Each month, Microsoft publishes updated product terms. While these updates may seem minor, such as small additions to availability, eligibility, or license prerequisite tables, they can have a fundamental impact on organizations that rely on additional support or specific product functionalities.
In this post, we summarize the key updates from the September Microsoft product terms and explore how they may benefit your organization.
Key Microsoft 365 Product Updates
Within Microsoft 365 several additional products have been added to both the ‘Availability Table’ (detailing which Microsoft 365 products are available within each program) and the ‘License Prerequisites Table’ (outlining base licenses required for others). The products now available under EA/EAS (Enterprise Agreement/Enterprise Subscription Agreement) and MCA (Microsoft Customer Agreement) include:
- 10-Year Audit Log Retention
- Defender Vulnerability Management
- Internet Access
- Private Access
- Python in Excel
- Secure Access Essentials Frontline Worker.
These additions could offer new capabilities to organizations seeking advanced security, compliance, and productivity features.
Extended Security Updates (ESU) and Support Changes
Microsoft has also updated the Extended Security Updates (ESU) terms for both Microsoft Azure and Software Assurance Benefits. ESU does not automatically include support, meaning customers must be covered by one of the following plans, for additional support:
- Pay Per Incident
- Unified Support
- Premier Support for Partners
Even with these plans support under ESU is limited to the following scenarios:
- Deployment, installation, and activation of ESU keys, license and updates
- Fixing of bugs or regressions introduced by security updates
- Troubleshooting known and documented issues related to the underlying operating system
However, ESU does not cover general technical support or issues that are undocumented or unresolved, meaning not all concerns may be addressed.
Updated Definition for ‘Reduction Eligible’
Another key update is to the definition of the “Reduction Eligible” attribute in Microsoft’s Glossary. This clarification confirm that Enterprise Subscription Agreement (EAS) customers are eligible to report reductions in their licenses or allocated annual prepayments, as outlined in the terms of their Enterprise Subscription Enrolment. This is particularly important for organizations managing fluctuating user bases and costs.
Microsoft Copilot Updates
On September 16th, Microsoft published a further update to its product terms focused on Microsoft Copilot, the publishers generative AI chatbot solution, now branded as Microsoft 365 Copilot. This rebranding marks a shift from the previous name, Microsoft Copilot, and is now reflected in various documentation, including the Privacy and Security Terms and Prerequisite Tables. The “Covered Product” definition has also been updated to align with the “Microsoft 365 Copilot” naming update.
Privacy and Security Updates
In the latest Privacy and Security Terms, Microsoft 365 Copilot has been added to the ‘Core Online Services’ Table. Meanwhile, the original Microsoft Copilot name appears in the ‘Security Practices and Policies Table’. This table lists products that, beyond adhering to standard Online Services security practises as detailed in the Data Protection Addendum (DPA), also comply with a specific set of control standards and frameworks. These measures are designed to protect customer data as outlined in Appendix A of the DPA.
New Service-Specific Terms
Microsoft has introduced a new product specific section dedicated to Microsoft Copilot, providing service-specific terms for each agreement. These terms focus on the use of internet-connected services with Copilot and emphasize the following:
- These Online Services give customers the ability to enable or disable optional connected services.
- Organizations are responsible for evaluating, enabling, or disabling the availability of these connected services for their users.
To use Microsoft 365 Copilot, users must have a valid work or school account. This addition offers organizations more control over how Copilot is used within their environments, ensuring better governance of AI-powered tools.
Final Thoughts
These September updates may introduce new opportunities for businesses looking to optimize their Microsoft licensing and support strategies. Understanding these changes can help your organization stay compliant while benefiting from the latest features and support options.
For more information on how these updates may impact your organization, feel free to reach out to our team at ITAA. We’re here to help you navigate these changes and make the most of your Microsoft agreement.
