© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

What is the Qualified Multitenant Hoster (QMTH) Program?

The Qualified Multitenant Hoster (QMTH) Program authorizes qualified third-party hosting service providers to host customers’ Windows 10 Enterprise virtual machines for customers who have Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 per User with SA, Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 (with VDI), Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 VDA per User, Windows 10 Enterprise E3 VDA, or Microsoft 365 Enterprise (formerly Secure Productive Enterprise or SPE) E3 and E5 on their hardware. The program also authorizes these third-party hosting service providers to host Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional, and Visio Pro for Office 365 using shared computer activation (SCA) technology.

The table below provides an overview of the Office 365 and Windows 10 products that are eligible for Qualified Multitenant Hosting. These products are available through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and through other Microsoft Volume Licensing programs:

1.

Available through CSP Available through Microsoft Volume Licensing

Office 365 Windows Virtualization options

Office 365 Windows Virtualization options

Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 & E5)

Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 (with VDI) – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device

Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 & E5)

Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 per User with SA – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device

Project Online Professional

Windows 10 Enterprise E3 VDA – no Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device required

Project Online Professional

Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5 VDA per User – no Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device required

Visio Pro for Office 365

Microsoft 365 Enterprise (formerly Secure Productive Enterprise or SPE) E3 and E5 – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device

Visio Pro for Office 365

Frequently asked questions specific to SCA for Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional, and Visio Pro for Office 365.

Click here

Frequenty asked questions specific to Multitenant Hosting Rights for Windows 10.

Click here

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program

© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Why did Microsoft introduce the QMTH Program?

Microsoft is committed to providing customers choice and flexibility by enabling hybrid scenarios when virtualizing eligible Windows 10 products and accessing Office 365 ProPlus, Visio Pro for Office 365, and Project Professional for Office 365 via SCA. Customers can make a deployment choice between Microsoft Azure, on-premise, or any QMTH shared hardware. Microsoft authorizes service providers to participate in the QMTH Program based on their ability to provide the best third-party hosting experience and support of Windows 10 virtualization and Office 365 SCA.

Who can participate in the QMTH Program?

To be eligible to participate in the QMTH Program, a service provider must be a Direct (1-Tier) Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and have an active Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) with Microsoft.

What are the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) requirements, and why are these a prerequisite for the QMTH Program?

To be eligible to participate in the QMTH Program, a service provider must be a Direct (1-Tier) Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). The CSP Program ensures that partners can provide the level of technical support and robust infrastructure that enable their end-to-end ownership of the customer relationship as well as provide a high quality of service that ensures customer satisfaction. The CSP Program will also broaden the business opportunity for partners by expanding the set of Microsoft products and services they are eligible to resell to customers.

Why is it a requirement to be a Direct (1-Tier) CSP to participate in the QMTH Program?

The requirement to be a Direct (1-Tier) CSP helps ensure that service providers in the program meet Office 365 and Windows 10 supportability and technical requirements to provide an optimal end user experience.

Where can I find additional information about the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Program?

Details about the CSP Program and its requirements are published here.

Does Microsoft plan to extend the QMTH Program to Indirect (2-Tier) CSP Partners, allowing them to participate in the program?

No, Microsoft does not plan to extend the QMTH Program to Indirect (2-Tier) CSP Partners at this time.

Will a partner in the QMTH Program need to execute an amendment to their Master SPLA Agreement?

Yes, the “Services Provider License Agreement Qualified Multitenant Hosting Partner Amendment” will need to be processed prior to a service provider being eligible for the program. The term of this amendment will coincide with the Master SPLA Agreement.

Is Microsoft charging a fee as a requirement to participate in the QMTH Program?

Yes, there is a monthly program administrative fee for service providers. Qualified cloud partners are urged to contact their primary point-of-contact at Microsoft for any questions.

How soon can a Qualified Multitenant Hoster talk with their end users about their QMTH offering and begin actively selling it?

New partners to the program can begin actively selling the QMTH offering once they have completed the onboarding process and have been formally welcomed into the program.

