Microsoft Support SLA
Update: Changes to the Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) Program
As part of our efforts to continuously evolve and enhance the SPLA program, Microsoft rolled out a new SPLA template on January 12, 2024. This is an update to the announcement from November 2023.
- Date: January 22, 2024
- Workspace: General
- Impacted audience: SPLA resellers
Why is Microsoft making changes?
Microsoft updated the SPLA template in response to an increasing number of trade law and other regulatory requirements. In addition, SPLA resellers and their SPLA customers have asked Microsoft to clarify its rights and obligations under the SPLA, and Microsoft has responded.
What changes are in the new SPLA?
The primary updates in the new SPLA are:
- Requiring affiliate identification: SPLA customers must identify the affiliates for which they request participation rights. Microsoft approval of affiliates is required prior to their participation.
- Simplifying reporting and focusing on compliance:
- Simplifying the monthly use report: SPLA customers, via their SPLA resellers, only need to provide the total number of licenses used for each product during the preceding calendar month. Customers no longer need to create end customer enrollments or report usage separately.
- Focusing on trade and anti-corruption compliance: SPLA customers might be requested to provide end user reports, via their SPLA resellers. End user information is retained and processed in accordance with all applicable privacy laws and regulations. End user reports are considered customer confidential information and used for compliance verification purposes only.
When did Microsoft make these changes?
The new SPLA template rolled out on January 12, 2024. Existing agreements remain effective until their expiration date, and SPLA customers who choose to renew will be renewed on the new SPLA template. Contract packages submitted on or after January 13, 2024 will only be accepted on the new SPLA template.
Next steps
- Share this information with all appropriate contacts in your organization, especially with those who are responsible and accountable for managing SPLA customers.
- Ensure awareness of the planned changes with your SPLA customers ahead of their next renewal date. If you have any questions, contact your account team or submit a query using the Volume Licensing (VL) Central tool.
- Note: SPLA resellers with customers in the following countries/regions will receive an email communication with further details of changes specific to those geographies:
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Hungary, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and United Arab Emirates.
Expanded licensing for SPLA partners with RDS SALs
As a Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partner, beginning March 1, 2024, with an eligible per-user Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Subscriber Access License (SAL), you’re entitled to access Window Server on Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop at no extra licensing costs. You only pay for the Azure resources associated with running and maintaining your Azure Desktop deployment. For details, refer to the latest Services Provider Use Rights (SPUR) changes.
With Azure Virtual Desktop, you can deliver remote Windows Server desktops and apps to your customers, with flexible payment options. Azure Virtual Desktop gives you full control over the configuration and management of your deployment and includes the security features of Azure to keep your data and apps safe and secure. Azure Virtual Desktop modernises and simplifies your virtualisation environment for the cloud, allowing you to scale quickly based on your business needs. Find out more about this cloud solution at Azure Virtual Desktop | Microsoft Azure.
