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Story: Microsoft extends software assurance to disasters

Having worked closely with Microsoft for nearly 10 years, I see this as a fantastic solution to a licencing problem previously not catered for by any Microsoft licencing scheme (OPEN/Select/EA).

Many of my clients have had to fork out twice for DR licences to remain compliant, and to be totally honest countless more simply don't bother to licence properly or understand the product use Ts & Cs and set-up DR sites anyway thus illegally using software and endangering themselves with legal action. As a high proportion of clients Microsoft agreements are renewing now through July '04, this majority now have an opportunity to invest in SA more thoughtfully and instantly switch to a compliant position satisfying both vendors and policing authorities such as FAST & BSA Ts & Cs.

I accept that this benefit is limited both to Server products and to 'Cold Back-ups' but even with these limitations customers can still have effective DR. 'Cold Back-ups' means power-on is limited to Installation & patch management or DR, but this is far and away better than no solution at all.

To my mind, in conjunction with 'Ttraining Vouchers' and the 'Home Use Programme' this is one of the single biggest business benefits to clients who participate in Software Assurance.

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