Is your Microsoft plan renewal looming? Our “Make your Microsoft Licensing Renewal Count” webinar brought together a panel of experts to answer your most pressing licensing questions, including:

• Where can we trim the fat and ensure we’re getting the best Microsoft has to offer?
• Where do we have security blindspots, and how can we patch them in the most cost-effective way?
• What’s with all the hype surrounding Microsoft 365 Copilot? Can we benefit from it under our current plan?

If you missed the live event, you can watch the full replay here or read on to see four key takeaway messages from the webinar.

Four key takeaways from our Microsoft licensing webinar

1: Realise the gains of Microsoft license consolidation

Elaine Riley, Microsoft Product Marketing Manager, kicked off the presentation with three real-life examples of companies reaping the rewards of licensing consolidation.

For example, one hotel chain running Mimecast alongside Microsoft 365 wasn’t using Microsoft Defender XDR – a native solution that offers all the same features as Mimecast under a unified management view. So, we stepped in, removed the redundant programmes, and streamlined the company’s licenses, saving them £150,000 overall.

Elaine noted that many businesses find themselves in the same position. Ryan Langley (Atech CEO) highlighted that our Microsoft Licensing Assessments are designed to help organisations navigate the (at times) confusing Microsoft license structure. With our help, companies can guarantee they’re not wasting money on outdated or under-used tools.

2: Taking a closer look at the Atech Licensing Renewal Assessments

Ryan then gave an overview of how Atech’s Licensing Renewal Assessments work. First, we securitise all products within your existing license and identify organisational gaps where a change in license SKUs could deliver significant benefits.

Next, we tailor recommendations based on user personas, as this helps us better evaluate products and alternative options. Finally, we give you a detailed report of our findings, including the potential financial gains of switching licenses and a list of the next best steps.

3: Get ready for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Lee Widra, Microsoft FastTrack Architect EMEA, discussed the product of the moment – Microsoft 365 Copilot.

He’s witnessed first-hand how organisations have successfully adopted the tool, underlining the importance of thinking beyond the technology and focussing more on how the adoption impacts users. The Microsoft 2023 Work Trends Index found that 70% of employees are willing to delegate more tasks to AI. Therefore, he suggested each department take ownership of making the case for Copilot adoption, highlighting how its features boost individual productivity daily.

Additionally, he highlighted that Microsoft 365 Copilot’s 300-seat purchase minimum has been lifted, but you must ensure you’re AI-ready. Lee recommended that eligible clients take part in tailored Microsoft engagements that utilise “Ready for MS 365 Copilot” and “Optimised for MS 365 Copilot” workstreams.

With that in mind, we’ve developed a Copilot for Microsoft 365 Workshop (find out more here). These workshops take you through the workstreams mentioned, alongside the technical and data governance requirements needed to harness Gen AI with confidence.

4: Microsoft 365’s holistic approach to security delivers best-of-breed architecture

James Pearse, Atech’s Head of Security, explained that Microsoft 365 seamlessly integrates six security products across more than 50 product categories. He then discussed the differences between Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 licenses.

Namely, E3 provides foundational security and compliance features, while the E5 subscription (whether bought as an add-on or complete solution) represents the pinnacle of identity and access management, endpoint management and information protection.

He advised viewers to check out M365maps.com to see how all of the features intertwine under licensing agreements and how it can empower you in choosing the best SKU for your business. He also stressed the importance of setting up a zero-trust model through Microsoft Entra ID and enabling multi-factor authentication to neutralise most security threats.

If you want more information on this topic, sign up for a tailored Microsoft 365 Security Assessment. It’s packed with all the information you need to shore up your defences.

Atech: Your partner in maximising Microsoft 365 licensing

In the final section of the webinar, Ryan highlighted that we offer a wide range of one-to-one assessments and Microsoft engagements. You can check out the full list here.

We would like to thank our presenters for participating in the webinar and give you one last reminder that we have an up-and-coming presentation you don’t want to miss on 6th February at 2 pm.

In it, we’ll take a deep dive into Microsoft Sentinel. So, if you want to learn more about safeguarding your tech stack, sign up here.