Microsoft updates for February 2024; 5 notable changes

1. Changes to Microsoft “From Software Assurance” licenses 

“From Software Assurance” licenses, were introduced years ago by Microsoft to offer customers discounted Microsoft User Subscription Licenses (USL) for transitioning from on-premises to the cloud.  

With cloud services now being the primary mode of utilizing Microsoft products, customers will no longer be able to purchase new From SA licenses from the year 2024 onwards. This change will not affect the usage or renewal of existing From SA licenses. 

What are customers to expect from the updates made to the “From Software Assurance” licenses?  

Updates to From SA licensing terms: Changes will be made to the From SA licensing terms for Microsoft 365 and its standalone products starting on February 1, 2024. For Dynamics 365 products, these modifications will come into effect on April 1, 2024. 

Microsoft 365: Additional or new From SA subscription licenses for Microsoft 365 and its standalone products will not be available for purchase. 

Dynamics 365: Acquiring additional or new From SA subscription licenses for Dynamics 365 will no longer be an option. To better assist customers transitioning from on-premises to the cloud, a promotional migration offer for the Enterprise Agreement will be introduced by April 1, 2024. Expect further details regarding this promotion to be revealed in early 2024. 

What happens in the instance of renewing or migrating your From SA licenses? 

Renewing Existing From SA Licenses: Licenses bought prior to the licensing change dates can still be renewed in equivalent quantities, up to the amount of expiring From SA USLs. 

Migrating Additional On-Premises Licenses: Upon license expiration, you have the option to procure Full USL licenses for migrating your on-premises licenses. For Microsoft 365, a provision will be in place to grant Office Professional Plus use rights in specific scenarios for customers migrating to the Full USL after February 1, 2024. This policy update can be located in the February 1, 2024 [Product Terms]

(https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/welcome/welcomepage). In the case of Dynamics 365, Enterprise customers can benefit from a time-limited migration offer (available on or before April 1, 2024). 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/licensing/news/from-sa-licenses-policy-update?rtc=1 

2. Windows Desktop Operating System 

Microsoft has included Windows Autopilot in the roll of Online Service components of Windows governed by the Universal License Terms for Online Services. Windows Autopilot comprises technologies designed to set up and pre-configure new devices, preparing them for immediate productivity. This solution facilitates the deployment of Windows PCs and HoloLens 2 devices. Windows Autopilot usually overlooked is found within the suite of tools administrators for a while now is used as a streamline mechanism to deploy devices when setting them up for use. 

3. Microsoft 365 

Included in the Availability Tables for EA/EAS and MCA is Microsoft Copilot for Services. Also added is Copilot for Services in the License Prerequisite Tables. There are also new Service Specific Terms for Microsoft Copilot for Sales. Also is substituted Additional Product Attribute with Faculty Offering for Microsoft 365 A5 Security and Microsoft 365 A5 Compliance in the EES table. 

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 services 

The Update comes with Dynamics 365 Finance Premium to Service Specific Terms and Power Pages Extended Use Rights. There is also introduced a new clause for Microsoft Relationship Sales. Also incorporated are terms for Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Finance clients in Denmark, tailored to the bookkeeping laws and regulations focused on Danish customers only. Microsoft Dynamics 365 components includes Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management and Dynamics 365 Business Central. All these services are able to help your organization to do more and be more agile with the right knowhow and licenses. 

5. GitHub offerings 

To reflect new license availability, EAS and MCA Availability tables have been updated. The GitHub Product Terms have been revised to align with updates in Generative AI. Updates have also been made to the EA/EAS (Enterprise Agreement/Enterprise Agreement Subscription) and MCA (Microsoft Customer Agreement) Availability tables to showcase new license availability. 

These updates have an invariable effect on how you may be licensed to use updated products or services. Talk to our team of licensing and cloud experts, let’s take a look at your license status across your organization and come up with the way forward.