This month, Microsoft began the transition to a new customer agreement, which replaces the core terms for all Microsoft customers. Their goal is to improve the purchase experience to better support all customers. They also had some important security-related reasons for the change, including;
- Protecting customer privacy,
- Acting with integrity and transparency, and
- Complying with complex global regulations.
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In this blog, I will focus on the Microsoft Cloud Agreement that has been part of purchasing Microsoft 365, Office 365, and Azure subscriptions.
First, what does this mean for Systems Engineering Microsoft 365, Office 365, and Azure clients?
For our clients, the Microsoft Cloud Agreement you accepted as part of the Systems Engineering Cloud Solutions Provider agreement, will be transitioned out and replaced by the new Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) after January 31, 2020.
How will this affect Microsoft customers?
Starting now, October 2019
- New Azure customers or ones adding services to their Azure tenant will be required to acknowledge the terms of the new MCA.
- New Office 365 or Microsoft 365 customers will be required to acknowledge the terms of the new MCA.
- Existing Systems Engineering Office 365 or Microsoft 365 customers will not have to do anything unless the customer and we agree it makes sense to do so.
After January 31, 2020
- New Azure customers will be required to acknowledge the terms of the MCA.
- New Office 365 or Microsoft 365 customers will be required to acknowledge the terms of the MCA.
- Existing Systems Engineering Office 365 or Microsoft 365 customers renewing or changing a subscription will be required to acknowledge the terms of the MCA.
We recommend you read the new Microsoft Customer Agreement before you are asked to acknowledge its terms between now and January 31, 2020.
If you have any questions on this topic, reach out to your Account Manager or email info@systemsengineering.com and be sure to include “New MCA” in the subject line.
Mark Benton is the Director of Product Management at Systems Engineering. He has over 30 years of experience in Information Technology and is responsible for overseeing the onboarding of new products and services for Systems Engineering and its customers.