MS renewal, maybe now time for a switch to A3

[KK20]

Before I go asking software resellers and getting sales spam, we are currently using older OVS-ES deviceOS+cals+office+365apps+intune1+entra1 .  Looking at  a new agreement later this year, so thinking A3 via Chest instead.  I see that there is a staff count reconciliation date of 1st November, what happens if you get new staff after this (i.e. agreement is for 90EQU and at 1st Nov still 90EQU but in December 2 extra EQU join so now need 92 licenses)?  Are there grace logons available or are you allowed to go over your assigned A3 "without loss of function" until 1st Nov rolls about again (i.e. will 365 admin portal let you go 92/90)?  I've not been in a position where our allocated A1 or M365 are even close to xx/yy licenses so not had this issue. 

 

Is there a rough anecdotal "over XX EQU users is generally better to go Chest EES"?

 

Can you still get MAK keys from MS for devices that don't have embedded licenses (we have a couple of small "has device sticker windows license but not an embedded one" appliances that do use windows such as digital signs)?  Whilst we don't have any, I assume all windows logons will need to be 365 and not local logons (as i'm not sure how they could be licensed as a local logon unless said MAK key exists and an "honour" license)

[itskdog]

M365 licences are per-user and must be assigned in the M365 portal like your current A1s are, but I'm pretty sure you can add licences mid-term as monthly licences rather than annual ones.

 

You won't need MAKs as M365 A3 comes with "Subscription activation", that will take any device that has an activated Windows Pro or Pro Education licence and upgrade it to Enterprise or Education respectively when an A3 user logs in.

 

You can technically set up local accounts, the DfE did on their Intune image they gave out on the COVID laptops, but it's generally best to use A3-licenced accounts, especially if you want to use Microsoft Office, as that requires the user to be logged in with their Entra account with the M365 Apps licence (which is part of the A3 licence).

 

Essentially, it looks like you're swapping the accounts in M365 that currently have the licences separately to all be on the A3 licence which has them all bundled together.

[KK20]

Follow up on Migration.

 

JISC EES campus agreement in place with A3 now.   

 

• Licensing groups shuffle for A1 holders.  I use groups to assign licenses to my users.  Previously I had an A1 group and an M365 "apps" group to uplift OVS-ES desktop LTSC office licensed users to have 365 apps too.  It conveniently coincides that the same users for M365 would also be A3 users for our environment.  However, you cannot have sharepoint plan 1 and 2 licensed simultaneously, I needed a quick script change to ensure my M365 group-to-be-repurposed-as-A3 members were NOT part of A1 group.  In other words, users cannot be A1 (with sharepoint plan1, exchange plan1, etc) and A3 (with sharepoint plan2, exchange plan2, etc) licensed simultaneously .
• A1 automatically attached to new campus agreement when older OVS-ES expired.  I'm not sure if this is an issue but our A1 licensing was nominally attached to the old OVS-ES agreement in our licensing manager.  This naturally swapped to the EES campus agreement and my ability to self purchase more licenses for zero remained active.
• fresh MAK keys were issued under the new campus agreement.  The older OVS-ES no longer activate (as expected when an agreement changes).  LTSC, server, W11, all added.
• My older "I don't use these any more because I no longer have the desktop licensing to support it" M365 apps for desktop licenses also transferred from my OVS-ES to EES campus 3.  I am not using these now (they serve no purpose for me with A3).
• I haven't looked at device based licensing for Office.  I believe this is now supported with EES.
• KMS host server key is now missing.  KMS server is still activating KMS clients on my network.  I will raise a ticket with MS to have one added, I seem to remember needing to do this on contract renewals previously.
• Overall worked out at almost the same price for A3 under EES as A1 + M365 + Office + Entra P1 + Intune P1.  There was not a lot of saving, but it did end up with more options in other areas such as purview and reporting.  Minecraft for education is more of a pain than help as now it is wanted, and now I find how hard it is to bolt down.