---
title: "Microsoft Support Plans"
id: "48095"
type: "page"
slug: "microsoft-support-plans"
published_at: "2022-10-24T16:14:29+00:00"
modified_at: "2025-12-08T21:24:34+00:00"
url: "https://www.uscloud.com/microsoft-support-plans/"
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# Microsoft Support Plans.

## MICROSOFT SUPPORT PLANS

### See the Microsoft Support Plans comparison chart for full details. Decide which MS support plan is right for your enterprise or government.

[Premier](#premier)
 | [Unified](#unified)
 | [Enterprise](#enterprise)
 | [Government](#government)

## **Microsoft Support Plans Comparison Chart**

##### The Microsoft Support Plans Chart include 3 plans from Microsoft Unified Support, the MS Unified Enterprise plan, the Premier Microsoft Support plan offered by US Cloud and the Government Microsoft Support plan also offered by US Cloud.

Microsoft Unified Support plans are determined by the enterprise’s entire Microsoft software and cloud services spend. US Cloud Premier Support is based on hours purchased and typically less expensive than Unified. The Government Microsoft support plan is staffed entirely by US engineers to meet Federal regulatory requirements. Review the Microsoft Support Plans Chart below for full details.

| Microsoft Support Plan Feature | Microsoft Unified Support Core, Advanced & Performance Plans | Microsoft Unified Enterprise Support Plan | US Cloud Premier Microsoft Support Plan | US Cloud Government Microsoft Support Plan |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing | C – 6% of M365 and client software annual costs and 8% of other software and online services annual cost A – 8% of M365, 10% other P – 10% of M365, 12% other | A percentage of your historical annul product spend, using graduated pricing rates; Azure 1.75-10%, Mod Workplace 4-8%, Biz Apps 4-8%, On-prem User 4-8%, On-prem Server 6-10% | Per-hour pricing based on consumption | Per-hour pricing based on consumption |
| Account Management | C – shared customer success account manager (CSAM) A – shared CSAM P – shared CSAM + technical advocate | Shared CSAM + incident manager | Shared technical account manager (TAM) + incident manager | Shared technical account manager (TAM) + incident manager |
| Proactive Support Automated and online programs | C – as needed A – as needed P – as needed | As needed | Engineer-led | Engineer-led |
| Proactive Support Engineer-led risk assessments, chalk talks, planning and implementation engagements | C – optional, add-on A – number of days included P – number of days included | Six hour maximum per engagement | Engineer-led | Engineer-led |
| PRS Reactive support | C – as needed A – as needed P – as needed | As needed | Per-hour pricing based on consumption | Per-hour pricing based on consumption |
| Government Compliance | C – Data center only A – Data center only P – Data center only | Data center only; FedRAMP High, DoD IL2, DoD IL4, DoD IL5, GCC High | All support personnel; US persons background and drug screened, ISO 27001 | All support personnel; US persons as defined by ITAR 120.5, ISO 27001, GCC High, ITAR, CMMC 2, NIST 800-171, CUI, DISA Impact Level 4, DoD Impact Level 2 |
| Initial Response Time | C – 1 hour critical target; 8 hours standard target A – 1 hour, 4 hours P – 30 minutes, 4 hours | 1 hour critical target; Azure only: 15 min critical target; 4 hours standard target | 15 min all severities; SLA | 15 min all severities; SLA |
| Third-Tier Support | C – N/A A – Included; priority routing for critical P – Included; priority routing for all incidents | Included; priority routing for critical | Included; priority routing for all incidents | Included; priority routing for all incidents |
| Technical Training | C – On-demand, self-service A – On-demand, self-service P – On-demand, self-service | On-demand, self-service | Engineer-led | Engineer-led |
| Advisory Support | C – Limited to 6 hours per incident A – 6 hours P – 6 hours | Limited to 6 hours per incident | No limit per incident | No limit per incident |
| Minimum Contract Size | C – $25,000 A – $50,000 P – $175,000 | $100,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |

[https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/top-5-differences-between-microsoft-unified-and-premier-support.png](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/top-5-differences-between-microsoft-unified-and-premier-support.png)

## **Top 5 Differences Between Microsoft Unified Support Plans & US Cloud Premier Support Plans**

#### **#1 CONSUMPTION-BASED VS.****AS NEEDED**

**Premier is a consumption-based support model.** You buy the number of hours you think you will need in a given year. Overall, most Sourcing, Procurement and Vendor Management (SPVM) buyers feel that Premier gets them closer to their actual needs most of the time.

