Microsoft A3 Licensing - ISOs from M365/VLSC

[CHiLL]

We are at the end of our Microsoft licensing agreement and obtaining a quote from our current reseller to upgrade from A1 to A3. One thing that has come out of the meeting we had was that we would loose access to download Windows desktop ISO (Win10/Win11, etc) from the M365 Admin Center. We would still be able to download Windows Server ISOs, just not the desktop operating system ISOs and instead, we would have to rely on Autopilot. This is what they're being told from their Microsoft contact. We are not yet ready to migrate to Intune for OS deployment and also don't want to use the OS that comes preinstalled on devices, as we prefer to push a clean image.

 

Can anyone on A3 confirm whether or not this information is accurate?

[snagrat]

You can download Windows direct from Microsoft now, that’s what we do.

 

Whether we use it for our Intune devices or add the ISO to other deployment methods

[mullet_man]

We are on A3 and I still have access to Windows ISOs via the M365 admin centre?!

 

Edited November 20, 2024 by mullet_man

[CHiLL]

Interesting, I seem to have a memory that Microsoft used to be funny about downloading ISOs from them and would only want to provide it via official channels, such as purchases, etc. Maybe I'm misremembering or massively out of date with that information. If I can legitimately get the ISOs from Microsoft, then that should be fine.

 

The supplier suggested that our devices would need to revert to using the license that comes with the device, such as Pro as opposed to Education that we've been pushing for years. I've always used Education because it's effectively built from Enterprise, whereas Pro was built on Home and (at least used to) missed features, such as local GPO editing, etc.

[snagrat]

You will need to use the version that comes with the device but the A3/A5 license will then upgrade it for that user to Enterprise.

 

It must be Pro installed for use with Intune.