Tag Archives: Microsoft Customer Agreement

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.

Customer purchasing guidance from Microsoft

Microsoft release some customer purchasing guidance, comparing CSP, the EA, Web Direct, and buying via the Microsoft Customer Agreement direct from Microsoft.

You can read the article here: https://bit.ly/3igCnRR, and/or get a standalone summary guide here: https://bit.ly/3xKVcmF.

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.

Selling Azure through CSP

If you’re a partner selling Azure through CSP then you’ll be interested in a new Microsoft blog post where some upcoming changes are detailed about a new Azure experience in CSP, and the introduction of both the existing Microsoft Customer Agreement and a new Microsoft Partner Agreement in CSP. Get the full details including expected timelines here: http://bit.ly/2Ilm4l1.

Transitioning to the Microsoft Customer Agreement FAQ

Microsoft’s new commerce experience means that eligible Enterprise Agreement customers can transition to buying their Azure services through the Microsoft Customer Agreement.

If you’ve got questions on how this transitioning process works, then this FAQ might be useful: http://bit.ly/2ITH1XO.

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.

Microsoft Customer Agreement

The Microsoft Customer Agreement is Microsoft’s latest agreement that gives customers a framework within which to purchase their products and services. It’s a non-expiring contract and is currently available for purchases made through the Microsoft Store for Business.

From March 2019 it’s also the agreement that customers in eligible countries can use if they want to buy Azure services through their internal Microsoft representative.

Read more about this new agreement and the new commerce experience it facilitates here: http://bit.ly/2Isb0E6 and/or check out the agreement itself (in the language of your choice) here: http://bit.ly/2TS0Anu.