Another great news from Microsoft before the eve of Christmas. Microsoft recently announced that they are going to offer Windows Server Premium Assurance and SQL Server Premium Assurance to the Microsoft product users. With these new premium assurances, Microsoft products will now get an extended product support of 6 years.
Users will now be able to use the Microsoft applications and products without any disruptions for 16 long years. The additional assurance period offered by Windows Server Premium Assurance and SQL Server Premium Assurance will provide security updated rated as Important and Critical. Both these Premium Assurance offerings will be made available starting early 2017.
Microsoft mentions about the price,
“You can purchase Windows Server Premium Assurance and SQL Server Premium assurance separately or together, and both offerings will be available starting in early 2017. Premium Assurance pricing will start at 5% of the current product license cost, and will increase over time (up to 12%). Buying before the end of June 2017 means you will save nearly 60% on the cost of Premium Assurance. The first versions covered by Premium Assurance will be SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 (Extended Support ends in July 2019) and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 (Extended Support ends in January 2020).”
Windows Server & SQL Server Premium Assurance
First of all, with Windows Server Premium Assurance and SQL Server Premium Assurance offer additional 6 years of assurance period. Besides this, the software assurance helps modernize applications by giving users access to the latest Windows Server and SQL Server innovation at no additional cost.
Microsoft’s team mentions,
“The next version of Windows Server is currently in planning, and will further advance the Windows Server 2016 capabilities around hybrid cloud, multi-layered security, containers, Nano Server, and software-defined datacenter technology. The next version of SQL Server, already available in preview, brings the performance and security of SQL Server to Linux.”
Not only native apps, but the apps moving to the cloud also get extended assurance with the Windows Server Premium Assurance. The Software Assurance provides unique flexibility and savings benefits. As the Microsoft’s team mentions, the Azure Hybrid Use Benefit provides up to 40-50% savings on Windows Server virtual machines in Azure. Similarly, License Mobility provides the flexibility to deploy existing SQL Server licenses in the cloud without additional fees.
To know more about the Windows Server Premium Assurance and SQL Server Premium Assurance, read the blog on TechNet.