What are the reporting requirements associated with the QMTH Program?

Manual monthly reporting will be required until an automated reporting mechanism is in place, expected in calendar year 2018. In the interim, a manual reporting template will be provided to the program participants. The manual monthly reporting template will capture the reporting date, name of the reporting Authorized QMTH Partner, customers’ Organization ID and tenant ID, and number of end users by license type (CSP, Microsoft Volume Licensing, etc.) per tenant.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program

© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

When the automated reporting mechanism is available, how will it be installed?

More detailed guidance and instructions will be made available when the automated reporting mechanism is closer to becoming available.

Are Qualified Multitenant Hosters required to maintain a page on their website explaining the QMTH Program?

Yes, each service provider in the QMTH Program will need to provide Microsoft with a link to their webpage that explains the QMTH Program. Microsoft will provide the required minimum language to be included on this webpage.

How do I participate in the Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program?

To be eligible to participate in the QMTH Program, a service provider must be a Direct (1-Tier) Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and a SPLA provider. If you are interested in becoming an Qualified Multitenant Hoster, please reach out to your primary point-of-contact at Microsoft.

Where can I find more information about technical requirements, best practices etc.?

More information can be found by visiting www.microsoft.com/qualified_multitenant_hoster_program.

If I have more questions about the QMTH Program who should I contact?

Please contact the QMTH Program Service Desk at qmthprog@microsoft.com for any additional questions.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program

© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Which Office 365 licenses are eligible for the QMTH Program?

Office 365 ProPlus and all Office 365 suites that include Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5) are eligible for the QMTH Program. Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365 are also eligible for the QMTH Program. Office 365 Business and Office 365 Business Premium are NOT eligible.

Can service providers in the QMTH Program only host Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365 if the licenses were purchased through CSP?

A service provider in the QMTH Program must be a valid and existing Direct (1-Tier) Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and a SPLA provider. However, the end users deploying SCA through a third-party hoster do not necessarily have to purchase Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365 licenses via the Microsoft Cloud Agreement. As long as the licenses are for Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional or Visio Pro for Office 365 (and not a perpetual/on-premises version of Office), it does not matter which channel the license was purchased through.

Will Microsoft be selling qualified Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365 via the SPLA Program?

No. The CSP Program enables partners to have complete ownership of the customer relationship by enabling direct management of billing, provisioning, and support, and will be the best way for service provider partners to resell these licenses.

For what scenarios does a customer need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner?

A customer will need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner to host their qualifying Office 365 products in a multitenant, third-party environment. Customers do not need to engage an Authorized QMTH Partner for these scenarios:• Customer dedicated (on-premises)• Microsoft Azure environment• Dedicated third-party hosted (Office 365 SCA only)

If Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional or Visio Pro for Office 365 license was acquired via an Indirect (2-Tier) provider, can the service provider host these licenses through the QMTH Program?

Yes, the service provider can support SCA for Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365 regardless of how the end user acquired the license, as long as the service provider is in the QMTH Program.

Will Microsoft be making changes to the Online Service Terms (OST) for Office 365?

Yes, the OST has these rights reflected as of January 2016.

Is Microsoft also changing the licensing policy for Office Professional Plus in SPLA?

No. We have no plans to change the current licensing policy in SPLA.

Is a Remote Desktop Services Subscriber Access License (RDS SAL) required to host Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365?

Yes, an RDS SAL is required for each user.

How will a customer with Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional or Visio Pro for Office 365 license know which service providers are Qualified Multitenant Hosters?

The OST will direct customers to www.office.com/sca, which explains the QMTH Program and provides a list of Qualified Multitenant Hosters.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Shared Computer Activation (SCA) for Office 365 ProPlus (including E3 and E5), Project Online Professional and Visio Pro for Office 365

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program

© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

What Windows licenses will a customer need to have to make use of Windows Virtualization Rights in third-party multitenant hosted datacenters?

