This note provides essential guidance on how an organization can minimize, or even eliminate, next year's budget spend on Microsoft licensing by looking at three main areas:

• Centralizing licensing purchasing. 
• Assessing licensing reassignment possibilities, including the impact of new virtualization rules. 
• Reevaluating the need for Software Assurance (SA).

One of the biggest challenges many organizations face with Microsoft licensing is limited understanding of their alternatives. This note will help IT managers effectively examine the above three areas to optimize their license portfolios and meet required IT cost reductions by trimming some Microsoft from next year's budget.