EA Negotiations, Renewals & Pricing
The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement is the cornerstone of most large organisations' Microsoft licensing. With 2025's shift to Level A pricing and increasing complexity, the difference between a well-negotiated EA and a default renewal can be millions of dollars per year.
Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Negotiation Guide for 2025
The definitive guide to negotiating your Microsoft EA. Covers preparation frameworks, discount benchmarking, pricing models, contract terms, competitive leverage, timing strategies, and the most common traps Microsoft sets during negotiations.
Read the Full GuideMicrosoft EA Renewal — Expert-Led Strategy & Negotiation
Our comprehensive EA renewal guide and service overview. Covers the full renewal lifecycle from 12-month preparation through final signature, including usage analysis, right-sizing, and negotiation strategy.
Read GuideWhat Is a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement?
An accessible introduction to the Microsoft EA: what it covers, how it works, minimum commitments, true-up obligations, and why it matters. The ideal starting point if you are new to Microsoft enterprise licensing.
Read ArticleMicrosoft EA Pricing Changes 2025: The Move to Level A
Microsoft is moving all EA customers to Level A pricing in 2025 — eliminating historical volume tier discounts. Understand what this means for your renewal and how to negotiate alternative concessions.
Read ArticleUnderstanding Microsoft EA Pricing Levels, Tiers & Cost Calculations
A deep-dive into how Microsoft calculates EA pricing: enrolment levels, platform commitments, step-ups, add-ons, and the true cost of each SKU. Essential knowledge before entering any renewal negotiation.
Read ArticleBenchmarking Microsoft EA Discounts: Is Your Deal Competitive?
How to benchmark your Microsoft EA discount levels against industry norms. Includes typical discount ranges by product category and organisation size, and red flags that indicate you are leaving money on the table.
Read ArticleEA Renewal Playbook: Leveraging Competitive Pressure
How to use Google Workspace, AWS, and other alternatives as negotiation leverage — even if you have no intention of switching. Practical strategies for creating competitive pressure that drives better EA terms.
Read ArticleEA Renewal Playbook: Restructuring Agreement Contents
How to restructure your EA at renewal to eliminate waste: dropping unused SKUs, right-sizing licence tiers, consolidating enrolments, and renegotiating the product mix to match actual usage patterns.
Read ArticleNegotiating Price Protections: Caps, Locks & Freeze Clauses
The most overlooked EA negotiation lever: contractual price protections. Learn how to negotiate price caps, price locks, and freeze clauses that shield you from Microsoft's mid-term and renewal price increases.
Read ArticleFuture-Proofing Your EA: Negotiating for Emerging Tech
How to build flexibility into your EA for AI, Copilot, Azure consumption changes, and product transitions that Microsoft has not announced yet. Negotiate today for the changes that are coming tomorrow.
Read ArticleEA Contract Guide for Legal Teams: Key Terms & Negotiation
Written for legal and procurement teams: the key contractual terms in a Microsoft EA, which clauses are negotiable, and how to push back on Microsoft's standard language to protect your organisation's interests.
Read GuideIT Asset Manager's Guide to EA Compliance & Optimisation
A hands-on guide for IT asset managers: tracking licence entitlements, managing true-ups, identifying unused licences, and building the usage data that drives better EA renewal negotiations.
Read GuideComplete Guide to Microsoft EA True-Up
Everything you need to know about the annual EA true-up: how it works, what to count, how to avoid overpaying, and the costly mistakes organisations make when reporting usage to Microsoft.
Read GuideMicrosoft EA vs CSP: Comparing Pros, Cons & Costs
A detailed comparison of the Enterprise Agreement and Cloud Solution Provider models: pricing, flexibility, support, audit rights, and when each approach makes financial sense for your organisation.
Read ArticleMicrosoft EA: Direct vs Indirect Enrolment
Should you go direct with Microsoft or work through a Licensing Solution Provider? The answer depends on your size, negotiation expertise, and how much control you want over the relationship.
Read ArticleMicrosoft EA vs MPSA: A Comparative Analysis
When does an MPSA make more sense than an EA? Compare the two primary Microsoft volume licensing agreements across pricing, flexibility, commitment levels, and organisation size thresholds.
Read ArticleMicrosoft EA vs Open Value: A Full Comparison
For mid-sized organisations weighing up their options: a thorough comparison of the Enterprise Agreement and Open Value licensing programmes across cost, commitment, and management overhead.
Read ArticleAligning Support Renewal with Your EA: Timing & Bundling
Synchronising your Unified Support renewal with your EA renewal creates powerful negotiation leverage. Learn the timing strategies and bundling tactics that deliver the best combined outcome.
