Most organizations are paying for Microsoft 365 licenses nobody uses. Before your next renewal locks you into another term, here's a step-by-step guide to identifying waste, downgrading over-provisioned seats, and negotiating from a position of data-driven clarity.
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Guide: How to Right-Size Your Microsoft 365 Licenses Before Renewal
Most organizations are paying for Microsoft 365 licenses nobody uses. Before your next renewal locks you into another term, here's a step-by-step guide to identifying waste, downgrading over-provisioned seats, and negotiating from a position of data-driven clarity.
Gordon Jenkins
Microsoft Licensing Expert, LicenseFortress
February 2025
10 min read
The bottom line
Most organizations are paying for Microsoft 365 licenses nobody uses. Before your next renewal locks you into another term, here's a step-by-step guide to identifying waste, downgrading over-provisioned seats, and negotiating from a position of data-driven clarity.
- LicenseFortress is an independent software licensing advocate — we never sell vendor licenses and take no vendor commissions.
- $2.4B+ in vendor claims defended and $625M+ saved for clients.
- Coverage across Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, SAP, VMware by Broadcom, and Adobe.
- Licensing experts working alongside software contract attorneys.
From our case files
Rightsizing before renewal, measured:
Navigating a High-Stakes Microsoft Renewal Saved This Retailer $4 Million+
National retailer avoided ~$4M in Microsoft renewal penalties with a $35K compliance review—11.3K% ROI.
Read the case studyUtility Cuts Licensing Costs 80% Rightsizing SQL Server with LicenseFortress + DBmarlin Integration
Utility rightsizes SQL Server with LicenseFortress + DBmarlin—80% fewer cores, $200K/year savings, 194% ROI on $68K/year.
Read the case studyAbout the author
Gordon Jenkins
Microsoft Licensing Expert, LicenseFortress
Gordon focuses on Microsoft licensing programs, agreements and compliance risk.
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