Software Assurance is a new, simpler way of obtaining upgrades to the latest and most innovative Microsoft products. It replaces the old Version Upgrades, Product Upgrades, Upgrade Advantage and Competitive Upgrades.
Software Assurance
Software Assurance (SA), is a new, simpler way of obtaining upgrades to the latest and most innovative Microsoft products. License & SA (L&SA) combined replace Version Upgrade (VUP), Product Upgrade (PUP), Upgrade Advantage (UA), and Competitive Upgrade (CUP) product types offered in Open License 5.0.
Once purchased for a particular product, L&SA provides the right to run the latest version of that product and is immediately eligible for upgrades to that product released during the term of the Open Authorization number.
Software Assurance Benefits
Software Assurance (SA) may offer businesses benefits beyond merely the ability to upgrade to the latest software releases. Having SA in place across an entire enterprise can reduce the amount of valuable time spent tracking multiple versions of software. Additionally, it may promote more expedient execution of business solutions due to reduced need for management approval to finance new software licenses.
From a pure break even analysis standpoint: SA is less expensive for upgrades that occur between every 2.5 to 3 years than purchasing new licenses. The annual reference price of SA is 25% of the license for server products and 29% for desktop and systems products, so if upgrade frequency is 4 years or less for servers and 3.4 years or less for desktop or systems products, it would be more economical to attach SA to licenses than purchase a full license on an ad hoc basis when upgrading.
How Software Assurance Works
Software Assurance (SA), is a great value proposition for organizations who value the ability to deploy and update solutions based on the most recent technology releases.
Once purchased, SA enables an organization to take advantage of technology advancements available through future version software products released during the term of the Open License authorization number. This advantage also applies to older version software, which offers organizations additional flexibility in deployment of solutions that meet their needs.
Purchasing Software Assurance
Software Assurance (SA) may be purchased with the License through License & Software Assurance (L&SA). SA coverage runs for two years or the remaining balance of the term of the Open License Authorization number. SA must always be paid for in two-year increments, regardless of when it was purchased. In cases where time has passed after the initiation of an Open License, it may be advantageous for an organization to open a new Open License in order to receive the most value from their SA purchase.
There is a period of 90 days from the purchase of a Full Packaged Product (FPP) license in Retail or from the purchase of a license from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to enrol that product in SA. Application product licenses purchased in Retail or from an OEM may not be enrolled in SA.
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