Microsoft Software Assurance

Software Assurance offers the universal mechanism of updating of software products and also a packet of free services and tools which promote effective planning, development and deployment of new products and solutions, training of IT employees, reducing costs for technical support, i.e. development of information infrastructure of the organization. The Software Assurance tools are focused on five key operational stages of the software: planning, installation, use, support, transition to other versions.

Acquisition methods

Software Assurance (SA) is offered as an option in the Open License program and automatically is included in the price of the licenses Open Value, Open Value Subscription, Enterprise Agreement and Enterprise Agreement Subscription.

At acquisition of a product the client should make the decision — whether he is interested in the program of support Software Assurance including a subscription to updates and other advantages or prefers to update and pay only software, purchasing full licenses on new versions in process of emergence of need for them.

If the client purchased licenses for the software product, and decided to seize Software Assurance program capabilities later, he should pay the total cost of the license for a product and cost of Software Assurance (License & Software Assurance or Upgrade&Software Assurance) again

Restrictions

Significant restrictions are imposed on acquisition of Software Assurance. SA can be purchased:

• along with purchase of the license for the new version of a product (License & Software Assurance or Upgrade&Software Assurance) on any of programs of corporate licensing (Open, Open Value, Open Value Subscription, Enterprise Agreement, Enterprise Agreement Subscription);
• at prolongation of Software Assurance within 30 days from end date of the agreement of Open Value, Enterprise Agreement, Multi-Year Open; at prolongation of Software Assurance within 90 days from expiry date of the agreement of Open License (validity period of authorization number). If the client did not prolong action of SA at the scheduled time upon termination of the duration of the agreement Open License or upon termination of agreements of Open Value, Multi-Year Open License, Enterprise Agreement, then he should pay the total cost of the license for a product + Software Assurance cost (License & Software Assurance or Upgrade&Software Assurance) again.
• within 30 days after the redemption of the licenses Open Subscription License, Open Value Subscription, Enterprise Agreement Subscription;
• to users boxed or OEM versions of operating systems, server products and also OEM versions of products of the Office family within 90 days from purchase date of OEM/FPP versions. The language version of Software Assurance should match the language version of the product purchased in OEM/FPP.

At acquisition of Software Assurance for OEM/FPP of versions the following restrictions work:

Acquisition of SA within different programs of licensing:

• Open Value Company-wide, Enterprise Agreement – only for additional products
• Open License, Open Value non company-wide – without restrictions

Operating systems

At acquisition of OEM or FPP versions Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Professional and also Get Genuine Kit for Windows XP Professional is allowed acquisition of Software Assurance at observance of the listed above basic rules.

Desktop applications

Acquisition of Software Assurance after purchase of box versions is not allowed. From the moment of release of Office 2003 it is allowed to buy Software Assurance to the Office family products purchased in the form of OEM versions. This right extends to the editions Office available according to programs of corporate licensing.

Server products

Boxed and OEM versions of server products acquisition of Software Assurance within 90 days from the moment of OEM/FPP purchase is allowed to users.

See Also

• Software Asset Management (SAM)
• The policy of Microsoft for use of the software with the open code
• Licensing of products of Microsoft
• Software Assurance