Buying Server Products via Microsoft Customer Agreements

(Sections of this report have been superseded by “Transitioning Windows Server Under an EA to an MCA“, “Transitioning SQL Server Under an EA to an MCA” and “Server Subscriptions via MCA“)

• Enterprise Agreement customers directed to transition to Microsoft Customer Agreements (MCA) will have to reassess how they license server software.
• The transition will most likely increase costs and make license compliance more difficult.
• Customers who want to maintain Software Assurance on server licenses should consider augmenting MCA with Open Value and selecting a reseller proficient on both programs.

 

Many Enterprise Agreement (EA) customers with 500 to 2,400 users are directed to switch to a Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) once their current EA expires. Significant differences between the two programs, combined with Microsoft’s overabundance of product license models and support life-cycle timelines, generates licensing cost and compliance impacts that vary widely across products. For server software such as SQL Server and Windows Server, the elimination of Software Assurance (SA) on perpetual licenses will have the greatest ramifications. Customers might be able to mitigate the effects, especially if they use the Open Value program for some of their purchases.