Monthly Microsoft License Update March 2024
Welcome to the March 2024 instalment of the Microsoft Product Terms Update from the Version 1 Microsoft License Consulting Team. Each month, Microsoft releases license changes on their product terms — this month sees a variety of updates to both product terms and supporting license briefs.
Universal License Terms for Online Services — Microsoft has updated Previews adding clarity that additional preview terms may apply.
Glossary — Updated definition of Preview adding clarity that additional preview terms may apply. The Universal License Terms for Online Services has added that for certain previews supplemental terms may apply. According to the Glossary — ‘Previews means a preview, beta or pre-release feature, service, software (including supplemental software), or data center location offered by Microsoft for evaluation’.
Being pedantic here, but there’s no reference to ‘additional preview terms may apply’ — it looks like the Product Terms update meant to state that the Previews definition now includes supplemental software (it wasn’t prior to this month).
Privacy & Security Terms — Microsoft has added Copilot for Microsoft 365 under the Location of Customer Data at Rest for Core Online Services, Office 365 Services section. They have also added Azure VMware Solution to the Core Online Services.
Office Desktop Applications (Windows) — Graduation Benefit language for academic program customers has been removed as this benefit has been retired.
Windows Desktop Operating System — Graduation Benefit language for academic program customers has also been removed.
Microsoft 365 — March’s update includes a clarification with regards to Microsoft Bookings for Microsoft 365 F1 Mailbox Use Rights. M365 F1 does not include rights to an Exchange mailbox, however Microsoft state that an M365 F1 license may come with Exchange Online K1 service plan enabled. Exchange Online K1 service plan provisions a mailbox for the user but the F1 user is not entitled to use the mailbox.
Microsoft advise that IT departments should disable Outlook on the web via provided steps, however, when doing so, allow Outlook on the web for Microsoft Bookings and ask users not to access the Exchange mailbox through other methods.
Microsoft Teams Phone Standard for Frontline Workers — Teams Phone Standard for Frontline Workers was added to the availability tables for EA, EAS and MCA. Teams Phone Standard for Frontline Workers has the following Prerequisite License: Microsoft 365 F1/F3; Office 365 F3
Microsoft Intune — Microsoft has updated EA, EAS and MCA Availability Tables with Cloud PKI and Frontline Worker products. (Cloud PKI simplifies certificate management for organisations.) They have also added Cloud PKI to the License Prerequisite table and added Service Specific eligibility requirements for Frontline Worker licenses.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Services — There is a new minimum 10x user subscription license requirement for Dynamics 365 for Finance Premium. And, for mix and match requirements to meet user functional requirements and roles, there is no differentiation between Dynamics 365 for Finance or Finance Premium when, or if:
a) Each Online Service is deployed under a separate instance, and
b) Licensed users only access instances for which they are entitled.
GitHub Offerings — Just as an advisory note, there has been a general clean up and organisation of the GitHub product terms page to help with readability and accuracy.
As Microsoft license experts, we can help you demystify these and any other product changes and clarify what this could mean for your license position. If you have any questions relating to this or any other Microsoft licensing matter, please go to our website or contact us.
About the Author:
Karl is a Principal Licensing Consultant at Version 1, providing global Microsoft license expertise to organisations and ensuring customers get the best value from their Microsoft assets.
