Answers to agencies' most common questions. If your question isn't here, please contact the programme team on G2015@dia.govt.nz.
How does the 2015 agreement with Microsoft compare with the 2012 agreement?
What are the benefits of enrolling in G2015?
How do agencies enrol in G2015?
Can agencies take up Office 365 and Azure public cloud straight away?
Are there any fees associated with enrolling in G2015?
Where can I get more information about G2015?
1. How does the 2015 agreement with Microsoft compare with the 2012 agreement?
Products and services offered under G2012 continue to be offered under. G2015 extends the G2012 for another three years and enrolment processes are the same as under G2012.
2. What are the benefits of enrolling in G2015?
G2015 allows eligible government agencies to buy Microsoft products and services at an all-of-government negotiated rate. There is also the ability to transfer some software licenses between agencies allowing for continual scaling of requirements. Alternatively, subscription licenses can be renewed and purchased on an annual basis.
Significant early enrolment discounts will apply for purchases/re-enrolments before 30 September with further discounts for agencies purchasing before 31 August 2015. Discount incentives are also available for desktop subscriptions (agencies holding subscription rights prior to G2012) and enterprise cloud suite enrolments.
Enrolment before 30 September ensures continuing licensing rights as G2012 officially ends on that date
3. How do agencies enrol in G2015?
All agencies must nominate a Licensing Solution Partner (LSP) (also known as a Large Account Reseller- LAR) an enrol through this LSP/LARto purchase off of the G2015 agreement just like G2012. The Department has established an all-of-government LAR Agreement which agencies can use without having to undertake their own procurement process.
Microsoft will be holding workshops throughout July to take agencies through the process.
4. Can agencies take up Office 365 and Azure public cloud straight away?
Agencies not under the GCIO umbrella may take up Office 365 and Azure public cloud at any time providing they have completed the Cabinet mandated Cloud Computing Risk and Assurance Framework requirements.
Agencies under the GCIO mandate are still under the Cabinet directive to only use on-shore office productivity services and government IaaS for compute and storage.
We are planning for public cloud facilities to be available through government IaaS suppliers. We will let you know when this is available.
DIA is currently undertaking a generic assessment based on this framework for Office 365 and Azure and will share the outcome with agencies when it is finished to help inform their own assessment.
DIA is also currently working on guidelines for agencies to assist in mapping the various security frameworks used by cloud-based providers, including Microsoft, against the NZISM framework. This guidance will assist agencies in assessing which office productivity offering will be best fit with their individual security profile. This guidance is expected to be available to agencies in the next few months.
5. Are there any fees associated with enrolling in G2015?
Licensing Solution Partners (LSPs) usually charge a fee for their service. This varies between LSPs.
G2015 also has a small lead agency fee of less than 1% of the total agencies’ spend. All Government ICT Common Capabilities have this fee which is cost recovery only for the lead agency who manages the contract on behalf of all government agencies.
6. Where can I get more information about G2015?
There are several ways to get more information about G2015.
Microsoft will run workshop for government agencies throughout July where they will answer your questions about products and enrolment processes. Contact Microsoft for dates
The G2015 team can answer any questions about the agreement with Microsoft. They can be contacted on G2015@dia.govt.nz
Agencies’ Licensing Solution Partners can help model agency needs and assist with the enrolment process