Take Control of Microsoft Licensing and Optimize Spend
Review and assess your Microsoft contract to build a strategy that leads to dollars saved.
RETIRED CONTENT
Please note that the content on this page is retired. This content is not maintained and may contain information or links that are out of date.Microsoft licensing is an unpleasant necessity, but as an IT leader you must tackle it or risk:
- Overspending
- Compliance risks
- Exposing yourself to an audit
- An undefined strategy for the future
By adopting a cyclical approach to reviewing Microsoft licensing, you will:
- Actively manage licensing to ease the process of defining your requirements
- Optimize your spend
- Have a strategic licensing plan in place for the future
- Be able to negotiate with Microsoft from a position of strength
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Module 1: Establish Licensing Requirements
The Purpose
- Assess current state and align goals.
- Review business feedback.
- Interview key stakeholders to define business objectives and drivers.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Have a baseline on requirements.
- Assess the current state.
- Determine licensing position.
- Examine cloud options.
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Understand what documentation to gather and where to find it. |
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| 1.2 | Navigate Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Center to obtain licensing entitlements and SA benefits. |
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| 1.3 | Leverage a Software Asset Management (SAM) tool to determine software deployment and usage. |
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| 1.4 | Build an Effective Licensing Position to uncover license surpluses and deficits. |
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| 1.5 | Meet with stakeholders to discuss the licensing position, cloud offerings, and budget allocation. |
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Module 2: Evaluate Licensing Options
The Purpose
- Review licensing options.
- Review licensing rules.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Understand how licensing works.
- Determine if you need Software Assurance.
- Discuss licensing rules and their application to your current environment.
- Examine cloud licensing.
- Understand the importance of documenting changes.
- Meet with desktop product owners to determine product strategies.
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Maximize the benefits Software Assurance (SA) can bring. |
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| 2.2 | Microsoft wanted the organization on Office 365 yesterday, so start planning. |
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| 2.3 | Choose OEM or Volume licensing as a critical component of a Windows 10 strategy. |
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| 2.4 | Untangle the many methods of server licensing. |
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| 2.5 | Document planned licensing changes for discussion with your reseller. |
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Module 3: Evaluate Agreement Options
The Purpose
- Review contract option types.
- Review vendors.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Understand why a type of contract is best for you, whether it's an Enterprise Agreement, Select, or Open.
- The benefits of other types and when you should change.
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Decide on the agreement that nets you the maximum benefit. |
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Module 4: Purchase and Manage Licenses
The Purpose
- Finalize the contract.
- Discuss negotiation points.
- Discuss license management.
- Evaluate and develop a roadmap for future licensing.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Discuss negotiation strategies.
- Licensing management best practices.
- Introduction of Software Asset Management (SAM).
- Leveraging the work done on Microsoft licensing to get started on SAM.
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Ensure the reseller makes licensing easier for you. |
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| 4.2 | Negotiate with resellers to get the best deal. |
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| 4.3 | Maximize contract value by assigning the right people to manage the agreement. |
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| 4.4 | If audited, don’t panic – create a response plan and follow it through. |
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