Microsoft Software Assurance

Short description: Subscription software licensing and maintenance program

Not to be confused with Software assurance.

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Microsoft Software Assurance (SA) is a Microsoft maintenance program aimed at business users who use Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and other server and desktop applications. The core premise behind SA is to give users the ability to spread payments over several years, while offering "free" upgrades to newer versions during that time period.

## Contents

* 1 Overview
* 2 Features
* 3 Criticism
* 4 History
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Overview

Microsoft differentiates License and Software Assurance. Customers may purchase (depending on the program), a license without Software Assurance, Software Assurance only (but only to be used in combination with an existing license), both a License and Software Assurance together. The three possibilities are not always available, depending on the program (single license or volume license).[1]

## Features

The full list of benefits, effective March 2006, are as follows:

* Free upgrades: Subscribers may upgrade to newer versions of their Microsoft software
* Access to exclusive software products: Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, Windows Vista Enterprise Edition, Windows 7 Enterprise Edition, Windows 8 Enterprise Edition and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack are only available to Software Assurance customers
* Training: Free training from Microsoft and access to Microsoft E-Learning, a series of interactive online training tools for users. This training can only be taken at a Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions and can only be redeemed for training that is categorized as Microsoft Official Curriculum.
* Home use: Employees of a company with SA can use an additional copy of Microsoft software
* Access to source code for larger companies (1,500+ desktops)
* 24x7 telephone and web support
* Additional error reporting tools
* Free licenses for additional servers provisioned as "Cold backups" of live servers
* Access to Microsoft TechNet managed newsgroups
* Access to Microsoft TechNet downloads for 1 user
* Extended Hotfix support: Typically Microsoft charges for non-security hotfixes after mainstream support for the product has ended (e.g. 5 years for Windows); this charge is waived for SA customers whose contracts started before 1 July 2017. As of 1 July 2017, Extended Hotfix support is no longer available through Software Assurance.

All benefits are generated by a Benefits Administrator at the customer organization and can be managed on the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center.

## Criticism

Software Assurance is often criticized[2] for its expense and the lack of "free" software upgrades within the contract period. The development period between major operating system versions often exceeds three years, requiring customers to renew their software assurance for another contract period, in order to get the next upgrade for "free".

## History

Software Assurance was part of Licensing 6.0 and initially only provided upgrades, but around the time of the Microsoft Office 2003 release, more benefits were added. In March 2006, Microsoft added Windows Vista Enterprise Edition and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs. In June 2011 Microsoft added Windows Thin PC, a desktop virtualization application that allows locked down versions of Windows 7 to run on older hardware.

## References

1. ↑ "Microsoft Licensing Terms". OMTCO, omt-co Operations Management Technology Consulting GmbH. http://omtco.eu/references/microsoft/top-75-microsoft-licensing-terms-a-glossary-from-antigen-to-zune/. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
2. ↑ Richard Stiennon (2011-11-07). "Microsoft Software Assurance: Insurance? Or Extortion?". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardstiennon/2011/11/07/microsoft-software-assurance-insurance-or-extortion/.

## External links

* Microsoft Software Assurance home page
* An Independent View of Microsoft Software License Agreements, Network World, November, 2010
* Top 75 Microsoft Licensing Terms – A Glossary From A(ntigen) To Z(une)

* v
* t
* e

Microsoft

* History
* Outline

People|

| Founders|

* Bill Gates
* Paul Allen

|

Board of directors|

* John W. Thompson (Chairman)
* Satya Nadella (CEO)
* Bill Gates
* Charles Noski
* Helmut Panke
* John W. Stanton
* Reid Hoffman
* Sandi Peterson
* Penny Pritzker
* Charles Scharf
* Arne Sorenson
* Padmasree Warrior

Senior leadership team|

* Satya Nadella (CEO)
* Scott Guthrie
* Amy Hood (CFO)
* Harry Shum
* Phil Spencer

Corporate VPs|

* Joe Belfiore
* Richard Rashid (SVP)
* S. Somasegar (SVP)
* César Cernuda

Products|

| Hardware|

* Azure Kinect
* HoloLens
* LifeCam
* Surface
* Hub
* Go
* Laptop
* Pro
* Studio
* Xbox

|

Operating systems|

* Windows
* Xbox OS

Software|

* Office
* Office 365
* Mobile
* Servers
* Visual Studio

Web properties|

* Azure
* Bing
* Channel 9
* CodePlex
* Developer Network
* Docs
* MSN
* Mixer
* Office.com
* OneDrive
* Outlook.com
* Store
* TechNet
* Translator

Company|

| Conferences|

* Build
* Ignite
* Inspire (formerly TechEd)
* MIX
* PDC
* WinHEC

|

Divisions|

* Engineering groups
* Mobile
* Skype unit
* Digital Crimes Unit
* Garage
* Press
* Research
* .NET Foundation
* Outercurve Foundation
* Xbox Game Studios

Estates|

* Microsoft Redmond campus
* Microsoft Talo
* Microsoft Algeria
* Microsoft Egypt
* Microsoft India
* Microsoft Japan
* Microsoft Theater

Campaigns|

* Where do you want to go today? (1994)
* Champagne (2002)
* Mojave Experiment (2006)
* I'm a PC (2008)
* Scroogled (2012)

Criticism|

* Bundling of Microsoft Windows
* Clippy
* iLoo
* Internet Explorer
* Microsoft Bob
* NSAKEY
* Windows
* XP
* Vista
* 10

Litigation|

* Alcatel-Lucent v. Microsoft
* Apple v. Microsoft
* European Union Microsoft competition case
* Microsoft v. Lindows
* Microsoft v. MikeRoweSoft
* Microsoft v. Shah
* United States v. Microsoft (2001 antitrust case)
* Microsoft Ireland case

Acquisitions|

* 6Wunderkinder
* Altamira Software
* AltspaceVR
* aQuantive
* Azyxxi
* The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks
* Beam
* Bungie
* Calista Technologies
* Colloquis
* Connectix
* Consumers Software
* Danger
* Farecast
* FASA Studio
* Fast Search & Transfer
* Firefly
* Forethought
* GIANT Company Software
* GitHub
* GreenButton
* Groove Networks
* High Heat Major League Baseball
* Hotmail
* Jellyfish.com
* LinkedIn
* LinkExchange
* Lionhead Studios
* Maluuba
* Massive Incorporated
* Mobile Data Labs
* Mojang
* Nokia Devices and Services
* Onfolio
* Pando Networks
* Perceptive Pixel
* PlaceWare
* Powerset
* ProClarity
* Rare
* Revolution Analytics
* ScreenTonic
* Secure Islands
* Simplygon
* Skype
* Sunrise Atelier
* SwiftKey
* Winternals Software
* Teleo
* Telekinesys Research
* Tellme Networks
* Twisted Pixel Games
* Vermeer Technologies
* Visio Corporation
* Vivaty
* VoloMetrix
* VXtreme
* WebTV Networks
* Xamarin
* Yammer
* Yupi

* Category

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