Microsoft volume licensing explained
Microsoft licensing has evolved over the years and continues to provide options for organisations to make the most of their technology. Having the correct type and number of Microsoft licenses in place is important to ensure your users can access the tools they need as is the capability to successfully manage and control them.
Understanding which type of licenses, you need can be complicated and expensive without the right advice and recommendation. The type of license agreement you need can depend on many factors such as:
- Which products or product suites you want to purchase
- Industry sector
- Number of users and/or devices
- Length of contract
- How you choose to consume them
- How you want to pay for them
- Where you buy them from
Types of Volume Licensing Agreements
Enterprise Agreements
An Enterprise Agreement (EA) is a volume license agreement that offers best value to an organisation more than 250 users/devices for Public Sector customers or 500 users/devices in the private sector. EAs provide a range of products that include software assurance, access to online services and subscriptions.
Split into enterprise-wide products (mandatory) and additional products for a committed 3-year period, organisations can take advantage of higher levels of discount, fixed pricing, a wider range of products, subscriptions and services and via partnerships that can use additional funding for project support.
EAs are also available as an on-premises model (EA) that supports the provision of perpetual licenses or as a Cloud subscription model (ESA) that offers non perpetual option at a reduced cost.
With a supporting agreement of the server cloud enrolment which provides discounts against core infrastructure, application platform, developer platform and Azure for an install-based commitment.
Server and Cloud Enrolment components:
Windows Server System Centre
SQL Server BizTalk Server
Visual Studio
Microsoft Azure
The EA structure incorporates an annual review and a balance check for a true up (purchase of additional licenses) or annual count to ensure that it still meets the original brief and adheres to Microsoft programmatic rules. All of which is part of the management process that Trustmarque will help advise and guide you through as a standard service within our account review.
The commitment associated with Enterprise Agreements help to unlock additional services from Trustmarque and Microsoft in the form of funding requests, on application to Microsoft and the delivery of our Microsoft FastTrack services.
Cloud Solution Provider – CSP
The Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider programme enables Trustmarque to offer a range of Microsoft products, with the programme’s flagship cloud subscription services, to software subscriptions and the latest perpetual software offerings.
Cloud Services include products such as Office 365, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, The Enterprise Mobility & Security Suites (EMS) and Azure Services.
Server products and applications are now available across the subscription and perpetual software offerings.
CSP is the most flexible type of agreement with no minimum quantity and a choice of subscription terms of 1, 12 or 36 months, depending on product.
Our Microsoft Cloud Service, Cloud ESP, provides organisations flexibility in how they meet their requirements in the form of:
Flexible licensing
– amend license requirements at short notice, flex up/down license subscriptions to support demand
Control costs
– set spending limits and alert notifications
Managed billing
– allow monthly billing in arrears providing cost management and visibility
Direct support
from Trustmarque
The unique Trustmarque Cloud ESP is specifically built for our customers to simplify your licensing management, control over your license consumption and you can view current and projected usage, as well as access detailed billing information.
Compare licensing models
| Feature | Cloud Solution Provider—direct reseller1 | Enterprise Agreement (EA) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum seats | One2 | 500+ |
| Add/remove seats | Monthly | Annually |
| Customer transactions | Direct provider and reseller collaboration | Microsoft |
| Customer support | Direct provider and reseller collaboration | Microsoft |
| Billing cadence | Varies | Varies |
| Product availability | All Microsoft online services | All Microsoft online services |
| Microsoft Azure availability | Yes (2–3) | Yes (4–5) |
| Duration of agreement | 12 months (minimum), evergreen | Three years |
1 Customer transactions, customer support, and partner compensation will vary in the direct model.
2 Minimum of five seats for Microsoft Dynamics 365.
3 Removing seats during term may incur charges.
What is Software Assurance?
Software Assurance helps organisations get the most from their Microsoft technology investments by:
- Reducing software and services costs with rights to new software releases and cost-efficient upgrades
- Improving operational efficiency through access to unique technologies and licensing rights
- Supporting Hybrid scenarios while in transition from on-premise to Azure. (Azure Hybrid Use Benefit)
- Maintaining an available and responsive IT infrastructure with around-the-clock support
