Microsoft Step Up licenses

General

Some Microsoft software and Online Service products are available in lower and higher editions. For example, Windows Server is available as Windows Server Standard and Windows Server Datacenter. Exchange Online is available as Exchange Online Plan 1 and Exchange Online Plan 2. The Step Up license allows you to move from a lower-level edition to a higher-level edition without paying the full license fee for two separate editions of the product.

Once a Step-up license is obtained, the higher edition Step Up license or SL (Subscription License) replaces the lower edition license or SL. The qualifying license and the Step-up License together provide access to the higher edition. Step-up licenses purchased for perpetual licenses provide a perpetual license for the higher edition once fully paid for at the end of the agreement. Upon renewal, Software Assurance may be extended for that higher edition. Step up licenses may only be used in the same license program in which the underlying license or Online Service is purchased.

Subscription licenses and Online Services do not provide perpetual licenses (unless there is a buyout option). A subscription or Online Service for the higher edition can be renewed with the subscription renewal.

Qualification to obtain the Step-up license

Microsoft software products

Software Assurance customers can migrate from a lower edition to a higher edition of the software as long as they maintain Software Assurance coverage. To obtain a Step Up license for a higher edition of a product, a lower edition license and active Software Assurance are required. Step-up licenses are available in Open Value, MPSA (Microsoft Products and Services Agreement), Enterprise Agreement, School Enrollment, or Enrollment for Education.

Microsoft Online Services

Microsoft Online Services can be migrated from a lower edition subscription (SL) license to a higher edition SL, to avoid paying for a full higher edition SL in addition to the existing full lower edition SL. To obtain a step-up license for a higher version of an Online Service, a lower version component SL or suite license with that lower version is required. For example, an Office 365 E1 license where a Step up to Exchange Online Plan 2 is applied. Step up licenses for Online Services are available in MPSA, Enterprise Agreement, or Enrollment for Education.

Available Step Up licenses

For Online Services, Step Up licenses are available for virtually all products for which lower and higher editions are available. For example, a Step Up from Microsoft 365 E3 to Microsoft 365 E5, or a Step Up from Exchange Online Plan 1 to Exchange Online Plan 2.

The following licenses are available for software products: