Decision Maker: Joint Strategic Director - Transformation and Governance
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Procurement of a Microsoft licensing
arrangement to replace the Council's existing expiring Enterprise
Agreement.
The Council's existing Microsoft Enterprise
Agreement expires at the end of September 2022. The Council
continues to use Microsoft products widely for many critical
services including staff and server operating systems, and Office
365 services. A licensing arrangement to enable continued use and
access to security updates of these services is therefore
considered necessary at this time.
The Council would lose the use of ICT
equipment if it did not take action in response to the ceasing of
the current licensing and support arrangement.
There are alternative solutions to Microsoft technologies, such as
Linux-based or Apple operating systems, as well as Google
Cloud/G-Suite, and Amazon Web Services, although
the cost for transitioning to these is likely to be prohibitive.
There would also likely be a significant multi-year timeline to
transition services.
Publication date: 31/08/2022
Date of decision: 28/09/2022
Effective from:
Current call-in Count: 0