Read ArticleMicrosoft 365: Plans, Optimisation & Cost Control
Microsoft 365 is the largest single line item in most EA renewals. Getting the SKU mix right — E3 vs E5 vs F3, add-ons vs bundled features, active vs inactive accounts — is where the biggest savings opportunities exist.
CIO Playbook: Selecting the Right Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plan
The definitive guide to choosing between M365 E3, E5, F1, and F3. Covers feature comparisons, cost modelling, user segmentation strategies, and how to build the optimal licence mix for your workforce.
Read GuideMicrosoft 365 E3 vs E5 vs F3: Choosing the Right SKU
A side-by-side feature and cost comparison of E3, E5, and F3. Includes decision frameworks for user segmentation and the break-even analysis that determines when E5 add-ons beat a full E5 licence.
Read ArticleM365 E5: Using Included Features Over Third-Party Add-Ons
Many organisations pay for E5 but still use third-party tools for security, compliance, and telephony that E5 already includes. Discover the hidden value in your E5 licence and eliminate redundant vendor spend.
Read ArticleM365 Downshifting Strategy: Moving Users to Lower-Cost Plans
Not every user needs E5 — or even E3. A structured downshifting strategy that moves users to the right plan for their role can save 20–40% on your M365 spend without reducing productivity.
Read ArticleEliminating Inactive or Duplicate Microsoft 365 Accounts
Inactive, orphaned, and duplicate M365 accounts are the most common source of licence waste. A practical guide to identifying and eliminating them — often saving thousands per month before your renewal.
Read ArticleCIO Playbook: Maximising Security with M365 E5 Add-Ons
Security and compliance add-ons are the fastest-growing cost in M365. Understand which add-ons deliver genuine value, which duplicate E5 features you already own, and how to negotiate add-on pricing.
Read GuideMicrosoft Teams Unbundling from Office 365: CIO Advisory
The EU-mandated unbundling of Teams from Microsoft 365 creates both risks and opportunities. Understand the licensing implications, pricing changes, and how to take advantage of the new flexibility.
Read ArticleMicrosoft 365 vs Google Workspace: Enterprise Licensing Comparison
A neutral comparison of M365 and Google Workspace for enterprise use: features, licensing models, pricing, migration complexity, and where each platform has genuine advantages.
Read ArticleM365 Price Increases: Navigating Adjustments & Avoiding Overpay
Microsoft has raised M365 prices multiple times since 2022. Understand the current pricing landscape, which SKUs were affected, and the contractual strategies that protect you from future increases.
Read ArticleAzure: Contracts, Cost Management & Negotiation
Azure consumption is the fastest-growing component of most Microsoft relationships — and the hardest to predict. Getting your Azure EA terms, MACC commitments, and cost controls right prevents surprise bills and locks in meaningful discounts.
Azure Licensing & Cost Optimisation: A CIO's Playbook
The comprehensive Azure guide: understanding Azure pricing models, reservations vs pay-as-you-go, MACC commitments, hybrid benefit, and the cost management tools that prevent Azure spend from spiralling out of control.
Read GuideNegotiating Microsoft Azure Enterprise Agreements
Azure EA negotiations require a different approach to M365. Understand commitment levels, discount tiers, MACC flexibility, overage protection, and the terms that matter most in an Azure-heavy deal.
Read ArticleManaging Azure Overages: Avoiding Surprise Bills
Azure overage charges are one of the most common sources of budget surprises. Learn how to set spending limits, negotiate overage caps, implement alerts, and build contractual safety nets into your EA.
Read ArticleAzure vs AWS: Using Pricing Comparisons as Negotiation Leverage
AWS and GCP pricing data is your most powerful Azure negotiation tool. Learn how to build credible competitive comparisons that drive Microsoft to offer better Azure discounts and commitment terms.
Read ArticleAzure Arc: CIO's Playbook for Optimisation & EA Negotiation
Azure Arc extends Azure management to on-premises and multi-cloud environments — but it also changes your licensing dynamics. Understand the licensing implications and how Arc fits into your EA strategy.
Read ArticleMicrosoft Licensing Implications for Cloud Migration
Migrating workloads to Azure, AWS, or GCP has significant Microsoft licensing implications — from Windows Server and SQL Server BYOL rights to the "licence mobility" rules that determine what you can and cannot bring to each cloud.
Read ArticleWindows 365 Cloud PC: Sizing, Licensing & Cost Planning
Windows 365 Cloud PCs offer fixed-price virtual desktops — but sizing and licensing decisions have major cost implications. Understand the plans, compute tiers, and when Cloud PCs beat AVD.
