Microsoft Software Licenses Assessment
IT services - Asked by ruraldoc on Wednesday, 15 June, 2016 - 09:17
Hi, we recently received an email from a microsoft.com address requesting that we conduct a Software License Assessment of all Microsoft products in use throughout our organisation. It included an excel attachment called the Software Deployment Summary. Following a quick bit of research it seems to be legit. Has anyone else been asked to complete one of these assessments? If so what happened after you provided the completed excel deployment summary? Im interested to learn from anyone who has also received one of these requests. regards, Ben
Reply by JAWID DADARKAR from Lindentech on Wednesday, 15 June, 2016 - 10:50
Hi Ben, Yes, we have done this for several clients of ours. This is a review of licenses in use for your organisation, an audit. Microsoft are increasing the number of audits they do per year in Small Businesses. Once you fill out the form and send through, they will assess the license numbers against what they have and let you know if there are any discrepancies. If there are any that they find, you simply have to buy additional licenses to make up for it, there isn't a fine as far as I know. We have tools that can scan your network for all the licensing keys that you have in use and report back on all of them. Depending on how many PCs you have, this may be worth while. We can also take over the license audit off you and do it directly with Microsoft and report back to you with all the requirements. Let me know if any of the above helps and if you want to have a conversation about it. Regards, Jawid. Lindentech Support Team 1300 85 77 45
Reply by Colin Thompson from TechBrain on Wednesday, 15 June, 2016 - 11:09
Good morning Ben, Over the past couple of years we have noticed a far more requests coming from Microsoft. Specifically about Software Asset Management or SAM. Microsoft has a very useful tool that will help (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sam/tools.aspx). I would recommend to contact your IT provider for assistance in this matter as they will most likely know your existing licensing. Just remember you can buy Microsoft licensing from ConnectingUp every two years. All the software that has ‘Software Assurance’ has both upgrade and downgrade rights to help with your IT planning. We at TechBrain are also more than happy to help. Please help me solutions@techbrain.com.au. Regards, Benn Probett TechBrain