Microsoft Licensing
Microsoft licensing covers how SQL Server, Windows Server, System Center, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure are sold and counted: per core, per user, per device or by subscription. Articles here explain the metrics, the minimums and the agreement types, from the Enterprise Agreement and CSP to SPLA, along with Software Assurance, CALs, Azure Hybrid Benefit and the rules for virtual machines. They are written for SAM and licensing teams preparing a true-up, a renewal or a Microsoft audit.
Microsoft 365 E3/E5 Optimization: Clean Up Before E7 Lands
Microsoft just announced the biggest licensing change to its enterprise stack since 2015. Microsoft 365…
The Model Is the Commodity. Microsoft Just Proved It.
Microsoft spent $13 billion investing in OpenAI. Then, in September 2025, it quietly added Anthropic’s…
New Integration: Microsoft Graph API is Now Live in LICENSEWARE
We just shipped a new data connector: Microsoft Graph API. This one’s been on the…
What SAM Should Count Before You Buy Microsoft ESU
Windows 10 ESU starts at $61 a device year one and doubles. SQL Server 2016 ends 14 July 2026. Count licenses, not support flags, before you buy time.
From Copilot to Coworker: Licensing the New Digital Workforce
For the past thirty years, the “seat” has been the atomic unit of the software…
Migrating from a propriatary Microsoft based stack to open source Linux based
Migrating from Microsoft / Proprietary Desktop Stack to Open Source A technical deep dive into…
Microsoft Ends Volume Discounts: Why the Change Matters for Licensing Strategy
On November 1, 2025, Microsoft is eliminating the longstanding volume-based “waterfall” discounts (Levels B–D) for Online…
The UK public-sector bet on Microsoft
In 2025 the UK government signed SPA24, a five-year Strategic Partnership Agreement that effectively commits…
Microsoft’s Pricing Changes for Online Services: What You Need to Know
On August 12, 2025, Microsoft unveiled a significant change to its pricing model for Online…
West Northamptonshire Council’s Saves £1 Million on Microsoft in Post-Merger License Consolidation
In an era of tightening public sector budgets, a £1 million saving is a significant…
A New Deal for Europe: Microsoft Unveils Consumption-Based Licensing for Windows Server
Microsoft has announced a significant change to its licensing model for Windows Server in Europe,…
A Final Reprieve: Microsoft Announces Paid Extended Security Updates for Exchange and Skype Servers
Microsoft has officially announced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Exchange Server 2016…
Microsoft’s Concessions to European Cloud Providers: A Stalling Tactic or a Step to Fair Competition?
A recent agreement between Microsoft and Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) has brought…
Day of Reckoning for the Channel: Microsoft’s ‘Great Squeeze’ Hits, Forcing Industry-Wide Reinvention
The theoretical impact of Microsoft’s strategic overhaul of its Enterprise Agreement (EA) program has finally…
Microsoft System Center 2022 vs 2025: Features, Licensing, and Pricing Comparison
Microsoft System Center 2025 represents a significant evolution in datacenter management, building upon the solid…
SQL Server 2025 Kept Per Core. The Floor Is Four.
You opened a 2022 versus 2025 comparison URL. Keep it. SQL Server 2025 is the…
Windows Server 2025 Kept Per Core. Sixteen Cores Per Server.
You opened a 2022 versus 2025 comparison URL. Keep it. Windows Server 2025 is the…
Microsoft’s D365 F&SCM License Enforcement Deadline: 1 November 2025
The countdown has begun for one of the most significant changes in Microsoft Dynamics 365…
Denmark’s Digital Declaration of Independence: A Growing European Revolt Against Big Tech Dependency
In a move that signals a seismic shift in how European governments approach digital infrastructure,…
Microsoft Faces Multibillion-Pound Legal Challenge Over Software Licensing Practices
Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest software company, is confronting one of the most significant legal…