**Unified is an as needed support model.** The issue being that some SPVM buyers and organizations don’t need support for all Microsoft products and cloud services – they simply don’t use all of them. As a result, they can’t justify the significant cost increase and wasted IT budget dollars by moving to Unified.

#### **#2 TAM VS. CSAM**

**Premier offers TAMs.** US Cloud Premier Support offers Technical Account Managers (TAM) as part of of Premier Support. TAMs typically have 10+ years experience in Microsoft technologies and a degree in MIS, IT or CS. TAMs investigate the client’s business objectives, anticipate current and future technology needs, develop a strategic technology solution roadmap and lead the proposed solution work-streams to bring clients to that future state. Salary: $100,000 to $170,000. Key US Cloud KPI: Customer Satisfaction

**Unified offers CSAMs.** Microsoft Unified Support offers Customer Success Account Managers (CSAM) as part of Unified Support. CSAMs typically have 2-4 years experience in MS technologies and a degree in business, MIS, IT or CS. CSAMs drive program management and acceleration of cloud adoption by providing cross-engagement oversight, resource orchestration, and blocker escalation, in close collaboration with key account team unit members and business partners supporting customer success. Salary: $75,000 to $145,000. Key Microsoft KPI: Cloud Spend

#### **#3 US ENGINEERS VS.****OFFSHORED**

**Premier offers US engineers.** US Cloud Premier Support offers 100% USA domestic Microsoft-certified engineers with 15+ years average staff experience who are screened for security and compliance. US Cloud supports several large US Federal Government agencies that require “support sovereignty” from their partners, meaning none of their data ever leaves US territory. This closes a huge security hole that often goes overlooked, as well as providing frictionless communication and better service for our customers day-to-day.

**Unified offers offshored engineers.** Microsoft Unified Support offers offshored engineers and cannot guarantee that your support information will not leave the US. Microsoft Unified’s lack of “support sovereignty” leaves many clients in highly regulated industries noncompliant or exposed to unnecessary risk. From an operational perspective, [outsourced support at Microsoft](https://www.uscloud.com/blog/microsoft-outsourced-support-to-india-struggles-to-keep-up/)
 often leads to needlessly restating issues, poor communication, and frustration.

#### **#4 DEDICATED SUPPORT ENGINEERS (DSE)**

**Premier has 200 hour minimum.** US Cloud Premier Support has a 200 hour DSE minimum for all Microsoft technologies. Premier Support DSE rates are $295 per hour. Lower rates are available with volume and multi-technology commitments.

**Unified has 600 hour minimum.**Microsoft Unified Support has a 600 hour minimum for Microsoft 365 and Azure DSEs. All other MS technologies have a 400 hour DSE threshold. Unified Support DSE rates are $315 per hour.

#### **#5 SUPPLIER DIVERSITY**

**Premier offers supplier diversity.** US Cloud Premier Support offers organizations IT supply chain diversity for their Microsoft support services. Most enterprises and government agencies have supplier diversity mandates to hep increase the pool of suppliers and promote healthy competition leading to cost savings and drive economic growth in our communities. US Cloud is a certified women owned business (WBE) and certified women owned small business (WOSB).

**Unified is not a diverse supplier.** While Microsoft Procurement does have a formal Supplier Diversity Program for its own procurement needs, it is not a diversity supplier itself. Microsoft encourages its partners and customers to seek out a diverse supplier base. “Our commitment to helping people realize their potential extends from our products to our procurement practices.” Microsoft Corporation is a publicly held, Fortune #14 multi-national enterprise with 2022 revenue of $198B and 220,000 employees.