Product activation is required for Windows Server and client operating systems and all Microsoft Office client applications. Product keys for these products are issued with a finite number of activations.

The way that product activation keys are consumed is different for Action Pack subscribers and competency partners.

For Action Pack subscribers, the product activation keys are consumed based on scenario:

• If the software is installed on a new or different machine, a product activation is consumed against the product key.
• If the software is installed on the same machine, with no changes made to the hardware, a product activation is not consumed against the product key.
• If the software is installed on the same machine, with changes made to the hardware, a product activation is consumed against the product key.

For competency partners, each time a machine is activated, one of the product activations for that particular product key is consumed; this includes situations in which the same machine is reimaged and activated. For this reason, the number of licenses your organization is entitled to and the number of activations it has been assigned are not the same.

Note: If a key is provided for a product, it can be used to activate the product for internal use. Partners should not activate the products used for training and demonstration.

Partner Volume Activation Guide

Regional Service Center

Key Management Service (KMS) keys are limited to Microsoft Volume Licensing customers and are not issued through the Microsoft Partner Network. There are no exceptions to this policy. If your organization has access to a KMS key through a Volume Licensing agreement, you can use your KMS keys for licenses granted through the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. You can use any combination of methods and keys that you have acquired through various Microsoft programs to activate machines, depending on your business and infrastructure needs, as long as the systems are properly licensed and appropriate use rights are applied.

Product keys are used during the installation or activation process for software, and tokens are used to redeem cloud services. Both product keys and tokens have a unique series of 25 characters consisting of five sets of five alphanumeric characters; this is also referred to as a “5X5 product key”.

Your cloud services entitlement terminates at the conclusion of your program enrollment year. You can continue to have access to your cloud services benefits past your program enrollment end date, but you will no longer have use rights through the program. During the program year, your organization will be issued additional tokens as you qualify for more seats. A new set of tokens will be issued when you renew your subscription or program membership each year. If you do not renew your membership, you must purchase the cloud services through Volume License.

Yes. If the other Office 365 seats are enterprise (E) or kiosk (K) SKUs. Other SKUs cannot be used on the same tenant.

Your organization can switch users between on-premises and Office 365 at any time during the subscription or program year, as long as you do not exceed your license entitlement. You can also purchase the required CALs or online seats to fulfill your organization’s needs. For complete details, refer to the Product Usage Guide.

A Microsoft Organization Account (also referred to as a Microsoft Account for Organizations) is specific to accessing Microsoft cloud services for your organization. The first time your organization signs up for a Microsoft cloud service such as Microsoft Entra ID, Office 365, or Windows Intune, or signs up for Microsoft Azure as an organization, you are prompted to provide details about your organization and your organization’s Internet domain name registration. This process will create an Organization Account. After you have signed up for your first service, Microsoft recommends that you continue using the same tenant administrator account associated with your organization that you received when signing up.