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Part of our Microsoft services practice. Independent buyer side advisory across the full Microsoft estate.
Microsoft EA optimization advisory boardroom
Advisory / Microsoft EA Optimization

Microsoft EA Optimization

We right size the EA across plans and bundles, control the true up, and prepare every renewal. Buyer side only. Year round program.

Schedule a Call → Download the Microsoft EA Playbook
15 to 30%Typical EA saving
5%True up exposure ceiling
Home/Microsoft Services/Microsoft EA Optimization
500+ Enterprise Clients Industry Recognized $2B+ Under Advisory 11 Vendor Practices 100% Buyer Side Independent
When we help

Three moments we step in

Scenario 01
Plan rightsizing
E5 has been deployed across populations that never use the advanced services. The plan mix needs segmenting across E1, E3, E5, F1, and F3 against active usage.
Scenario 02
Bundle review
Power BI, Defender, Purview, and Intune subscriptions are running in parallel to the E5 entitlement. Bundle overlap is duplicating spend and needs surfacing.
Scenario 03
Renewal preparation
The renewal sits twelve to eighteen months out. The optimization needs running into a clean baseline before the publisher quote lands and shapes the conversation.
How we help

Four phase buyer side procedure

Phase 01
Baseline
User counts by SKU. M365 service plan utilization. Azure consumption telemetry. Point product subscriptions and overlap mapped.
Phase 02
Optimization model
F1 and F3 conversion for frontline. E5 to E3 for low touch. Point product cleanup. Azure Reservations and Hybrid Benefit applied.
Phase 03
True up control
License request workflow. Quarterly inventory reconciliation. Pre true up validation against the Microsoft entitlement data.
Phase 04
Renewal preparation
Renewal position paper updated every six months. Three year projection by SKU, Azure service, and Copilot trajectory.
Deliverables

What you get at close

01
EA baseline pack
User counts by SKU, M365 utilization, Azure consumption, and point product overlap mapped to the E5 entitlement.
02
SKU conversion plan
Quarterly conversion plan across F1, F3, E1, and E3 segments with savings attribution per move.
03
Bundle overlap report
Defender, Purview, Power BI, and Intune duplications already bundled into E5 with removal sequencing.
04
True up control kit
License request workflow, quarterly reconciliation routine, and pre true up validation checklist.
05
Renewal position paper
Renewal posture refreshed every six months. Three year projection across SKU, Azure, and Copilot.
06
Governance handover pack
Reporting cadence for the EA owner, semi annual position paper template, and board level summary.
Outcome

What changes after we engage

15 to 30%
Typical EA
saving
8 to 15%
M365 SKU
rationalization
5%
True up exposure
ceiling
3 to 5%
Uplift cap
achievable
100%
Buyer side
independent
Engagement model

Two ways to engage

Pick the option that matches your posture. Fixed Fee for a single optimization cycle. Vendor Shield for continuous always on EA governance across the multi year term.

Option A

Fixed Fee Engagement

Scope
Single EA optimization cycle. Baseline, model, true up control, and renewal preparation. Fixed scope from day one.
Timeline
Eight to twelve weeks typical. Same week start once scope is signed.
Pricing
Fixed fee. Quoted on EA size. No hourly billing.
Best for
EA mid term, plan drift visible, true up window approaching, or renewal nine to eighteen months out.
Schedule a Call →
Option B

Vendor Shield

Scope
Continuous EA governance. Quarterly SKU review, monthly Azure shaping, annual true up control, standing renewal preparation.
Timeline
12 to 24 month subscription. Renews annually.
Pricing
Annual subscription. Quoted on EA size.
Best for
Estates that want to stop drift returning between renewals and run optimization year round.
Vendor Shield detail →
“
Microsoft EA optimization is not a once a renewal exercise. The savings compound through the term. The buyer side stance is to run the program year round, not just in the twelve months before signature.
Morten Andersen
Co Founder, Redress Compliance
Buyer side advisory boardroom

Your EA has cost to cut

Plan drift visible. Bundle overlap unmapped. True up approaching. Renewal twelve months out. We start where you are.

Schedule a Call → Download the Playbook

Buyer side intelligence, monthly

One letter a month. Negotiation moves, audit signals, and price book shifts.