Microsoft Software Assurance Program

Help boost productivity across your organization by enabling you to get the most from your Microsoft software.Benefits, including 24x7 support, deployment planning services, end-user and technical training, and the latestsoftware releases and unique technologies,are combined in one cost-effective program.Using these benefits can help your organizationimprove productivity and help IT efficiently deploy and manage your Microsoft technology.

Informed by Software Assurance customers and industry insiders, this guide offers key steps, tips, and practical advice to help you get the most value from your benefits. Use it as a starting point to help you successfully plan, manage, and use the benefits across your organization.

Taking an active role in managing Software Assurance benefits not only helps assure that your organization maximizes these resources, but it can also help you demonstrate your personal, departmental, and organizational impact on business value. By helping manage Software Assurance benefits across your organization, you can show your commitment to your company’s productivity and bottom line.

Microsoft Software Assurance: Large Business

Microsoft Software Assurance: Midsize Business

Microsoft Software Assurance: Small Business

Software Assurance is more than just an upgrade. You get a broad range of value-added benefits to help you manage costs, get the most out of new technologies, and improve employee productivity.

Software Assurance offers a broad range of benefits in one program, combining the latest software with tools and resources to help you deploy, manage, and migrate software. Benefits include:

Consulting services
Training
Around-the-clock web support
Technical resources

These benefits help increase the return on your technology investment by supporting budget predictability, lowering operating expenses, improved productivity, and minimized downtime.
You can choose Software Assurance at the time of purchase and begin using your benefits immediately for the term of your license agreement.

Note: Software Assurance benefits eligibility varies by Volume Licensing program.

Open License Program Comparison
	Open License Value	Open License Volume	Open License Business
Customer profile	Organizations with as few as five desktops that want the advantages of Software Assurance (SA) and the ability to spread payments annually.	Compelling value proposition for customers based on a volume commitment.	Organizations needing five or more licenses.
Entry minimum	Minimum of five Licenses and Software Assurance (L&SA).	500 point minimum within a specific product pool on initial order. Pools include applications, systems, and servers. Each license carries a point value.	Minimum initial order of five licenses.
Software license offerings	L&SA SA renewal	License SA SA renewal	License SA SA renewal
Additional savings	Yes, for Companywide Option	No	No
Payment options	Payments spread annually or up front.	Payment due in full upon order.	Payment due in full upon order.
Term	Three years	Two years	Two years
Product media	Microsoft SA provides media, such as CDs, for the initial product order. Additional media can be ordered for a charge.	May order media at time of initial order or acquire media separately for a charge.	May order media at time of initial order or acquire media separately for a charge.
Order tracking	Microsoft SA assigns an agreement number and posts order confirmations on the MVLS website (in most countries).	Microsoft SA assigns an authorization number and posts order confirmations on the eOpen website (where available) or sends an authorization number and physical order confirmations directly to the customer where eOpen is not available.	Microsoft SA assigns an authorization number and posts order confirmations on the eOpen website (where available) or sends an authorization number and physical order confirmations directly to the customer where eOpen is not available.