Overview
Microsoft introduced a new experience for Azure, the Azure Plan.
- SUNSET - CSP Azure Legacy is the traditional Microsoft product under CSP. This product line is replaced by Azure Plan. Effective February 2022, new purchases for this legacy product will no longer be available. For existing subscriptions, depending on your region, the settlement period for monthly billing can vary (calendar month in the USA, and variable in other countries and regions). All classic Azure subscriptions must transition to Azure Plan.
- CSP Azure Plan means the new Azure commerce experience that is aligned to a single global pricing model that enables end customers to view Microsoft Azure published prices from the Azure console. The Azure plan acts as a container for all Azure subscriptions. There can be only one Azure Plan per customer, but you can add multiple Azure subscriptions under a single Azure Plan. Azure plan follows a normal calendar month regardless of the region you are transacting under.
The table below shows the difference between the two Azure offerings:
| Feature | Azure Legacy | Azure Plan |
| Azure Console | Customers do not see pricing from the Azure console. | Customers can see Azure published pricing from the Azure console |
| StreamOne Ion Pricebook(s) | Master pricebook is 15% off End Customer Retail Price. Customize by marking-up by the percentage factor. Refer to the pricing table located Here | Master pricebook is Microsoft's Published end customer pricing. Customize by discounting from Microsoft master pricebook |
| Cost Management | Not Available | Cost Management features are enabled by tech Data for the customer's Azure portal Cost management allows customers and partners to see usage and set budgets. |
| Settlement Period | USA = Calendar Month Variations by other countries and regions | Calendar month in all countries and regions. |
StreamOne Ion Authorization for Azure Plan
The same Microsoft Azure Program terms and support offerings apply to Azure Plan. If you are not currently authorized to transact Microsoft Azure Classic in SIE, you must first request access to the Microsoft Azure Reseller program. Refer to this link for information on how to request authorization for Microsoft Azure program: Request Access to Programs
Azure Legacy and Azure Plan are managed under separate pricebooks.
Provisioning the Azure Plan for Customer(s)
Resellers with new customers choosing Azure plan must be first on-boarded through the standard process: associating the tenant to the customer profile and accepting the Microsoft Cloud Agreement is required.
Click this link to view the process: Azure Customer Setup Process, Associating a Microsoft Identity to a Customer
Once the customer profile is set-up (tenant or Microsoft ID is registered in SIE), complete the following steps:
- Request a new subscription - this will create a classic-type Azure subscription
- Open a ticket formally requesting the Azure Plan container be created. The ticket should include at a minimum the following:
- Tenant/Customer Name
- Confirmation of Customer acceptance of the Microsoft Cloud Agreement (Include username (first and last), email address, phone number, and date of acceptance) - REQUIRED
- Yes/No authorization for Customer access to cost management feature and purchase of RIs within the Azure console
Tech Data operations will enable Plan in the Partner Center. The subscription will convert from Classic to Plan as the result of this process.
Note: Once a customer tenant converts to Plan, they cannot revert to Azure Classic.
Transitioning a Microsoft Azure (classic) subscription to Azure Plan
Resellers with existing customers transacting through StreamOne Ion choosing to move to Azure plan must understand the following:
- Once a tenant moves to Plan, they cannot revert to Classic.
- Customers can break the relationship between their Azure subscriptions and the Tech Data Partner Center. To earn Partner Earned Credit on Azure plan subscriptions, Microsoft requires, at minimum, AOBO (Admin on Behalf Of) access at the resource level.
Important!
In the event the reseller or end user restricts or terminates administrative access, resulting in the loss of the Partner Earned Credits (PEC) for all parties, Tech Data shall have the right to invoice Reseller based on the loss of the credit.
Tech Data will charge the Reseller at 5% over MSRP for the value of the services.
Additionally, Tech Data will notify Reseller when access is removed. It is Your responsibility to support Tech Data to resolve the access rights with your Customers.Converting existing customers to Plan is completed by taking the following action:
- Open a ticket formally requesting the tenant be converted to Azure Plan The ticket should include at a minimum the following:
- Tenant/Customer Name
- Yes/No authorization for Customer access to cost management feature and purchase of RIs within the Azure console
Tech Data operations will enable Plan in the Partner Center. The subscription will convert from Classic to Plan as the result of this process. Confirmation of completion is sent via the ticket.
Note: Once a customer tenant converts to Plan, they cannot revert to Azure Classic.
Azure Plan Organizational Structure
Microsoft assigns the Azure Plan an ID and assigns an ID to each subscription. Microsoft refers to both these IDs as 'subscription' but it is important to understand the difference when viewing data in the SIE platform.
Azure Plan ID is called a Subscription ID
Azure Subscription ID is called an Entitlement ID or an account number
To see the actual subscription ID associated with the usage charges, use the report [Options]> "Manage Report Columns".
Find 'EntitlementID' in the list and [Add] the field to your report. Use the 'h' to change the position of the column in your report.
To submit a support request, in StreamOne Ion, click the "?" icon in the upper right menu bar or click Submit a ticket in the Knowledge Base. Fill out all mandatory fields or read How to Use StreamOne Freshdesk to Submit and View Support Tickets for more information.