Tag Archives: From SA

Changes to From SA licences

Microsoft announce changes to the availability of From SA licences. These licences debuted in the August 2014 Product List and were a cost-effective way for a customer with users licensed with traditional desktop licences with SA to move to the cloud, with, for example, an Office 365 E3 From SA User SL costing less than a full Office 365 E3 User SL.

The changes don’t affect customers who have bought From SA licences – they’ll be able to continue to renew these licences, but from 1 February, 2024 no new licences may be purchased, either by existing or new From SA customer.

Now, as users are moved to cloud licences, full User SLs must be purchased for them. There is a concession that remains: each user who used a device licensed with SA for Windows, Core/Enterprise CAL Suite and Office Professional Plus before being assigned a Microsoft 365 E3/E5 User SL may continue to install a local copy of Office Professional Plus.

Find the adjusted Product Terms text here: https://bit.ly/2OFt7vB, and Microsoft’s announcement here: https://bit.ly/3w4RN6x.

From SA User SL rights

An attractive option for EA customers moving to Microsoft 365 E3/E5 is to buy the From SA User SL. As long as you have active SA on all of the desktop components you’re eligible for this cheaper licence.

If you have perpetual licences you retain the rights to use the desktop products at the last version (or any earlier version) when you transitioned.

The standard use rights of the From SA User SL don’t include the rights to install any newer version of the Office Professional Plus product, and for the last few years there’s been an exception that DOES allow this.

However, text in the October 2018 Product Terms (page 55) states that this benefit comes to an end for new or renewing customers on 1 January, 2019.

Download the Product Terms every month here: http://bit.ly/MSproductterms.