Microsoft Azure Customer Solution VL Brief

There’s an updated (April 2022) Microsoft Azure Customer Solution VL Brief. This is a useful document detailing the rules for ISVs when creating customer solutions built on Azure: essentially, ISVs should purchase the Azure services through an EA or (and this is the addition to this new document version) direct from Microsoft via the Microsoft Customer Agreement. Partners intending to just resell the Azure services should use the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program.

Find this updated document here: https://bit.ly/39sdBgW.

Managing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment

Customers buying direct from Microsoft via an EA or the Microsoft Customer Agreement can make a commitment to the amount of Azure services they intend to purchase over a given period – this is called a Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC).

There are some new/updated resources for customers to help them manage MACC: the first (https://bit.ly/3Jje1DB) gives instructions on tracking MACC, and the second (https://bit.ly/3KRs8jH) is helpful in ascertaining whether purchasing certain Marketplace offers will contribute to this commitment.

Qualified Educational User Definition document

For customers to be eligible to purchase academic edition products they must meet the criteria detailed in the Qualified Educational User Definition document.

This document was updated in December 2020 to specifically include CSP as part of the Microsoft Customer Agreement, and now public libraries and public museums are eligible academic customers in the CSP program.

Find the updated document here: http://bit.ly/3bCGNP8, making sure you choose the right one for your region.

Product Terms updated for the Microsoft Customer Agreement

The Microsoft Customer Agreement now governs a customer’s purchases through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, replacing the Microsoft Cloud Agreement, and the April 2020 Product Terms document is updated to reflect this. So, for example, on page 60 it’s stated that rights to install Exchange, SharePoint and Skype for Business Server are included with a Microsoft 365 E3/E5 User SL, but NOT if these licences have been acquired under the Microsoft Cloud Agreement or Microsoft Customer Agreement.

Find the Product Terms documents here: http://bit.ly/MSproductterms.

Microsoft Commerce Experience FAQ

There’s an updated (April 2019) Microsoft Commerce Experience FAQ which focuses on the new way that customers can buy the Azure services direct from Microsoft through the Microsoft Customer Agreement.

There aren’t major changes to this document, but there is a link included now to view the new Microsoft Customer Agreement.

Find this FAQ in the Volume Licensing Programs section here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.