Microsoft Open Licensing Program Changes Are Coming, Let Dasher help you navigate the changes!

By Michael Westerfield, Enterprise Architect

If you’re currently purchasing your Microsoft Licensing via the Microsoft Open Licensing Program, now is the time to plan how you will acquire Microsoft subscriptions and licenses starting in 2022. Microsoft has created an informational webpage detailing the changes that are coming.

According to the page, “The Microsoft Open License program was created over 20 years ago for small and midsized customers to buy multiple perpetual software licenses at a volume price. Microsoft is taking a significant step to simplify licensing by introducing perpetual software license purchases through the new commerce experience, as part of our Cloud Solution Provider program for partners, with a target availability date of January 2021. Small and midsize customers will benefit from a simplified approach and greater flexibility in how you purchase software licenses in a way that’s easy to understand, that directly improves licensing asset management, and with predictable costs.”

You can continue to renew and purchase new software licenses, Software Assurance, and online services through the Open License program until December 31, 2021. As of January 1, 2022, commercial customers won’t be able to buy new or renew existing software licenses or online services through the Microsoft Open License program. New license-only purchases should be transacted through partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program.”

Dasher Microsoft Expertise

Dasher is a Microsoft Gold CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) partner, and we have been providing Microsoft solutions since 2005. During that time Dasher has built extensive expertise by providing both the licensing and subscription solutions that best fit our client’s requirements. We have also built up a professional services and managed services organization that is ready to be a resource for your company to implement and manage Microsoft solutions.

Dasher Engineers and Account Executives work with you to simplify the “confusing Microsoft vocabulary” around the vast set of Microsoft product offerings and licensing methods. We start by reviewing your current licensing and subscriptions and we show you all of the options that are available to you to cost optimize your investment. Did you know that if you are a small business (less than 300 employees), there are monthly subscriptions that include many advanced features of the more costly Microsoft 365 productivity suite? These savings can add up fast and we help you find them.

Once we have the licensing and subscriptions architected, we discuss professional services and managed services offerings that can help your business succeed. For example, we are currently acting as a level 2 Microsoft support team for a 6000+ person company for all of their Office 365 related solutions, such as MS Teams, Office, Intune, etc.

More Benefits of Selecting Dasher as Your CSP Partner

Here are a few more great benefits you receive when you decide to work with Dasher as your CSP partner:

A self-service portal: When purchasing subscription licensing, you simply go to our self-service portal and select the subscriptions you want to add or remove. They appear in your Office 365 portal and you provision to your end users. There is no need to contact Dasher, get a quote, have a new PO approved, etc. This is all enabled via a contract that allows Dasher to invoice you monthly based on your previous months Microsoft usage.
Microsoft Premier Support is included with your purchase. When you invest in MS Azure and O365 productivity solutions with Dasher, you automatically receive MS Premier Support at no cost. This is a huge cost savings. Premier support is normally priced based on your organizations size and investment with Microsoft and can run from $25K-$150K or more per year.
As a CSP partner, we educate you on the ability to download perpetual software and product license keys like Windows Server and SQL Server, etc. directly from your O365 Portal.
A Gold CSP partner that is knowledgeable about your environment that can fully Architect, Implement and Manage MS Azure and O365 implementations such as those shown in the figure below.

My company already has an EA with Microsoft, Can Dasher Help?

Even if you have an EA (Enterprise Agreement) in place with Microsoft, Dasher can still provide value. You can assign Dasher as your CPOR (Channel Partner of Record) for O365 productivity solutions or as your DPOR (Digital Partner of Record) or PAL (Partner Admin Link) for MS Azure and work with us to provide professional and managed services to make sure your ongoing use of Microsoft solutions is continually optimized. Dasher has a full Cloud Health Advisor team that is standing by to help you optimize your use of the MS Azure and O365 cloud solutions. When your MS EA is coming to an end, we can also review the pros and cons of working with Dasher as your CSP as compared to renewing your three-year ELA. There are many benefits and more flexibility when working with Dasher as your CSP partner. Perhaps we will talk more about this in a future blog.

How much time do I have to move from Open License to CSP?

Per the Microsoft Announcement:

“You can continue to renew and purchase new software licenses, Software Assurance, and online services through the Open License program until December 31, 2021. As of January 1, 2022, commercial customers won’t be able to buy new or renew software licenses or online services through the Microsoft Open License program. New license-only purchases should be transacted through partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program.”

Please note: You continue to have full rights and access to all perpetual software licenses acquired through the Open License program.”

So, the short answer is that Dasher recommends you start a discussion with a CSP now so you can plan for and make informed decisions as we approach the end of 2021 and move into 2022.

If you have any questions about the CSP program, are considering moving from your EA to a CSP acquisition model or would like to investigate starting a relationship with Dasher around Microsoft Solutions, please reach out to us by going to our Contact Us page.