Read ArticleAzure Virtual Desktop vs Windows 365: Licensing & Cost Strategies
AVD and Windows 365 serve different use cases with very different cost profiles. Compare the licensing models, pricing mechanics, and decision criteria to choose the right virtual desktop approach.
Read ArticleDynamics 365: Licensing, Renewals & Negotiation
Dynamics 365 licensing is one of the most complex areas of the Microsoft stack — with base licences, attach licences, team member licences, and capacity add-ons creating a maze of options. Getting the model right prevents over-licensing and audit exposure.
Demystifying Dynamics 365 Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide
The definitive guide to D365 licensing: base vs attach licences, team member rights, capacity add-ons, CRM vs ERP models, and the pricing mechanics that determine your total Dynamics cost.
Read GuideDynamics 365 Licensing: Cloud vs On-Premises
Some organisations still run Dynamics on-premises. Compare the licensing models, cost structures, and strategic implications of cloud versus on-premises D365 — and what the migration path looks like.
Read ArticleDynamics 365 Licensing & Renewals: CIO Advisory Playbook
Renewals are your best opportunity to right-size Dynamics licensing. This playbook covers usage analysis, licence optimisation, renewal timing strategies, and how to negotiate better D365 terms.
Read GuideCommon Dynamics 365 Licensing Mistakes
The most frequent D365 licensing errors: over-licensing with base licences when attach would suffice, missing team member opportunities, capacity miscalculations, and API access that triggers unexpected licensing requirements.
Read ArticleDynamics 365 Licensing Audits: Preparation & Response
Microsoft is increasingly auditing D365 environments for licence compliance. Understand the common audit triggers, what Microsoft looks for, and how to prepare a defensible licence position.
Read ArticleCIO Playbook: Negotiating Dynamics 365 Contracts
D365 contract negotiation strategies: from securing volume discounts and multi-year protections to negotiating attach licence pricing and capacity bundles that reduce your per-user cost.
Read GuideDynamics 365 in Enterprise Agreements: EA vs CSP
Should you licence D365 through your EA or via CSP? Compare pricing, flexibility, commitment structures, and the scenarios where each approach delivers better value for your Dynamics investment.
Read ArticleCopilot, Azure OpenAI & Enterprise AI Licensing
AI licensing is the newest — and fastest-moving — frontier in Microsoft contracts. From M365 Copilot per-user pricing to Azure OpenAI token-based consumption, understanding the cost model before you commit prevents budget surprises and lock-in.
Microsoft AI Licensing for Copilot & Azure OpenAI
The comprehensive guide to Microsoft's AI licensing landscape: M365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI, GitHub Copilot — pricing models, prerequisites, and what to negotiate before signing.
Read GuideNegotiating M365 Copilot Licensing: How to Get a Fair Deal
At $30/user/month, M365 Copilot is a significant cost. Learn how to negotiate seat commitments, pilot terms, phased rollouts, and price protections that de-risk your Copilot investment.
Read Article30 Real-Life Use Cases for Microsoft Copilot
Concrete, real-world examples of how organisations are using M365 Copilot across departments — from legal document review to sales pipeline analysis. Use these to build your ROI case or challenge Microsoft's claims.
Read ArticleROI of Microsoft AI: How to Justify or Challenge the Cost
Microsoft's ROI claims for Copilot are ambitious. This guide gives you the framework to independently assess AI ROI, set success metrics, and use the data to negotiate better terms at renewal.
Read ArticleMicrosoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: A Comparative Analysis
Should you invest in M365 Copilot, OpenAI's ChatGPT Enterprise, or both? Compare capabilities, data governance, pricing, and integration advantages to make the right AI investment decision.
Read ArticleGitHub Copilot for Business: Licensing, Pricing & Controls
GitHub Copilot is a separate purchase from M365 Copilot with its own pricing model. Understand the business vs enterprise tiers, seat management, data controls, and IP indemnification terms.
Read ArticleHow to Negotiate Azure OpenAI with Microsoft
Azure OpenAI contracts need careful negotiation: token pricing, throughput commitments, data residency, MACC applicability, and SLA terms. A strategic guide for CIOs and procurement teams.
Read GuideAzure OpenAI Pricing: What Microsoft Doesn't Tell You
Token-based pricing looks simple until you scale. Understand the hidden costs: prompt tokens vs completion tokens, model pricing differences, provisioned throughput traps, and fine-tuning expenses.
