If you have not yet heard the news, something big happened at Microsoft on January 1. The company's Get Licensing Ready site was retired. For many years, the site served as an invaluable resource to people looking to learn as much as they could about Microsoft license management, whether for their own needs or a client's. So what happens now?

That is the question we wish we could answer definitively. Yet we cannot. Microsoft has given some hints about future plans, but nothing definitive has been offered yet. The good news is that Opkalla remains committed to helping you stay abreast of licensing compliance. As your Microsoft license advisor, we can help you keep things on the up and up.

Not Completely Unexpected

Get Licensing Ready's January retirement was not completely unexpected. The company began hinting at it last year, with official announcements being issued beginning in the fall. Now that retirement has actually happened, there is a brief announcement on the Get Licensing Ready webpage.

The announcement explains that the site and its 50+ modules are no longer available. Any users working on certifications but not having completed them by the end of December will not be able to finish up. Any certifications issued prior to the site's retirement are valid for 12 months.

The site also says that Microsoft has plans to put the original content back up. When that happens, interested users will be able to take limited advantage of it. However, the site will no longer offer certifications or official certification training.

Hints of a New AI Service

Various industry reports hint at a new AI service from Microsoft, a service that ostensibly takes the place of Get Licensing Ready. Microsoft is apparently working on an AI assistant capable of helping individuals and IT teams make sense of the company's complex and often confusing licensing schemes.

Will the AI assistant be able to correctly answer every question? Will it be able to figure out the exact licenses an organization needs, along with pricing? There are a lot of questions but no answers to date. But knowing what we know about Microsoft, the information will be forthcoming when the company is ready to release it.

What It Means to You

So what does all of this mean to you as an IT administrator or team member? It means you have one less resource to learn about Microsoft license management and compliance. It is unfortunate for sure, but all good things must come to an end at some point. Here's hoping that the new AI assistant Microsoft is working on more than makes up for the loss of Get Licensing Ready.

There are a range of third-party sources offering very good documentation about licensing, pricing, etc. We will be careful not to recommend anything in particular for lack of vetting these other sources ourselves. But go ahead and run an online search. You will find lots of information.

Better yet, contact Opkalla instead. We specialize in Microsoft license management. As a Solutions Partner for Modern Work and Adoption & Change Management Specialist, we can help you go through all your current products and licenses to ensure:

• You have chosen the most appropriate licenses for your use.

• Your company is not paying more than it needs to for licensing.

• All your current software and licenses are in full compliance.

It is not unusual for organizations to feel like they don't have a handle on Microsoft licensing. That is why companies like Opkalla exist. Don't continue trying to do it alone. Instead, let us work alongside you with our expert Microsoft licensing management and support.