Month: October 2019
Microsoft have announced some significant changes to their Software Assurance benefits, which will impact across many Microsoft Agreement types, but will have particular effect on organisations with an Enterprise Agreement in place.
The changes affect three of the most commonly used and valued Software Assurance (SA) benefits: Deployment Planning Services; Training Vouchers; and 24/7 Support. Planning Services & Training Vouchers will be phased out, and support criteria will be updated. Microsoft’s logic behind this is in line with their transition from on premise to Cloud models; future emphasis will be on deployment delivery via FastTrack support, updated certification processes, and the Unified Support model. Although this decision matches Microsoft’s own business transformations, it will come as a blow to businesses that have grown to depend on these services, particularly partner planning support which is highly valued.
Takeaways: There are a number of key timelines to be aware of; this is important to anyone with current benefits, as they will need to be consumed before the services are removed. Particular attention should be paid to the Feb 2020 date to convert Training Vouchers to Partner days, as this deadline is looming.
To discuss how these SA benefit changes impact your organisation talk to you regular Micromail account manager or email info@micromail.ie to organise a call.
Planning Services:
February 1, 2020
•Cloud service options retired from SA catalogue
February 1, 2021
•Accrual of new planning days ends
•Last day to create Planning Services vouchers for new/renewing contracts
June 30, 2021
•Last day to create Planning Services vouchers for existing contracts
January 31, 2022
•Last day to redeem Planning Services vouchers for existing contracts
Training Vouchers:
February 1, 2020
•Azure training courses removed from catalogue
•Training Vouchers to Planning Days conversion ends
February 1, 2021
•Accrual of new Training Vouchers ends
•Last day to create Training Vouchers for new/renewing contracts
June 30, 2021
•Last day to create Training Vouchers for existing contracts
January 31, 2022
•Last day to redeem Training Vouchers for existing contracts
24/7 Support:
February 1, 2021
Ending
•Accrual of 24×7 PRS incidents
•Incident conversions towards Premier/Unified Support
Launching
•For customers with more than US$250K/year SA spend:
•As-needed basic phone support for Severity A
•Online support during business hours for Severity B and C
•24-hour response time
•Credit towards a Unified Support agreement
Starting from 1st of October, Microsoft have implemented a significant change to their Power Platform licensing model; today we will review the impact this will have on current Flow and PowerApps users who are already availing of the limited capabilities included in O365 plans. It’s important to understand what the changes are, how they will affect you, and what action needs to be taken.
Firstly, the significant changes to the O365 PowerApps & Flow licenses are as follows:
If you are not currently using these services then no action is required; you will start on the new model if you decide to start running these services. However, if you are currently utilising these resources, then it is possible to ask Microsoft to extend your current licensing terms until 1st of October 2020, or the expiration of your current Online Service term. There is some urgency to request this extension, as it needs to be made before 31st of December 2019. Our recommendation: If you are not currently using these services, no action is needed, but if you are using O365 PowerApps and/or Flow services, and will be affected by the changes below, open a service request on your O365 tenant (see guide) and request an extension to your current licensing model.
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