Read ArticleAzure OpenAI vs OpenAI Direct: Enterprise Comparison
Should you access GPT models through Azure OpenAI or directly from OpenAI? Compare data governance, pricing, SLA guarantees, compliance certifications, and integration advantages.
Read ArticleAzure OpenAI SLA & Support: What's Covered?
Microsoft's Azure OpenAI SLA has important limitations. Understand what uptime guarantees you actually get, what exclusions apply, and how to negotiate stronger SLA commitments for production AI workloads.
Read ArticleHow to Use MACC for Azure OpenAI
Your existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) can cover Azure OpenAI spend — but only if structured correctly. Learn how to allocate MACC credits to AI workloads and negotiate favourable terms.
Read ArticleReserved Capacity vs Pay-As-You-Go for Azure OpenAI
Provisioned throughput offers guaranteed capacity but requires commitment. Compare reserved vs PAYG pricing models for Azure OpenAI and understand when each approach optimises your AI spend.
Read ArticleForecasting & Budgeting for Azure OpenAI: A CFO's Guide
AI consumption is inherently unpredictable. A practical framework for CFOs to forecast Azure OpenAI costs, set budget guardrails, and build financial models that account for usage variability.
Read ArticleAzure OpenAI Data Privacy & Compliance for Enterprise AI
Enterprise AI deployments raise critical data governance questions. Understand Microsoft's data processing commitments, model training opt-outs, data residency options, and regulatory compliance certifications.
Read ArticleAudit Defence: SAM Reviews, Findings & Negotiations
Microsoft audits — conducted through SAM partners or direct compliance reviews — are designed to identify under-licensing and drive upsell. Understanding the process, your contractual rights, and common findings gives you the tools to defend your position.
Microsoft Audits & Licence Compliance: A CIO's Playbook
The definitive guide to Microsoft audit defence: how audits are triggered, the audit process lifecycle, your contractual rights, how to control data sharing, and the negotiation strategies that reduce or eliminate compliance findings.
Read GuideCommon Microsoft Audit Findings & How to Remediate Them
The most frequent Microsoft audit findings across Windows Server, SQL Server, M365, and Dynamics — and exactly how to remediate each one before Microsoft finds it. Prevention is cheaper than penalty.
Read ArticleNegotiating Microsoft Audit Outcomes: Reducing Penalties
Microsoft's initial audit finding is almost always negotiable. Learn the strategies for challenging findings, reducing back-charges, negotiating alternative remediation, and converting audits into better contract terms.
Read ArticleSAM Tools for Microsoft Audit Preparedness
The right Software Asset Management tools can give you continuous visibility into your Microsoft compliance position. Compare the leading SAM tools and learn how to use them for proactive audit defence.
Read ArticleMicrosoft Audit Penalties: Real-World Examples & Lessons
Anonymised case studies of real Microsoft audit outcomes: what triggered the audit, what Microsoft found, what the initial penalty was, and how negotiation reduced or eliminated the financial impact.
Read ArticleSPLA: Hosting, Compliance & Audit Defence
The Services Provider Licence Agreement is one of the most heavily audited Microsoft programmes. Hosting providers and managed service providers face unique compliance challenges that require specialist expertise to navigate.
Mastering Microsoft SPLA Audits: How to Avoid Penalty Fees
The comprehensive guide to SPLA audit defence: how SPLA audits work, what triggers them, the most common compliance findings, and the strategies that hosters use to minimise or eliminate penalty fees.
Read GuideNegotiating SPLA Audit Settlements: Strategies to Minimise Penalties
SPLA audit settlements are always negotiable. Expert strategies for challenging Microsoft's findings, reducing retroactive charges, and negotiating compliance remediation terms that protect your hosting business.
Read ArticleUnified Support: Cost Reduction & Negotiation
Microsoft Unified Support replaced Premier Support with a percentage-of-spend pricing model that can make support costs escalate rapidly as your Microsoft footprint grows. Negotiating the right tier, scope, and pricing is essential to controlling this cost.
Microsoft Unified Support: How Costs Are Calculated
Understand the Unified Support pricing model: percentage-of-spend calculations, tier pricing, included vs extra services, and why your support costs may be much higher than they should be.
Read GuideCore vs Advanced vs Performance: Choosing the Right Tier
Not every organisation needs Performance-tier support. Compare Core, Advanced, and Performance tiers across response times, proactive services, and pricing to identify the right level for your needs.
Read ArticleUnified Support Negotiation: Reducing Enterprise Support Costs
Practical negotiation strategies for reducing your Unified Support costs: challenging the percentage-of-spend calculation, negotiating pricing caps, removing unnecessary services, and leveraging EA timing.
