Licensing Terms

Microsoft 365 Government: What’s in the Box? Updated: May 11, 2025 Microsoft 365 Government offers better regulatory compliance for U.S. governmental organizations than Microsoft 365 commercial...more Transitioning Microsoft 365 from an EA to an MCA Updated: March 11, 2025 Enterprise Agreement customers transitioning to Microsoft Customer Agreements will have to reassess how they license...more Azure: Know Reservations Updated: February 15, 2025 Azure reservations allow customers to reduce Azure costs in exchange for a one- or three-year...more New License Rule for Contractor Access Updated: August 27, 2024 Contractors and other nonemployees who access an organization’s Microsoft systems face new licensing rules in...more Executive Focus: Negotiating Microsoft Licensing Agreements Updated: April 15, 2024 Licensing and negotiations favor Microsoft, but adopting the right approach allows customers to negotiate from...more Executive Focus: Understanding Microsoft Licensing Updated: January 22, 2024 Microsoft licensing challenges can increase business risk, impacting budgets, cash flow, and daily business activities....more Time to Walk Away from Some Microsoft Products Updated: June 2, 2023 Microsoft is dropping development, cutting support, and raising prices for many on-premises products. These dead-end...more Windows Client OS VDI Licensing Relaxed Updated: May 31, 2023 Windows 10 and 11 will cost less to license in some virtual desktop infrastructures. The...more Windows Server Licensing Head-to-Head for Azure Stack HCI Updated: May 31, 2023   Enterprise Agreement customers have four major options to license the Azure Stack HCI OS...more Software Assurance Support and Training Benefits Cut Updated: May 31, 2023 Some accrued Software Assurance benefits will be modified or eliminated starting in 2020. Planning and...more Additional Azure Reservation Categories Available Updated: May 31, 2023 Additional types of Azure reservations became available in Nov. 2019. Azure Licensing: One Phrase, Many Meanings Updated: May 31, 2023 Azure licensing is a multifaceted, complex process involving multiple roles within an organization. Understanding the...more Microsoft Open License Program Ending Updated: May 31, 2023 Microsoft’s Open License program will end on Dec. 31, 2021. Customers cannot buy new licenses...more Negotiating a Microsoft EA Updated: May 31, 2023 In this episode, Mary Jo Foley talks to veteran negotiator Dean Bedwell about Microsoft Enterprise...more The Challenges of Licensing Shared Devices Updated: May 31, 2023 Many organizations have devices that are shared by multiple users and not permanently dedicated to...more Dedicated Host Licensing Favors Azure Updated: November 23, 2020 New licensing rules for dedicated hosting favor Azure over competing cloud platforms from Amazon, Google,...more

Available Azure Reservations Updated: February 16, 2025