Recently, Microsoft announced a new offering for CSP Indirect providers who are also Microsoft Authorized Distributors for the Open License program.  In January 2021 (If he world is still around)  Microsoft will extend this to both CSP Direct bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers.

The breakdown:

1. It’s a perpetual license. Unlike other solutions through CSP, this is not a subscription.  It requires a single, upfront payment.
2. No volume discounts.  There’s no minimum requirement and to no one’s surprise, no maximum either.
3. Software Assurance (SA) is not available.  One key element, no SA benefits are included either such a license mobility.   With SPLA as an example, SA was not included but part of the program benefit was pay as you go.  CSP for on-premise, there is no such benefit.
4. The use rights are outlined in the Product Terms, not the SPUR or Online Services Terms.

Available Products

• Windows Desktop and Servers
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC Upgrade
  • Windows STD and DC core licenses
  • Windows CALs and External Connector
  • RDS CALS and External Connector
  • RMS CALs and External Connector
• SQL
  • Standard Server licenses and CALs
  • Standard and Enterprise Core licenses
• Productivity Servers
  • Exchange Server and STD/Ent CALs
  • SharePoint Server and STD/Ent CALs
  • Skype for Business – Server and STD/ENT Plus CALs
  • Project Server 2019 Server and CALs
• Office
  • Standard 2019 and Pro Plus 2019
  • Mac STD 2019
• Project and Visio
  • Standard and Professional 2019
  • Visio Standard and Professional 2019

Deployment Options * See last paragraph for additional information

• Physical or virtual environments
• 90 days License reassignment

Upgrade Rights

• No upgrade rights
• Any prior version can be licensed.

Accessing Software Keys

Microsoft 365 Admin Center –  Like other CSP licenses, everything is deployed through the admin portal.  The current version and two previous versions are available.  If the customer has media from earlier versions, they can legally license it with their CSP on premise license.

If you are a SPLA Provider, you cannot license CSP on-premise and host.  The CSP for on-premise follows the Product Terms not the SPUR.   Secondly, you cannot have your end customers buy CSP for on-premise and host it on your shared infrastructure.  Last, because there’s no SA with these licenses, you cannot self-host (for ISVs) using this solution.   An alternative, would be to use Windows and SQL Server Subscriptions and host in Azure.

Confused yet?  Email info@splalicensing.com to learn more.

Thanks for reading,

SPLA Man