Read ArticleAlternatives to Unified Support: Third-Party & Pay-Per-Incident
You are not locked into Microsoft Unified Support. Compare third-party support providers, pay-per-incident options, and hybrid approaches that can deliver the same service levels at 30–50% lower cost.
Read ArticleMaximising Unified Support Credits in Enterprise Agreements
Your EA can include support credits that offset Unified Support costs — if you negotiate them. Learn how to identify credit opportunities and negotiate them into your EA renewal.
Read ArticlePower Platform: Power Apps, Automate, BI & Pages
Microsoft's Power Platform is one of the fastest-growing cost centres in enterprise Microsoft estates. Per-app vs per-user plans, premium connector costs, and RPA licensing create a complex pricing landscape that catches many organisations off guard.
CIO Playbook: Microsoft Power Platform Licensing Strategy
The comprehensive guide to Power Platform licensing: Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Pages. Covers per-user vs per-app models, premium vs standard connectors, and cost containment strategies.
Read GuidePower Apps: Per-App vs Per-User Plans & Add-On Strategies
The per-app vs per-user decision has major cost implications. Understand the break-even points, included rights with M365, premium connector triggers, and how to build an optimal Power Apps licence mix.
Read ArticlePower Automate: Plans, Connectors & RPA Licensing
Power Automate licensing becomes complex when you add premium connectors, RPA (attended and unattended bots), and AI Builder credits. Understand the licensing tiers and cost optimisation strategies.
Read ArticlePower BI: Free vs Pro vs Premium Licensing Models
Power BI's licensing model is deceptively complex: Free, Pro, Premium Per User, and Premium Per Capacity each serve different use cases. Get the model right to avoid both over-spending and under-licensing.
Read ArticleLicensing Power Platform for External Users & Power Pages
Building customer-facing or partner-facing apps on Power Platform introduces external user licensing requirements. Understand Power Pages pricing, per-login vs per-site models, and capacity planning.
Read ArticleMCA, CSP, NCE & Alternative Licensing Programmes
Microsoft is actively shifting customers from the Enterprise Agreement to the Microsoft Customer Agreement and Cloud Solution Provider models. Understanding the differences — and when to transition — is critical to maintaining cost control and flexibility.
Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) Explained
Is the MCA replacing the EA? Understand the MCA structure, how it differs from the EA, what rights you gain and lose, and how to adapt your licensing strategy for the new agreement landscape.
Read GuideCIO Playbook: Microsoft's Shift to CSP & NCE Licensing
Microsoft's New Commerce Experience (NCE) and CSP push are changing how organisations buy and manage licences. Understand the implications for pricing, flexibility, and your relationship with Microsoft.
Read GuideSwitching from EA to CSP or MCA: Transition Checklist
A practical checklist for organisations considering the move from EA to CSP or MCA: migration steps, pricing comparison, operational changes, and the gotchas that catch organisations during transition.
Read ArticleMixing EA and CSP: How a Hybrid Approach Can Save Money
Many organisations benefit from a hybrid EA + CSP model: using the EA for core commitments and CSP for flexible, variable workloads. Understand when a hybrid approach delivers better economics.
Read ArticleBeyond EA & CSP: MPSA and Other Licensing Programmes
The EA and CSP are not your only options. Understand MPSA, Open Value, and other Microsoft licensing programmes — when they make sense, how they compare, and how to choose the right programme for your organisation.
Read ArticleStrategy: Trends, Mistakes & Contract Terms
Beyond individual products and agreements, your overall Microsoft licensing strategy determines whether you control costs or get swept along by Microsoft's commercial priorities. These guides help you take and maintain strategic control.
Microsoft Licensing Trends 2025–2026: What's Changing
The key licensing changes shaping the Microsoft landscape: MCA transition, NCE pricing, Copilot mandates, Level A pricing, and the strategic shifts every CIO needs to anticipate and plan for.
Read ArticleCommon Microsoft Licensing Mistakes to Avoid
The most expensive Microsoft licensing mistakes we see across hundreds of enterprises: from over-licensing M365 and missing hybrid benefit to accepting default EA terms without negotiation.
Read ArticleMicrosoft Contract Terms Negotiation
The contractual terms that protect your interests — or expose you to risk. Understand which Microsoft contract clauses are negotiable, what to push for, and the terms that are worth fighting for.
Read ArticleMicrosoft Licensing True-Ups: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
The annual true-up is where licensing errors become financial obligations. Understand the true-up process, common counting mistakes, and how to manage true-ups strategically instead of reactively.
Read ArticleNeed Expert Help with Microsoft Licensing?
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