[windows software] Microsoft EES - now that the minimum has been reduced - who do you use?

[localzuk]

Anyone who has moved to EES for their MS licensing, now that MS have reduced the minimum number, who do you license through as my current reseller can't offer EES apparently, only OVS-ES?

[Jawloms]

Anyone who has moved to EES for their MS licensing, now that MS have reduced the minimum number, who do you license through as my current reseller can't offer EES apparently, only OVS-ES?

 

I'm literally getting quotes for this right now. Minimum what?

[LeMarchand]

Try @VeryPC Edited June 8, 2021 by LeMarchand

[localzuk]

I'm literally getting quotes for this right now. Minimum what?

The minimum FTE count. Used to be 1000, apparently now is 100.

[PhilWessell]

We moved from OVS-ES to EES last month after our 3 year deal ran out. The number has been reduced from 1000 to 500, and now to 100 EQU. But you need to purchase via the JISC/Chest framework and pay a small fee for the benefit.

 

We saw a nice reduction in cost, and the benefits of changing over to the A3/A5 licencing model.

 

Sign up here https://www.chest.ac.uk/agreements/microsoft-ees-education-qualified-user/ and you can see all the companies who are allowed to quote under this framework.

 

Regards,

 

Phil

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

To confirm, our agreement has 140 EQU (the EES equivalent to FTE). There's a slightly different calculation to make...

[PhilWessell]

The companies currently on the framework are:

 

Bytes Software Services

CDW

Civica

Comparex

Insight Direct

Phoenix Software Ltd

Pugh Computers

Softcat

SoftwareONE

XMA

 

But you MUST purchase via the Framework and pay the appropriate framework fee before placing the order. If you do not, your order will not be accepted by Microsoft.

[Zoom7000]

Can anyone highlight (or link to a resource) what the differences are between OVS-ES and EES?

[localzuk]

Wait, does this change only apply to Sixth Form colleges and above?

[Jawloms]

The minimum FTE count. Used to be 1000, apparently now is 100.

 

Ah, thanks. I'm only at 63 anyway.......

[PhilWessell]

Any school with an EQU of 100 and above, primary or secondary. Edited June 8, 2021 by PhilWessell

[3s-gtech]

Yes, we moved in April. Went with Pugh again, they were great and really helped me understand it. The framework fee isn’t a lot.

 

I’ve had fun changing all my M365 licensing scripts!

[PhilWessell]

Annoyingly I couldn't find a useful and simple 1 page document that explains the difference, but I do recommend a chat with Pugh's licencing expert as he has some slides which do explain the difference.

 

We previously had to pay for exchange server licences, but that's now covered for free under the A3 licence.

 

Now we pay for A3 licences for all staff plus the free student A3 benefit, SQL server lics and windows server lics.

 

Phil

[LukeRowberry]

Does anyone have a contact in one of these companies?

[3s-gtech]

[email protected]

 

There are a few account managers, and they have MS licensing specialists so will be able to direct your email.

[Primus]

So practically what does this mean for schools as opposed to staying with OVS-ES?

 

Is it cheaper?

 

Better - if so how?

[howartp]

As above, we're with Pugh and had a good Zoom session with Eifion and his slides.

[5tu]

As above, we're with Pugh and had a good Zoom session with Eifion and his slides.

 

Ditto. Really helpful. Just started our new EES agreement. :-)

[5tu]

So practically what does this mean for schools as opposed to staying with OVS-ES?

 

Is it cheaper?

 

Better - if so how?

 

Not cheaper no. But these are the notes I made....

 

 

- Microsoft 365 A3 (or A5) licensing with free “student use benefit”, including:

 

• Azure AD Premium 1
  

Azure Information Protection P1

Advanced Threat Analytics

Universal Print (Cloud based printing)

Windows 10 Enterprise E3

 

- Azure AD Password Protection

 

- Device activation for Microsoft Office Desktop Apps on shared (e.g. classroom) devices

 

- Access to Imagine Academy

 

- Minecraft for Education

Edited July 8, 2021 by gybe78

[Primus]

Not cheaper no. But these are the notes I made....

 

 

- Microsoft 365 A3 (or A5) licensing with free “student use benefit”, including:

 

• Azure AD Premium 1
  

Azure Information Protection P1

Advanced Threat Analytics

Universal Print (Cloud based printing)

Windows 10 Enterprise E3

 

- Azure AD Password Protection

 

- Device activation for Microsoft Office Desktop Apps on shared (e.g. classroom) devices

 

- Access to Imagine Academy

 

- Minecraft for Education

 

Thanks for summarising.

[3s-gtech]

Yeah, same findings. Very similar cost, but we gained A3 (not that I've started utilising it much yet).

[localzuk]

So, we ended up going with Phoenix Software for ours. As our EQU is considerably lower than our FTE, it has worked out cheaper for us (but then, we're migrating from OVS-ES with the old desktop bundle to EES with the A3 bundle for EQU). We have a lot of staff who only use a device to open Chrome and access their Gmail, so under EES we don't need to license those as A3. They're just getting A1 going forward.

 

It also works out cheaper for us in terms of migrating to the M365 type licenses, as they include more than the old desktop bundle (all the Intune stuff etc...).

[5tu]

oh and A3/A5 also includes Intune so no need to licence users separately.

[CyBeRkId2002]

Has anyone seen the opposite and had any (significant!) increase in license numbers moving from FTE to EQU. This is the first year in running the procurement for a trust and I have asked staff in each school to accurately calculate number of EQU users for the school. I have provided the Microsoft EQU terminology and summarised as 'anyone who uses a windows computer / the office suite within school' is likely to need a licence, "those who just need email to access externally" most likely dont.

 

The numbers I am getting are pretty universally (other than the secondary I was already responsible for) more than they had previously (pretty significantly in some areas) which is leading to an increase in cost and I suspect I am going to get it in the neck from our CFO!

 

I suspect the most likely culprit is bad guidance / less rigidity in the process previously but just wondered if anyone has found a legit cause for this increase?

@localzuk - Quick question on your comment ... I presume those going on to a device to check emails are using chromebooks / iPads? My understanding (and it would be AMAZING if I am wrong) is that if they are using a Windows device (for the benefit of the institution) then they still need a license as this is part of A3. Again, would love it if this was wrong!

[Cw2k]

If you do a 3 year agreement ask you reseller if they can do a Microsoft transition agreement, they can phase in the price increase over 3 years of Microsoft agree.

[Mr.Ben]

I don't leave the decision on who is an EQU user to our schools, we use job roles to determine who would likely be an EQU. The time saving alone in doing that is significant.

 

Admin Staff, Teachers, HLTAs, Site Managers, clerks to Governors, SENDCos, Nursery and Kitchen Managers are all EQUs

 

Caretakers, Cleaners, T.As, Governors and Lunchtime staff are all light users, however we do buy them an Azure P1 and Intune licence to protect email access with Conditional access and BYOD policies. (At about £10 per user).

 

I've used the Phoenix guidance to make a judgement to exclude TAs:

 

https://www.phoenixs.co.uk/2017/11/15/microsoft-licensing-ees-changes/#:~:text=A%20Light%20User%20is%3A,Office%20365%20A1%20licence%20accordingly.

 

Most of ours don't have an assigned device and the vast majority don't log in for more than a few minutes in their working day.

 

Interesting this change though - our renewal is due and until this point, buying 1000 EES was cheaper than OVS ES. We needed 720 licences and the break even point between the two was 690.

 

Now we need 800, so it would still be a potential saving of £9k