There’s an updated (January 2021) VLSC Software Assurance Guide. This is a useful document detailing how customers manage their SA benefits through the VLSC, and it’s fully updated for the imminent retirement of Training Vouchers and Planning Services.
Find this guide here: https://bit.ly/2QWvNWL.
From 1 February, 2021 Planning Services days and Training Vouchers will no longer be allocated on new or renewing Software Assurance, and thus they are removed from the Product Terms website. Customers can redeem existing days and vouchers through December 2021, and the Software Assurance website is useful for further information: http://bit.ly/2kXtbbA.
Microsoft announce a number of measures in response to the disruption caused by the coronavirus, including an extension to the end date of existing Deployment Planning Services and Training Vouchers.
Active vouchers created prior to 1 April, 2020 will be extended for an additional 90 days. In addition DPS engagements may now be carried out remotely.
Find details of this and other adjustments to end dates for competencies, certifications, and program qualifications here: https://bit.ly/2JR2gXD.
Microsoft announce upcoming changes to three Software Assurance benefits. Here’s the summary and key dates:
Planning Services
Training Vouchers
24 x 7 Problem Resolution Support
And the reason for these changes? There’s a useful “Software Assurance changes overview” document which you can find in the “Volume Licensing Programs” section of our Licensing Guides emporium here: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.
In this document you’ll find that customers are encouraged to move to FastTrack for deployment services, that Microsoft Learn provides some excellent Azure training courses – although new training and certification offerings are in development, and that Microsoft’s future overall support strategy focuses on the Unified Support model.
The Software Assurance website is also updated with this news here: http://bit.ly/2kXtbbA.