Update November 1, 2021: December 31, 2021, is the last day to transact Open License program offers; no renewals of Software Assurance (SA) and online services or new purchases of software licenses and online services can be made through the Open License program.  A few important reminders:  

• Submit your planned December Open License orders well in advance of the December 31, 2021, deadline.  Do not wait until the last week of December to place orders. 
• Engage early with your resellers and customers to avoid unprocessed Open License orders at calendar-year end.   

Per standard Regional Operation Center (ROC) commitments, Open License orders are processed on a best-effort basis. Microsoft does not guarantee an order submitted before the Open ordering system shutdown on December 31, 2021, will be processed due to the time it may take to release and process that order.  Please remember: Order compliance reviews as well as any surge in year-end order submission volumes could impact release and process times of your Open License order. More information is available here. 

See the latest information on transitioning from Open L to CSP including on-demand webinar sessions to help partners onboard and transition customers as needed. 

Update October 1, 2021: December 31, 2021, is the last day to transact Open License program offers; no renewals of Software Assurance (SA) and online services or new purchases of software licenses and online services can be made through the Open License program thereafter. See the latest information on transitioning from Open L to CSP including on-demand webinar sessions to help partners onboard and transition customers as needed.

Update July 7, 2021:  In addition to the existing commercial offers, government, education, and nonprofit software license offers are available for eligible customers in the Cloud Solution Provider program beginning today (nonprofit offers will roll out over three to five business days). A reminder that December 31, 2021, is the last day to transact Open License program offers.  As of midnight January 1, 2022, partners must be onboarded into the Cloud Solution Provider Program to transact perpetual software offers. More information is available here.

Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Given the rapid pace of digital transformation—including increased cloud adoption, the widespread shift to remote work, and mounting cyberthreats—doing so requires the constant evolution of our organization and the partner ecosystem so we can ensure our partners and customers across the globe are equipped for success. 

As we announced in September, we’re continuing to expand opportunities for our partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program and improve our commerce capabilities to support customers and partners with a streamlined buying experience. Today, I am pleased to announce the general availability of perpetual software licenses in the Cloud Solution Provider program. Enrolled direct bill partners, indirect providers, and indirect resellers will be able to sell commercial perpetual software licenses for on-premises deployment in the program. This shift will remove friction from our customers’ digital transformations by giving them greater licensing flexibility. It also empowers customers’ transition to the cloud and gives partners the flexibility needed for customer hybrid cloud environments. You can learn more about the products and geographies being added through this expansion here. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to our mutual growth and profitability, we’re supporting our shared customers’ digital transformations through a consistent and simplified purchase experience—one that provides greater flexibility in how and where customers can buy. As I shared in a previous blog post, the new commerce experience, once fully launched, will help you reach more customers and expand your business through continuous selling, developing enduring business through value-added services, and reducing costs, all while accelerating your customers’ success. 

As our partner, you are essential to our customers’ digital transformation. I’m excited to see how our new commerce experience and Cloud Solution Provider program streamline your ability to meet the evolving needs of your customers throughout 2021 and beyond. We’ll continue to prioritize investing in these programs to ensure you’re positioned for long-term success, and I encourage you to check back regularly for updates.