Users must be licensed for Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5 Per User (excluding local only licenses), Windows 10 Enterprise VDA E3/E5 Per User, or Microsoft 365 E3/E5 Per User.

What Windows licenses purchased through the Volume Licensing (VL) channel will include virtualization rights for Qualified Multitenant Hosting?

The following Windows licenses purchased through the Microsoft Volume Licensing channel currently include virtualization rights for Qualified Multitenant Hosting: • Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5 per User with SA – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device• Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5 VDA per User – no Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device required

Which Windows subscriptions purchased through CSP will include virtualization rights?

The following Windows subscriptions include virtualization rights for Azure and multitenant hardware in data centers managed by a qualified third-party service provider: • Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and E5 (with VDI) – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device• Windows 10 Enterprise E3 VDA – no Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device required• Microsoft 365 Enterprise (formerly Secure Productive Enterprise or SPE) E3 and E5 – requires a Windows Pro or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device

How do QMTH Partners get started with hosting virtualized Windows 10 environments?

QMTH Partners may host virtualized Windows 10 environments for customers with Enterprise subscriptions by providing them with virtualized Windows 10 Pro environments to sign into. Once a user with a Windows 10 Enterprise license provisioned through Azure Active Directory signs into the Windows 10 Pro environment it will upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise.To get started, QMTH Partners may follow these steps:1. Download Windows 10 Pro media through VLSC or Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10). 2. Activate Windows 10 Pro images through a KMS server (KMS server keys are available through VLSC). The SPLA Amendment for QMTH authorizes QMTH Partners to use VLSC for providing this hosting service. You may refer to this training resource for more information on how to navigate and use the VLSCYou may refer to these additional resources for technical details on virtualizing Windows 10:• Configure VDA for Windows 10 Subscription Activation• Windows 10 Subscription Activation

Is a Remote Desktop Services Subscriber Access License (RDS SAL) required to host qualified Windows licenses?

RDS SALs are required when using any RDS role (for example, Remote Desktop Virtualization Host) to host Windows 10 VDI. An RDS SAL is not needed when no RDS functionality is used to access the Windows Client remotely.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Windows Virtualization Rights in Third-party Multitenant Hosted Datacenters

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program

© 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

For what scenarios does a customer need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner?

Customers who buy Windows Per User licenses through Microsoft Volume Licensing will need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner to make use of their multitenant hosting rights for Windows 10 to host their Windows virtual machines on third-party multitenant hardware.In addition, a customer who buys qualifying Windows 10 subscriptions with virtualization use rights via Microsoft Cloud Agreement subscription will need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner to make use of their multitenant hosting rights for Windows 10.Customers do not need to engage an Authorized QMTH Partner for the following scenarios for qualifying Windows 10 products:• Microsoft Azure environment• Customers with on-premise dedicated use rightsIn addition, customers with Software Assurance (SA) do not need to engage with an Authorized QMTH Partner to host their qualifying Windows 10 products in a dedicated third-party environment.

Can customers use their Software Assurance benefit for Windows Virtualization Rights in third-party multitenant hosted datacenters?

Yes, a new SA benefit will allow customers with Windows 10 Enterprise E3 Per User with SA and Windows 10 Enterprise E5 Per User with SA licenses to run Windows 10 Enterprise Current Branch for Business (CBB) using Qualified Multitenant Hosters authorized within the QMTH Program.

Will Microsoft be selling qualified Windows licenses via the SPLA Program?

No. The CSP Program enables partners to have complete ownership of the customer relationship by enabling direct management of billing, provisioning, and support, and will be the best way for service provider partners to resell these licenses.

Will Microsoft be making changes to the Product Terms for Windows Client?

Yes, the Product Terms include these rights as of August 1, 2017.

How will a customer with qualified Windows licenses know which service providers are Qualified Multi-Tenant Hosters?

The product terms for Windows will direct customers to www.microsoft.com/qualified_multitenant_hoster_program, which explains the QMTH Program and provides a list of qualified third-party multitenant hosters.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

FAQ: Qualified Multitenant Hoster Program