How do you move users between SendGuard licenses (custom manifest deployments)?

This article explains how to move users between SendGuard licenses when using a custom SendGuard manifest with embedded license information.

Some organizations use customized SendGuard manifests where licensing information is embedded directly into the deployment package. In these environments, users must be fully removed from the existing deployment before they can be moved to another SendGuard license.

If the existing deployment is not completely removed first, users may continue receiving the previous license assignment or experience deployment issues.

Important: This process only applies to organizations using custom SendGuard manifests with embedded licensing information. Standard SendGuard deployments do not require this process.

Important: Microsoft 365 add-in deployment changes can take up to 72 hours to fully propagate.

Before You Begin

You will need:

  • Access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
  • Access to the SendGuard Console
  • The new SendGuard manifest file provided by Standss
  • A list of users being moved

Steps to Move Users Between Licenses

Step 1: Remove Users from the Existing Deployment

In the Microsoft 365 Admin Center:

  1. Locate the current SendGuard add-in deployment.
  2. Remove the users from the existing deployment assignment.

Step 2: Wait for Removal to Complete

Allow up to 72 hours for Microsoft 365 to fully remove the add-in.

Before proceeding:

  • Confirm the SendGuard add-in no longer appears for affected users
  • Verify removal has completed successfully

Do not continue until the add-in is fully removed.

Step 3: Remove Users from the Existing SendGuard Subscription

In the SendGuard Console:

  1. Open the current subscription.
  2. Remove the users from that subscription.

This clears the users from the previous license assignment.

Step 4: Deploy the New Manifest

In the Microsoft 365 Admin Center:

  1. Deploy the new SendGuard manifest provided by Standss.
  2. Assign it to the users being moved.

Step 5: Add Users to the New SendGuard Subscription

In the SendGuard Console:

  1. Open the destination subscription.
  2. Add the users.

Allow up to 72 hours for propagation and for SendGuard to appear for users.

Step 6: Verify and Test

Once deployment has completed:

  • Confirm SendGuard appears for the users
  • Verify users are assigned to the correct subscription
  • Test SendGuard functionality
  • Confirm expected policies and settings are applied

Troubleshooting

If users do not receive the new license:

  • Confirm users were fully removed from the original deployment
  • Verify the add-in disappeared before redeployment
  • Confirm users were removed from the previous subscription
  • Verify the correct manifest was deployed
  • Allow the full 72-hour propagation period before further troubleshooting

Why This Process Is Required

For customized deployments, license information is embedded within the SendGuard manifest itself. Because of this, users cannot simply be reassigned between subscriptions. The previous deployment must first be removed before a new licensed deployment can be applied.

Standss is working on simplifying this process in future versions.