Microsoft license and contract expertise
A global software leader, Microsoft generated $143 billion in revenue in 2020, with the most diversified range of software and services on the market. Microsoft is moving its on-premise products towards a cloud offering with enhanced functionality. Focusing on collaboration, productivity and manageability, Microsoft has two key flagship product sets: SaaS with the M365 suite, and Azure IaaS and PaaS services.
Microsoft is an essential publisher for Software Asset Managers
The Microsoft universe is full of risks and financial challenges related to contracts and a vast range of product usage rights whose rules are constantly changing. Counting the licenses that you are using, analysing the assets you have acquired, and optimizing your needs at a fair price requires in-depth knowledge of rules and best practices.
Common issues for CIOs are analysing O365 profiles, deciding whether or not to stop Software Assurance, anticipating changes in metrics, and optimizing infrastructure. To cope with this complexity and navigate between risks and savings, it is essential to prepare carefully for any negotiation with Microsoft.
Microsoft licensing and contract issues
Advice and expertise on Microsoft licenses and contracts
Here are our main offerings related to Microsoft licenses and contracts. We are also happy to discuss custom services.
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Implementation of collection tools (existing tool, agentless tool, deployment, etc.)
Elée offers different inventory methods depending on the characteristics of your infrastructure. We can use all your data, whether it comes from tools with or without an agent (SCCM, Landesk Ivanti), from the cloud (Azure consoles, AWS) or from SAM solutions (Snow, Flexera, Aspera, ServiceNow). We also offer ad hoc and free solutions for companies without discovery tools. Information-sharing occurs in a secure manner through a platform dedicated to the project.
See page: I am not getting value from my SAM tool
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Compliance analysis / Microsoft mock audit
We perform an analysis that compares the usage rights you have purchased over the years with the actual deployments of Microsoft products in all of your environments. In order to identify the minimum license requirement to cover the implementations, we use a uniquely powerful license allocation calculator. In addition, our experts advise on optimization scenarios to keep your needs to a minimum.
See page: I am facing an audit
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Quarterly, semi-annual or annual campaigns
We conduct our analyses over the long term and at a frequency dependent on your needs. Our analysis campaigns allow you to monitor changes in your need for licenses, including both internal changes (optimization or remediation work) and external changes (changes in version, products or metrics).
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Microsoft contract negotiation
Microsoft has a varied range of contracts, each with benefits, limitations and constraints. Your choice of contact will be affected by the nature and volume of the Microsoft products you are using, software assurance considerations, cloud migration, and procurement consolidation. We bring our expertise throughout the negotiation process with Microsoft, from scenario analysis and formalization of your expression of need, to your analysis of the final offer.
See page: I need help with contract management and renewal
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If you have a commercial Software Asset Management tool
We help you to use and continually improve your SAM tools. We can help you onboard products into the tool, verify your calculations, and create standardized processes, including quality controls, automation of calculations, updating of rules, and dashboards.
See page: I am not getting value from my SAM tool
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The specifics of the Microsoft SPLA contract
The SPLA (Service Provider License Agreement) is designed for organizations that host Microsoft products on behalf of their customers. The licensing rules are specific, and Microsoft imposes regular checks and audits on its partners. These are time-consuming and are intended to uncover areas of non-compliance which are often costly. Elée can help you to minimize the impact of these audits and implement best practices for managing your Microsoft estate.
Why choose Elée?
Independence
Our independence from Microsoft protects you from any conflict of interest. We help you to reduce your licensing costs and minimize the financial impact of audits.
Microsoft licensing expertise
We have a team of experts dedicated to Microsoft licenses and contracts who fully understand the licensing rules and metrics of Microsoft, as well as negotiation techniques and auditing practices.
Tooling advice
Our consultants advise you on the best tools and methods to manage your Microsoft compliance in the most cost-effective way possible.
Data quality
The data collected by your tools is verified, standardized and enriched using our internal tool, resulting in maximum reliability.
Power of optimizations
Elée’s mathematical models and tools offer unparalleled optimal allocations to generate maximum savings.
Audit ready
Our compliance calculations and optimizations are tested daily in audits at our key customers.
“Elée's support for our negotiations with Microsoft enabled Ingenico to determine credible scenarios in the eyes of the publisher, to challenge Microsoft’s proposals and to identify valuable levers for negotiation.”
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Request a callback from an expert
Chat directly with Iliya Mayorov, Microsoft Licensing and Contracts Expert at Elée!
