Independent. Fixed-fee. 300+ Microsoft Enterprise Agreement engagements globally.
Most enterprises overpay on their Microsoft Enterprise Agreement by 20–40%. Not because Microsoft hides the prices — but because Microsoft's account team knows exactly what discount each customer will accept, and calibrates their proposal accordingly. Without independent benchmarking data and a structured optimisation process, organisations renew at pricing that reflects Microsoft's revenue targets rather than market rates. This page explains how Redress Compliance's Microsoft EA optimisation service closes that gap.
Microsoft EA optimisation addresses three distinct problems. First, over-licensing: most enterprises have the wrong mix of M365 SKUs — paying for E5 features that only a fraction of users need, licensing frontline workers on the wrong tier, or carrying add-ons that duplicate functionality already included elsewhere. Second, over-commitment: Microsoft's Azure MACC model encourages organisations to commit to consumption levels that exceed realistic forecasts, locking in spend that generates unused credits. Third, above-market pricing: Microsoft's discount structures vary widely between enterprises, and organisations without benchmarking data consistently accept pricing that better-informed buyers do not.
A 20% overpayment on a £10M annual Microsoft EA costs £6M over the three-year term. A structured optimisation process consistently recovers that money — both at renewal and during the term.
For Microsoft audit situations, our Microsoft audit defence service covers SAM engagements and true-up disputes separately.
We map M365 licences against actual user activity data — identifying inactive accounts, users on over-specified tiers, and add-ons that duplicate base plan functionality. We review Azure consumption against current MACC commitments and model your realistic consumption trajectory. For a Fortune 500 manufacturer, this baseline identified 2,400 unused E5 licences and £1.4M in Azure overcommitment that Microsoft's account team had not flagged.
Using the baseline data, we design the right-sized licence model: the correct M365 tier mix by user segment, the appropriate Azure commit level, the most cost-effective approach to Security and Compliance, and the Dynamics and Power Platform entitlements that match actual usage. We then benchmark every price point against our database of 300+ comparable EA transactions to establish the discount targets Microsoft will be asked to match.
We build the negotiation strategy around three levers: the optimised licence model, benchmark data, and competitive alternatives (AWS, GCP) where applicable. We also analyse Microsoft's fiscal year timing, quota cycle pressures, and deal desk approval thresholds to structure the negotiation at the point of maximum Microsoft commercial motivation.
We handle the full negotiation with Microsoft's account team and deal desk — at the table or behind the scenes. We manage counter-proposals, escalation to senior Microsoft commercial teams, and final contract redlining to ensure price protection, True-Up flexibility, and M&A safeguards are in place. Clients typically sign at 20–40% below Microsoft's initial proposal.
For the full Microsoft negotiation process, see our Microsoft contract negotiation service.
Clients typically achieve 20–40% reduction in total Microsoft EA spend through M365 right-sizing, Azure MACC adjustment, add-on rationalisation, and benchmark-based discount negotiation.
Largest single EA renewal saving delivered by Redress: a Fortune 500 insurance group whose Microsoft EA proposal was taken from £22M to a signed agreement at £13.4M.
Time from receipt of your EA and usage data to delivery of a savings report with specific amounts by product category, benchmark data, and a concrete optimisation plan.
It analyses your Enterprise Agreement to identify over-licensed products, under-used SKUs, over-committed Azure spend, and above-market pricing — then restructures the agreement to eliminate waste and negotiate pricing reflecting what comparable enterprises actually pay.
Fixed-fee, agreed before engagement. Most clients achieve 20–40% savings on total Microsoft EA spend, delivering 10–30x return on the advisory fee.
Full baseline, analysis, and savings report delivered within two to four weeks of receiving your EA and usage data. Where renewal negotiation follows, six to twelve weeks total.
Current EA and enrollment documentation, M365 usage reports, Azure consumption data, Dynamics and Power Platform usage, and any Microsoft renewal proposals.
Yes. EA agreements contain mid-term adjustment provisions. Establishing your optimised position 12 months before renewal gives maximum negotiation leverage.
We benchmark your pricing by product, SKU, and discount tier against our database of 300+ comparable enterprise deals — telling you exactly where your pricing sits relative to market.
If your Microsoft EA renews within 18 months and you do not have an independent baseline of what you own, use, and should be paying, the cost of that gap compounds daily. Book a free 30-minute consultation today.