Microsoft Optimization

Optimize, negotiate and maintain best-in-class Microsoft agreements that cost less and give your business more.

NegotiationCost OptimizationContract RenewalsAnnual True-Ups
FinOpsComplianceAzureMCA-EEACSP

2Data’s Microsoft Methodology

01 The Data Layer

Formulate a data-driven overview of your Microsoft pricing, license entitlements, and actual usage of on-premise installations, Server, and Cloud subscriptions.

02 Operational Needs Assessment

Map operational needs against current usage across the business to craft an ideal deployment plan that aligns with user persona profiles.

03 Optimization Analysis

Identify a comprehensive set of optimization strategies to reduce your Microsoft licensing costs and reclaim overspend.

04 Negotiation Support

Create a unique Negotiation Playbook aligned to your organizational needs, backed by global market insights, and executed with hands-on support from our Microsoft experts.

05 Futureproofing

Ensure optimal continuity of your Microsoft environment with annual usage analysis, contract optimization, license, portal and chargeback management, access to our License Helpdesk, and more.

Historical Pricing Analysis

We begin by analyzing your current Microsoft Contract, assessing the pricing structure, any amendments in place, and reviewing the Customer Price Sheet to determine what’s included. This analysis provides insight into the current commercial structure and serves as the foundation for optimizing your estate.

License Entitlement Analysis

Based on our assessment of the current Microsoft contract, we generate the current Bill of Material, which includes the list of products, licenses, and amendments that could potentially provide license entitlements too.

Server & Cloud Subscriptions Analysis

We then delve deeper into the actual installations and usage of the software. This is where the ‘data’ comes into play. We analyze three different areas:

- On-premises installations
- Microsoft Cloud Subscriptions
- Azure Consumption

The on-premises data comes from your existing tools such as vCenter, Active Directory, SNOW, Flexera, SAM Pro, Lansweeper, or other tooling. To analyze Microsoft Cloud Subscriptions and Azure, we use our tooling to provide us with the necessary data to analyze the current usage of the Cloud platforms.

Operational Needs Assessment Workshops

Through hands-on workshops, we define personas within your organization, mappingoperational roles and technology requirements for each persona. These workshops alsoserve as knowledge-sharing sessions to outline more cost-effective licensing potentials.

Optimal Deployment Planning

Based on your company’s current and future operational needs, and informed by realworld persona behaviour, we outline an optimal deployment scenario that will inform theoptimized Bill of Material.

Cost Reduction and Optimization Strategies

After analyzing all the data and determining current and future demand, we will assessall possible cost reduction and optimization strategies. This information will bepresented in a management summary.

The Optimized Bill of Material

Next, we combine the operational needs assessment with possible optimizationstrategies to perform a cost modelling exercise. This results in the new Bill of Materialsthat covers the current costs and licenses, the minimum license scenario, the requiredlicense scenario, and a licensing scenario to account for potential future demand.

Negotiation Playbook

The 2Data team will work with you to create a unique Negotiation Playbook that reflects the optimal position you’d like to achieve with Microsoft. It incorporates our global market insights and tested strategies for securing best-in-class agreements.

Negotiation Support

2Data’s Microsoft experts offer step-by-step support throughout the negotiation process, either in an advisory capacity or through hands-on participation in your negotiations with Microsoft.

Annual Usage Analysis

Have annual usage analyses conducted to ensure usage and license entitlements are continually rationalized.

Licensing Helpdesk

Get perpetual, responsive access to our team of Microsoft experts for licensing queries.

Annual Contract Optimization

Run an annual contract optimization to keep your licensing cost, compliance and operational effectiveness in check.

License, Portal, and Chargeback Management

Accurately track Microsoft licenses, keep your Microsoft admin portal clean and compliant, and allocate costs back to departments based on actual usage.

Real-World Microsoft Optimization Results

Calculate your ROI with 2Data       

Customize Your Microsoft Optimization Plan

Safeguard your Microsoft environment with full spectrum support to keep costs in check, ensure ongoing compliance,
and stay ahead of critical events.

Once-Off Optimization

- Baseline Report
- Analysis & Optimization
- Solution Alignment
- Licensing Options Analysis
- Advisory & Optimum BOM
- Negotiation Support
- Chargeback Management
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Optimization as a Service

Everything in the Once-Off
Optimization and:
- Responsive Licensing Helpdesk
- Continuous Licensing Updates
- Annual Usage Analysis
- Annual Contract Optimization
- Ongoing License Management
- Portal and Chargeback
Management
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Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our FAQ section! Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us directly, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

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Are optimizations successful with both SMBs and large enterprises?

We run successful projects across multiple organizational sizes, industries, and geographies. On average, companies reduce their contract costs by 32% with
2Data regardless of company size.

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Why choose an independent advisory instead of an LSP?

LSP’s can be helpful for compliance maintenance, but because they resell vendor licenses there’s an obvious conflict of interest. An independent advisor safeguards your best interests by remaining totally vendor and tool agnostic.

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What happens if we already have a reseller or LSP? Do you work with them or replace them?

An LSP is there to support you with the operational aspects of your contract. Our focus at 2Data is on helping you reduce costs through market insights, benchmark data, and proven tactics to support you in your contract negotiations separate to your LSP.

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What’s the average timeline for the delivery of an optimization project?

This depends on your organizational needs. Most once-off optimizations take between 3-6 months, while our Optimization as a Service offering gives you comprehensive coverage over a longer period.

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Do you charge a flat fee, time-based rate, or success-based fee?

We use an equitable pricing model that accounts for number of devices/users and geographic considerations. We offer the choice between a flat fee, or a success fee tied to the outcomes of the project.

On average, companies make back 15 times the cost of our services through both realized cost savings and cost avoidance.

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