Tag Archives: Software Assurance

Software Subscriptions and License Mobility

Microsoft announce that CSP Software Subscription benefits are fully equivalent to Software Assurance from 1 April, 2026.


License Mobility (through Software Assurance) allows the use of eligible licences in Azure or on an Authorized Mobility Partner’s shared hardware and has long differentiated the two purchasing options. The change expands this outsourcing option to SQL Server, and the External Connectors for Windows Server and RDS. Of particular interest, Listed Providers Amazon, Google, and Alibaba are currently signed up as Authorized Mobility Partners.

Although System Center Server is also available as a Software Subscription, it’s somewhat neglected in the announcement, even though its Software Assurance counterpart has always been eligible for License Mobility.

Microsoft provide us with a range of resources to supplement the news.

Find the announcement here: https://bit.ly/4sWQsqH and some useful FAQs here: https://bit.ly/4m9eRXt .

The updated License Mobility guides cover the process and further details. Grab them here: https://bit.ly/4mcoKDM and here: https://bit.ly/4czaPDJ.

Software Assurance resources

We’ve uncovered some useful and updated Software Assurance resources.

The Program Guide update includes typo and formatting corrections, while cleaning up (some!) references to the obsolete Windows To Go benefit. However, many of the previous Cautionary Notes are still lurking. The FAQs document features general Software Assurance questions and more specific benefits like the Workplace Discount Program and Flexible Virtualization Benefit.

Exclusively for subscribers, our Licensing Guides Gallery (https://bit.ly/GuidesGallery) outlines all details of the changes to be aware (and wary) of.

Grab a copy of the Program Guide here: https://bit.ly/4sAiQPm.
Find the FAQs here: https://bit.ly/3PnH9RX.

Software Assurance Program Guide

We’ve recently discovered an updated(!) Software Assurance Program Guide. It’s the first in a few years, though it could still use a few updates, as there are references to discontinued Software Assurance benefits and products. As always, a record of the quirks can be found on our Licensing Guides Cautionary Notes page: https://bit.ly/LSLVLGCN.

You can grab the 10-page guide here: https://bit.ly/3LdJAVz.

Windows Server Annual Channel for Containers

Microsoft add use rights for the Windows Server Annual Channel for Containers to the October 2023 Product Terms. Customers are eligible to use this operating system if they have Windows Server Datacenter Core licences acquired either with Software Assurance or as Software Subscriptions and can expect a new release every 12 months, with support for 24 months.

You can find an announcement article here: https://bit.ly/48QwBzo, an overview of Windows Server servicing channels here: https://bit.ly/3ucQHFe, and the relevant Product Terms page here: https://bit.ly/3SBAhzE.

Introduction to Microsoft Core licensing models

There’s an updated (October 2022) “Introduction to Microsoft Core licensing models” Licensing Brief from Microsoft. The main changes are for the new Windows Server per virtual machine licensing option, as well as the change for SQL Server and BizTalk Server where licensing by virtual machine is now a Software Assurance benefit.

Find this updated Licensing Brief here: https://bit.ly/3SWTn0u.

BizTalk Server 2020 licensing

There’s a change to BizTalk Server 2020 licensing where the option to license at a virtual machine level becomes a Software Assurance benefit. Find the updated language in the Product Terms here: http://bit.ly/3AyCCSk.

Licensing Microsoft server products in virtual environments

There’s an updated (October 2022) “Licensing Microsoft server products in virtual environments” Licensing Brief from Microsoft.

There are updates for the new per virtual machine licensing model for Windows Server, the introduction of the Flexible Virtualization Benefit, and the changes for SQL Server 2022 where licensing by virtual machine becomes an SA/Software Subscription benefit.

Find this updated Licensing Brief here: https://bit.ly/3fG3BUw.

License Mobility through SA overview document

The License Mobility through SA overview document has been updated to include reference to the Flexible Virtualization Benefit. Find this customer-facing document here: https://bit.ly/3VBIyDa.

Azure Hybrid Benefit for Azure Stack HCI

Microsoft introduce a new benefit for customers with Windows Server Datacenter licences with SA purchased through an Enterprise Agreement. It’s an extension to the Azure Hybrid Benefit and waives the fees for the Azure Stack HCI host service and Windows Server guest subscriptions, as long as all physical cores of the Azure Stack HCI cluster are licensed with Windows Server Datacenter Core licences.

You can find the announcement article here: https://bit.ly/3S4ldHf, and this is a good place to find out more, such as how the benefit is activated: https://bit.ly/3yOX54F.

Flexible Virtualization Benefit Licensing Guide

There’s a brand new (October 2022) Licensing Guide for the new Flexible Virtualization Benefit. This allows customers licensed with Software Assurance or Software Subscriptions to use their licences with Authorized Outsourcers’ shared servers. The guide contains an overview of the benefit itself, a definition of Authorized Outsourcers, and details about using the benefit with SQL Server, Windows Server, and the desktop products. There are also FAQ and Resources sections at the end.

Find this new guide here: https://bit.ly/3T1kDe5.