Microsoft is retiring some of the key and most valuable benefits of its Software Assurance Benefit (SAB) program. These soon-to-be-retired benefits will include Deployment Planning Services, Training Vouchers, and 24x7 Problem Resolution Support.
These often-used benefits have measurable value when considering the extra cost of adding Software Assurance (SA) to a license; particularly for Enterprise Agreements where it’s included in the program and positioned by Microsoft as value towards ROI.
Deployment Planning Services are vouchers valued at about US$1,000 and redeemed towards partner consulting and planning services for many products. These will be transitioned to the Fast Track Program. Training Vouchers also valued at US$300 could be redeemed for Instructor Lead or Online infrastructure Training Courses for IT Professionals. 24x7 Problem Resolution Support incidents are valuable to IT departments for resolving critical issues instead of using a credit card and paying for periodic support.
Source: ROI Calculator for SAB, Blueprint Published FY2017
Deployment Planning Services
Training Vouchers
24x7 Problem Resolution Support
With these announced changes, Microsoft continues to erode the value of Software Assurance and the value contained within the enterprise licensing programs. This started with the cloud transitions to O365 where no SA is provided, as was traditional with Office Pro, and will likely continue into the future as Microsoft looks to reduce the value of on-premises deployments and migrate more users to the cloud. Take a hard look at the value of an EA when purchasing Online Services and the declining value-add services that were known as Software Assurance Benefits.
Complete details of the changes at Microsoft Software Assurance by Benefit