Navigating Microsoft 365 licensing can often be challenging.  Microsoft releases new products, changes bundles, and adjusts promotions so often that it makes it difficult to track even for those trying to stay informed. To add slightly more confusion they also have a habit of changing names to existing products and bundles causing us all to pull a little hair out when we are trying to figure out what’s what and what’s best for our business.

How to pick and purchase the best Microsoft 365 plan for your business?

Generally speaking, it’s harder than it needs to be to align appropriate licensing and need. The vast number of licensing options makes it immense to digest and cumbersome to evaluate. With so many possibilities its easy to get stuck in analysis — should we get a more expensive bundle with everything, or a less expensive bundle plus add-ons to only pay for what we’ll actually use?

For those still buying direct from Microsoft and trying to navigate this on your own please know there is a better way.  Unless your organization has over 500 employees and is seeking an Enterprise Agreement, you’re unlikely to receive reliable sales or service directly from Microsoft.  The Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) program was created by Microsoft to enable service organizations and solution providers to resell Microsoft licensing. This provides access to more Microsoft experts through service providers in the CSP program that enable Microsoft to reach and support small businesses with technical expertise and guidance.  A CSP becomes an expert and guide that can support your business in pre-sales decision making, they can sell and deploy licensing, and provide advice and assistance during implementation and ongoing use. The best CSP’s can save you money and help drive more value out of your existing licensing commitments. With a CSP a partner, you don’t need to understand the licensing bundles, because your CSP partner will guide you.

How to pick and purchase the best Microsoft Azure plan for your business?

In addition to Microsoft 365 licensing a Microsoft CSP partner can resell Azure services to your business.  The Microsoft CSP partnership allows partners to resell Azure Reservations or dedicated space in Azure Virtual Machines (VM).  Additionally, your CSP partner can resell Azure Software Subscriptions like Windows Server, or SQL Server for run on your reserved VM instances. Again, with Azure, Microsoft has designed the CSP program to provide you with a guide to help you navigate the setup and selection process.  Your CSP can help you match the right cloud resources to your specific business needs.

Why Chose a CSP vs Buying Directly from Microsoft?

Choosing to purchase from a CSP offers several key benefits:

1. Relationship Driven: You will have one point of contact with your CSP as your Microsoft needs adjust over the years vs. being a new phone call for every interaction.
2. Personalized Support: You will have a partner that has the knowledge to customize the solution to your needs vs. you will have to re-explain yourself every interaction.
3. Simplified Billing: You will have a simple consolidated monthly bill for all your Microsoft services vs. an often non-descript confusing exported invoice from Microsoft.
4. Simplified Licensing Management: You will have a guide to help manage licenses making it easier to scale and adjust with changes in business need vs. having to figure it out yourself with tutorials, online forums, and customer support calls/chats.

Why Chose Advanticom as your CSP?

Choosing to purchase from Advanticom offers several key benefits:

1. Discounted Pricing Below MSRP: At Advanticom we understand the importance of cost-efficiency for small businesses. That’s why we offer our CSP licenses and subscriptions below MSRP, ensuring our clients get the best possible pricing for their Microsoft cloud solutions.
2. Dedicated Experts: At Advanticom we are Microsoft Gold Partners and we are a Tier 1 Cloud Solutions provider.  When you purchase through our CSP, you gain access to our team of Microsoft experts.
3. Trusted in Pittsburgh: In Pittsburgh, we are one of Microsoft’s longest running Tier 1 CSP partners.  We have helped supply and deploy thousands of Microsoft licenses and subscriptions for local organizations.

With Advanticom, you gain a certified Microsoft CSP partner who understands the unique challenges and opportunities of how Microsoft operates inside our businesses. We’re here to help you understand Microsoft and all of their licensing options so you can harness the full potential of their tools to drive your business forward. If you are purchasing your current Microsoft licensing direct through Microsoft or through another 3rd party that doesn’t or can’t offer the support to help you navigate the available options you shoulder consider seeking out a Microsoft CSP to talk to. You might be surprised how much clean up can be done when an expert takes applies best practices to your organization.