Summary
Industry: Global Telecommunications & Cloud Services Date: 10th September 2025
Executive Summary
A leading global telecommunications and cloud services provider engaged SAMexpert to support them across four major software licensing and compliance challenges:
Microsoft SPLA Audit Defence
— External auditor's draft findings suggested more than €15M in exposure. SAMexpert's analysis, rebuttals, and negotiation strategy overturned the claim, demonstrating the client had in fact overpaid by ~€3.7M, positioning them to request future credits.
SPLA Internal Self-Verification
— Following the Microsoft audit, the client engaged SAMexpert to perform a proactive compliance review. By modelling best- and worst-case licensing positions and driving remediation, SAMexpert confirmed compliance within Microsoft's tolerance (<5%) while strengthening governance and reporting maturity.
SUSE Audit Defence
— SUSE initiated an aggressive audit with wide data demands. SAMexpert successfully restricted scope, challenged overreaching requests, and aligned reporting to contractual terms. The audit was closed with no penalties, with only a small subscription adjustment (<€5K) for maintenance alignment.
Red Hat Risk Assessment & Negotiation Support
— A technical assessment revealed ~€1.5M of backdated subscription risk and recurring annual shortfalls. SAMexpert identified optimisation opportunities, educated engineering teams, and guided commercial strategy. Through targeted negotiation, the potential liability was reduced by half, and a sustainable subscription baseline was established.
Collectively, these engagements highlight SAMexpert's ability to deliver cost avoidance, risk reduction, and strengthened licensing governance across multiple vendors.
Client Profile
Industry:
Global Telecommunications & Cloud Services
Operations:
Data centres and managed services across EMEA and North America
Engagements:
Microsoft, SUSE, Red Hat licensing audits and internal reviews
The Scope
Microsoft SPLA Audit Defence
Defend against a vendor-led audit, challenge the Effective Licence Position (ELP), and minimise financial exposure.
SPLA Internal Self-Verification
Conduct a proactive compliance assessment post-audit to confirm alignment and address residual risks.
SUSE Audit Defence
Support during a vendor audit, manage scope, protect sensitive infrastructure data, and minimise commercial impact.
Red Hat Risk Assessment & Negotiation Support
Assess deployment risks, prepare negotiation strategy, and optimise long-term subscription model.
The SAMexpert Approach
Phase 1: Microsoft SPLA Audit Defence
Conducted a comprehensive baseline risk assessment, modelling exposure scenarios pre-submission
Validated data across thousands of servers
Identified miscounts, including decommissioned servers and over-reporting of database cores
Reinstated processor-to-core surpluses worth millions
Produced detailed rebuttals and a negotiation plan with MDO/LDO thresholds
Outcome:
Flipped the audit result from €15M+ claim to >€3.7M overpayment in the client's favour
Phase 2: SPLA Internal Self-Verification
Conducted a mock audit replicating vendor methodology
Compared compliance snapshots, showing reduction of risks through remediation
Flagged residual issues: evidence capture gaps, inconsistent data from legacy systems
Delivered recommendations to strengthen governance and prevent recurrence
Outcome:
Compliance confirmed within 5% tolerance; risks contained and reported
Phase 3: SUSE Audit Defence
Scoped audit to relevant regional entities, blocking attempts to extend globally
Challenged requests for intrusive data beyond contractual terms
Clarified obligations after fixed commitment periods expired
Guided communications to ensure only relevant data was provided
Outcome:
Audit signed off with no penalties, only minor subscription alignment (<€5K)
Phase 4: Red Hat Risk Assessment & Negotiation Support
Consolidated deployment data from multiple discovery tools
Quantified exposure: >€1.5M across shared VMs and dedicated hosts
Identified optimisation paths: migration planning, remediation, platform upgrades
Educated engineering teams on licensing principles
Guided commercial negotiations; precedent indicated 50% forgiveness on backdating
Outcome:
Liability reduced by half; long-term subscription optimised
Results & Financial Impact
Vendor | Challenge | Outcome |
Microsoft SPLA | €15M+ exposure claim | Exposure avoided; €3.7M overpayment identified |
SPLA Internal | Post-audit verification | Compliance within tolerance (<5%); reporting strengthened |
SUSE | Vendor audit | Audit closed cleanly; no penalties beyond nominal adjustment |
Red Hat | €1.5M potential exposure | Exposure reduced by 50%; sustainable licensing baseline set |
Deliverables
Risk assessments and ELP rebuttals (Microsoft, Red Hat)
Mock audit reports (SPLA self-verification)
Negotiation strategies with MDO/LDO ranges
Closure documentation and auditor communications (SUSE, Microsoft)
Final remediation and governance recommendations
Long-Term Value
Cost Avoidance
Tens of millions saved in avoided penalties and credits secured.
Risk Mitigation
Multiple vendor audits resolved with no material impact.
Audit Readiness
Governance strengthened, compliance brought under control.
Partnership
Repeat engagements across three major vendors demonstrate deep trust.
Conclusion
Through four high-stakes engagements spanning Microsoft, SUSE, and Red Hat, SAMexpert transformed the client's licensing risk posture. From overturning a €15M audit claim, to confirming internal compliance, to closing a SUSE audit with no penalties, to cutting Red Hat exposure in half — SAMexpert consistently delivered measurable results.
This multi-year partnership illustrates the value of expert audit defence, proactive compliance management, and commercial negotiation in maximising cost avoidance and strengthening enterprise governance.