Guides

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

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

Microsoft Enterprise Agreement vs Cloud Solution Provider program
Learn the differences between Microsoft EA and CSP. Find out which licensing program is right for you with our comprehensive guide. Get expert advice.

Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Explained - 2025
Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Guide for IT and procurement. Includes true-up, renewal, and negotiation advice from independent experts with 20+ years of experience.

The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Negotiating with Microsoft — 2025–2026 Edition
Microsoft licensing negotiations in 2025–2026 are more complex than ever: cloud commitments, AI add-ons, price hikes, and bundling make missteps costly. Careful preparation and strategy remain the key to saving millions.

The Complete Guide to Migrating from Power BI Premium to Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft is retiring Power BI Premium P SKUs, requiring enterprises to migrate to Microsoft Fabric. A structured migration strategy minimises disruption, controls costs, and unlocks new analytics capabilities.

EA vs MCA-E vs CSP: What's Best for Your Enterprise?
EA is being phased out—fast. Here’s what mid-sized and enterprise customers need to know about MCA-E, CSP, and how to avoid 15–30% cost increases during the transition.

Using TBM tools to determine your cloud waste rate
Using TBM tools like Apptio (or even basic tools like CSViewer), companies can identify underperforming Azure VMs and optimise costs by applying waste-detection patterns that reveal savings of up to 50%.

Microsoft SPLA Explained: Everything You Need to Know - 2025
What is SPLA, and how does it work? Benefits for providers and end-users. Hosting providers’ licensing options. SPLA audits and compliance.

SPLA Audit How-to Guide 2025
SPLA audits are inevitable, disruptive, and confusing. The results can be shocking if you are not prepared. Here’s how to pass a SPLA audit with flying colours.

Effective Microsoft MACC Negotiations in 2025
Due to AI investments and below-expected sales, Microsoft is tightening discounts and pushing margins. If you’re renewing Azure, prepare for tougher negotiations.

Visual Studio, MSDN, non-production hosting in SPLA
It’s easy to forget that hosted environments’ rules differ from on-premises. You may not discount “non-production” workloads the same way as on-premises.