All articles and guides

Microsoft will auto-install its Copilot app on Windows PCs with Office apps from October 2025, bypassing consumer opt-outs and fuelling debate on cost, consent, and competition.

Microsoft’s Teams bundling returns with ‘no Teams’ packages becoming up to 44% cheaper, creating new procurement opportunities for organisations using alternatives like Zoom or Slack. The changes coincide with EA discount removal on November 1st, forcing complex strategic recalculations.

Microsoft is ending decades of volume-based EA discounts. From November 1, 2025, all organisations will start at Level A pricing, forcing large enterprises to renegotiate or face multimillion-dollar cost increases.

Microsoft is shifting away from traditional Enterprise Agreements. This guide compares EA vs. MCA‑E, highlights risks, and outlines strategic actions for 2025 and beyond.

Microsoft has effectively created a situation where organisations feel almost captive to their offerings. Alternatives are diminishing, and suppliers have little incentive to offer compelling discounts unless there’s a strong business case or a significant alternative presented.

Regardless of your organisation’s size or location, now is the time to begin preparations for the end of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. It may not happen to your organisation in 2025, but considering current developments, it could happen sooner than expected.

Microsoft renamed E5 Security and Compliance but didn’t finish updating the Product Terms. Half the document references products you can no longer purchase. Those managing licensing renewals right now, our hearts are with you.

BizTalk Server in SPLA and BYOL: per-core licensing rules, calculation formulas, compliance requirements, and common reporting mistakes.

Microsoft Entra ID faces simultaneous antitrust probes in the US, EU, and UK, as regulators scrutinise its bundling with Microsoft 365, market dominance in identity management, and systemic security risks.

Independent Microsoft advice means no hidden sales agenda: we don’t sell licences, we negotiate harder, cut costs deeper, and challenge Microsoft without compromise.

Microsoft partners provide valuable knowledge, but their incentives often align with Redmond, not clients. True independence means unbiased advice, direct consulting fees, and strategies optimised for customer—not Microsoft—outcomes.

Get a quick reference guide for licensing SQL Server on hosting with SPLA and BYOL. Understand licensing models, calculate licenses, and avoid common mistakes.