Procurement
Latest Analyst Reports
All Procurement Reports
Services Increasingly Expanding Beyond Microsoft 365 Suites
Updated: June 17, 2025
New tiers of several Microsoft 365 core services are quite expensive and are not available...more
Identity Manager: Start Planning Replacement Options Now
Updated: June 13, 2025
Microsoft Identity Manager is set for retirement in 2029, and no direct replacement is expected....more
Intune Premium License Tiers Still Not Worth It
Updated: June 13, 2025
Two premium Intune tiers are now available, along with multiple à la carte features. Intune...more
Microsoft Entra: The Collected Services
Updated: May 27, 2025
Entra is a family of services to help organizations manage identities and access to resources....more
Microsoft 365 Government: What’s in the Box?
Updated: May 11, 2025
Microsoft 365 Government offers better regulatory compliance for U.S. governmental organizations than Microsoft 365 commercial...more
Dynamics 365 Compliance Change: Avoid the August 2025 Lock Out
April 28, 2025
Dynamics 365 ERP is implementing a new compliance check to ensure users have a valid...more
Security Services Roadmap
April 18, 2025
A range of Microsoft-hosted security services are available to help organizations secure their infrastructure and...more
Understanding Pricing: Consumption Versus Capacity
April 10, 2025
For customers accustomed to on-premises licensing, aspects of Microsoft’s cloud pricing models can feel unfamiliar....more
Skype for Business Server SE: Subscriptions and a Short Migration Window
Updated: March 11, 2025
Microsoft announced in June 2024 that Skype for Business Server SE is planned for general...more
Transitioning Microsoft 365 from an EA to an MCA
Updated: March 11, 2025
Enterprise Agreement customers transitioning to Microsoft Customer Agreements will have to reassess how they license...more
Migrating from Power BI Premium P to Fabric: Our Guidance
March 10, 2025
Most Power BI Premium P customers must migrate to Fabric at their next licensing renewal....more
Demystifying Microsoft’s Copilots
Updated: March 7, 2025
Copilot-branded technologies from Microsoft assist users in completing tasks, but Microsoft overstates ROI. Almost all...more
Windows Server Endpoint Protection Options (2025)
Updated: March 1, 2025
Endpoint protection for Windows Server requires layers of services that differ dramatically in terms of...more
Azure: Know Reservations
Updated: February 15, 2025
Azure reservations allow customers to reduce Azure costs in exchange for a one- or three-year...more
When Do Administrators Require Additional Licensing?
Updated: February 8, 2025
Organizations typically provide administrators with separate sets of credentials for their user and administrative roles....more
Power BI Licensing: Sharing Reports with Outside Users
Updated: February 3, 2025
Power BI and Fabric customers can share Power BI reports outside of the organization while...more
Infographics
All Procurement InfographicsReference
All Procurement Reference
Licensing Reference
Core CAL Suite Timeline
Outlines major changes to the Core CAL Suite’s content and pricing.
Licensing Reference
Enterprise CAL Suite Timeline
Outlines major changes to the Enterprise CAL Suite’s content and pricing.
Licensing Reference
Mainstream Support
A five-year period, beginning at the point a new version of a software product becomes...more
Licensing Reference
Extended Support
A multi-year period following Mainstream Support where customers receive free security updates for a software...more
Licensing Reference
Microsoft 365 Comparison Table
PDF document updated monthly that lists the components/features included in the various Microsoft 365 suites...more
Licensing Reference
VDA User SL
A Per-User subscription that allows an individual user to access Windows Client OSs running within...more
Licensing Reference
VDA
A Per-User or Per-Device subscription that licenses access to Windows Client OSs running within server-hosted...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Enterprise
The highest (most feature-laden) edition of the Windows client OS; distributed exclusively through volume licensing...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Enterprise Per Device
Per-Device licenses that provide the right to install and run Windows Enterprise edition on the...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Enterprise SA Benefits
Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Windows Enterprise and VDA licenses, organized by...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Enterprise User SL
A Per-User subscription that allows an individual user to install and run Windows Enterprise edition...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Pro
The lowest-level Windows client OS edition of relevance to organization customers; licensed Per-Device.
Licensing Reference
Exchange Server CAL Types and Features
Illustration outlines the technical features licensed by the Exchange Server Standard CAL (Client Access License)...more
Licensing Reference
Exchange Server
A Windows Server-based server application that provides e-mail, calendaring, contact management, voice mail, and other...more
Licensing Reference
Windows Client OS Timeline
Outlines major modifications to the Windows client OS’s license model and rules, edition and SKU...more
Licensing Reference
VDA Device SL
A Per-Device subscription license allowing a client device to be used by any user to...more
Podcasts

June 12, 2024
· Season - 3 · Episode - 10 · Duration - 26m Windows Server 2025: What you need to knowMarch 28, 2024
· Season - 3 · Episode - 5 · Duration - 30m Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp Lessons LearnedMarch 18, 2024
· Season - 3 · Episode - 4 · Duration - 26mBlog


Mary Jo Foley


Mary Jo Foley


Mary Jo Foley