Premium P2 is generally available from 15 September 2016: http://bit.ly/2d4ZJvV.
Azure AD Premium P2 includes all the capabilities of Azure AD Premium P1 as well as the new Azure AD Identity Protection and Azure AD Privileged Identity Management services.
This page is a good resource if you want to compare the services available in the P1 and P2 plans as well as AD Free and Basic editions: http://bit.ly/2cjdExc.
The new P2 plan will also be part of the Enterprise Mobility + Security E5 plan: http://bit.ly/29Cc0Er.
Microsoft UK Data Centres
The Microsoft UK data centres (UK South and UK West) are open for Azure and Office 365 business with CRM Online coming in the first half of 2017.
Read the Microsoft announcement here: http://bit.ly/2cIWjNk.
Microsoft Volume License Newsletter
The September 2016 Microsoft Volume License Newsletter is out and it focusses on some of the recent changes to Windows 10 Enterprise licensing. How many do you know?
Well, Windows 10 Enterprise with SA has been renamed to Windows 10 Enterprise E3, and there’s a new E5 edition available which includes Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection. All licences are available as user or device licences and there are Add-ons if you need to move between the models.
Read it and subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/2bQQzit.
MPSA FAQs
Got a question on the MPSA? This FAQ page may help (http://bit.ly/2cgCL14) with its useful information on purchasing through the MPSA, how pricing levels and points work, what duration options are available, and how to manage purchases.
CRM Online Licensing and Pricing Guide (July 2016)
There’s an updated (July 2016) CRM Online Licensing and Pricing Guide. The main addition is the CRM Online Project Service Automation Add-On USL (page 12) which provides users with capabilities for setting up a project organisation, engaging with customers, and managing and closing projects. Naturally, as an Add-On, this licence requires users to first be licensed with a CRM Online Basic USL or higher.
As usual, find this Licensing Guide with all its friends here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
September 2016 Hosting and Cloud Newsletter
This useful newsletter has three items of licensing interest this month – let’s take a look.
First of all there’s confirmation that Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 will be available in October 2016, with Service Providers being able to download the products from 17 October. The licensing model changes to Core licences and there’s a requirement for a minimum of 8 Core licences per processor. The virtualisation rules are pretty much the same as for 2012 R2: license all the cores with Datacenter edition for unlimited virtualisation, and license all cores with Standard edition for the rights to run a single VM.
Then there’s confirmation that Windows 10 Enterprise E3 is available in the CSP program from 1 September 2016. Licensed users may install the software on up to 5 devices but they will not have access to any virtualisation rights or Software Assurance benefits. Note that qualifying licences of Windows 10 Pro and above are required.
And finally, you’ll want to put 29 September in your diary for the quarterly licensing briefing from the Microsoft SPLA team. The agenda is set to cover the detail of licensing Windows 10 Enterprise E3 through CSP, and Windows Server and System Center 2016 through SPLA. Register for the Cloud Channel Network to attend: http://bit.ly/2c3U8nd or, if you’re already a member, add the event to your calendar here: http://bit.ly/2bPvwOt.
Sign up for this free monthly newsletter here: http://bit.ly/1iVEvxV.
Office Online Server
The usage rights for customers to use Office Online Server are extended: the August 2016 Product Terms document states that as long as customers purchase Office Standard 2016 or Office Professional Plus 2016 licences before 1 August 2016 then they may use Office Online Server until 1 August 2019 (page 23). Previously, it was stated that the licences needed to be purchased between 1 May 2016 and 1 August 2016.
R Server 2016
Good news for R Server 2016 customers: a single licence for R Server 2016 for Hadoop and for R Server 2016 for Teradata DB now covers 24 cores rather than 16. This change is detailed on page 5 of the August 2016 Product Terms and applies to new licences as well as licences purchased prior to 1st August 2016.