Here at Opkalla, we are known throughout the industry for our Microsoft 365 licensing support. But we support more than just MS 365. We offer licensing support across the full spectrum of Microsoft products. That being the case, we frequently find ourselves explaining why MS licensing support is so valuable.

Here is the number one reason: Microsoft licensing is also incredibly complex. It is made up of a ton of moving parts and interconnected links that can leave even an experienced IT team utterly lost and in a daze. That is no exaggeration. If you don't know what you're doing with MS licenses, an audit will reveal things soon enough.

A Diverse Range of Products

Microsoft got its start as a company developing BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800 computer. While founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen kept the revenue flowing with their interpreters, they were also working on something known as MS-DOS. That led to the Windows operating system and everything else that flowed from it.

Today, Microsoft offers a wide range of products covering everything from the desktop and cloud infrastructure to global networking. They have their hands in database architecture, gaming, internet-based communications, online search, artificial intelligence, and a whole lot more.

Your average business user depends on products like MS 365 and Azure. But even within these two broad products there are single products a company may or may not need. All are covered by licenses.

License Inconsistencies

It has been our experience that one of the more confusing aspects of Microsoft licensing wise is the many inconsistencies found across the company's products. Whether by design or accidental, the company that is Microsoft consists of a large number of separate business units that all contribute to the larger MS ecosystem.

While this makes good business sense to MS executives, it creates a problem for licensees. Inconsistencies from one product to the next confuses customers. Simply put, it is a mistake to assume the licenses for one product apply exactly the same way to another. That's not the way it works.

Software and Licenses Evolve

As a company that specializes in Microsoft licensing support, we can testify to the fact that MS software and licenses continue to evolve. This could be good or bad depending on your perspective. From a purely licensing standpoint, the difficulty so many organizations face is keeping up with the evolution.

Early adopters of new products might discover that future licensing changes negatively impact their plans. Licensing changes can also impact organizational budgets. An organization's attempts to understand changes could be thwarted by out-of-date documentation.

So Many Options to Consider

Licensing inconsistencies and ongoing evolution make the licensing issue challenging, even on good days. But perhaps the thing that organizations struggle with the most is the sheer number of options to consider.

Like just about every other software company, Microsoft strives to offer a variety of packages and purchasing options as a way of satisfying every need. And because business needs can be so different, that means a lot of different options. Throw in some add-on licenses and organizations have even more choices to look at. It can be really difficult for anyone who is not an expert in MS licensing.

Microsoft is not atypical in the way they handle licensing. Confusion is just the name of the game. However, it doesn't have to be for your organization. We are Microsoft licensing support specialists ready to assist your organization. If you are struggling with licensing Microsoft 365, Azure or any other MS product, contact the Opkalla team for support.

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