[windows software] OVS-ES to EES

[CyBeRkId2002]

Hi all,

 

Started a new role just before Christmas so I am likely to start spamming these forums as I get to grips with things over the coming months! My first question is regarding licensing...

 

I have just found the trust has just signed a new OVS-ES agreement which now does not expire until June 2026! Having been familiar (and a big fan) of the EES agreement (saving money in most scenarios and being a key factor in moving towards a more cloud-centric approach - particularly with Intune) this is a right pain.

 

My questions are:

 

• Has anything changed with regards Microsoft's position on the OVS-ES that lets schools / trusts leave early in favour of a JISC / EES agreement? Would be over the moan if I could investigate this at Y1 renewal in June/July
  
• I can see a 'Microsoft 365 Apps for Faculty' licence on the Admin Portal. Does anyone have any details on what this covers (Office Pro, Office 365 Desktop Apps, CALs). I am hoping they at least have the 'Desktop for Education' bundle currently
  
• What are the options for replicating similar to Microsoft A3 on the OVS-ES system. I am guessing if all FTE's are licenced under Desktop for Education I would need to add AD P1 for conditional access, and then possibly Intune if we want to start moving workloads over to that. Anything else I would be missing out on over Microsoft A3?
  
• Final more technical question... how do I view the current OVS-ES licences in the Admin center. I am a domain admin and can see online subs, but not any Desktop / Server licences. Do I still need this delegating seperately in the old VLSC?
  

[Mr.Ben]

Hi all,

 

Started a new role just before Christmas so I am likely to start spamming these forums as I get to grips with things over the coming months! My first question is regarding licensing...

 

I have just found the trust has just signed a new OVS-ES agreement which now does not expire until June 2026! Having been familiar (and a big fan) of the EES agreement (saving money in most scenarios and being a key factor in moving towards a more cloud-centric approach - particularly with Intune) this is a right pain.

 

My questions are:

 

• Has anything changed with regards Microsoft's position on the OVS-ES that lets schools / trusts leave early in favour of a JISC / EES agreement? Would be over the moan if I could investigate this at Y1 renewal in June/July
  
• I can see a 'Microsoft 365 Apps for Faculty' licence on the Admin Portal. Does anyone have any details on what this covers (Office Pro, Office 365 Desktop Apps, CALs). I am hoping they at least have the 'Desktop for Education' bundle currently
  
• What are the options for replicating similar to Microsoft A3 on the OVS-ES system. I am guessing if all FTE's are licenced under Desktop for Education I would need to add AD P1 for conditional access, and then possibly Intune if we want to start moving workloads over to that. Anything else I would be missing out on over Microsoft A3?
  
• Final more technical question... how do I view the current OVS-ES licences in the Admin center. I am a domain admin and can see online subs, but not any Desktop / Server licences. Do I still need this delegating seperately in the old VLSC?
  

 

 

As far as my experience, Microsoft have not challenged any early ending of an OVS agreement when a school joins us as it is superceded by our existing EES.

 

I ended 25 OVS agreements in one go to move all of our schools at the time (42 now) in 2019.

 

I have had issues with the reselling partners, however I've negated these by moving the agreement to the supplier that provides the EES agreement before renewal, then migrating the number to the EES agreement.

 

If you move to the CHEST framework for EES you could buy a few licences on EES terms to get it set up and move them over when you can.

 

I can't comment on the other questions as I haven't looked at OVS for some time!

 

I would say that the biggest benefits of EES over OVS are Minecraft, Azure P1 and Intune (as part of A3) and the device based licensing for Office.