How to License Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard

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[Susan Bradley]

We have run into a subscription licensing issue relating to Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard and wondered if others have been able to find a resolution.  The crux of the matter is that we maintain our own tenant and do not want to have a Cloud Solution Provider involved, especially in light of the continuing security breaches originating via their access into customer tenants.  Up until now, we have purchased discounted licenses of Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard through the Open License program.  Microsoft announced that starting January 1, 2022 subscription licenses for online services would no longer be available through Open License.

However, in the same announcement, it states both “There are currently no changes to the Open Value or Open Value Subscription programs” and “If you want to purchase additional online services subscriptions, you can work with a partner in the Cloud Solution Provider program to purchase online services subscriptions or you can buy additional online services tokens through the Open Value program or Open Value Subscription program or from the Microsoft Store.”

Based on these statements, and the fact that Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard are shown as being available in the Open Value program in the current Product Terms, we expected that we would just transition to Open Value this year.  However, our reseller is indicating that Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard are not available in Open Value.  Thus, to avoid the additional risks of having CSP admins able to access our tenant, it seems our only choice is to pay full retail price and buy direct from Microsoft.

Susan:  Do you have contacts at Microsoft that might be able to resolve the discrepancy between Microsoft posted information and what resellers are telling us?  Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

• This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Susan Bradley.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by SuperMJT.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by SuperMJT.

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mdtodate

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Let me check and get back to you.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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mdtodate

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Susan:  Have you gotten any additional information?  Here’s the latest information from the Microsoft rep I spoke to, “The Open Licensing Program is being phased out; you are correct. According to the Licensing guide that we went through in the meeting, Basic and Standard are on Open Value but if the Partner doesn’t have a SKU, there is nothing we can do on our side. It is possible that other Partners have a SKU for it, just not Insight.”

I spoke to another reseller and they also indicated that Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard are only available under the CSP Program.  I hope you’re able to find better news in your inquiries.

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mdtodate

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I buy 365 several ways – on through Amy Babinchak/Harbor Computer services and that’s through a CSP.  Another way is directly to Microsoft.

https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?source=applauncher#/catalog

When I go to that portal, I can buy M365 business basic and standard there directly without going through a CSP.  I bought that direct license by going directly to the Microsoft store.  Can you see if you can log into that url above and go to “purchases” and see if you have the ability to merely buy things directly?

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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mdtodate

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Ted said:

” I talked to my reps at Microsoft, they are directing all 365 only purchasers to CSP. They will not sell 365 licenses via Open Value anymore if they are the only licenses on the agreement. I’ve included his response below.”

Rep said

“If the customer is buying only M365, please use the CSP program., My team is not creating agreements for subscription only based licenses. If they are wanting server and an assortment of other perpetual products, then we would gladly create an agreement.”

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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mdtodate

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Thank you for your response.  Would you be able to ask a follow-up question?  We do have server and an assortment of other perpetual products (ConfigMgr, SQL Server, etc.), but they are licensed under MPSA.  However, it seems that Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard are not available under MPSA.  It would have been nice if we could have licensed our SA renewals and Microsoft 365 subscriptions all under MPSA.  Do they have that option?

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mdtodate

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Susan:  Can you provide me contact information for the rep who indicated they were willing to sell Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard under Open Value as long as the customer also had other perpetual licenses included?

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mdtodate

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I had a Teams meeting today with an employee of Microsoft having the job title “Microsoft 365 Digital Rep”.  I reviewed the notices from Microsoft relating to Open Value, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to shed any light on the discrepancies.  He indicated that he would check with internal resources and get back to me.

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