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Microsoft Licensing Types

BCN are here to simplify Microsoft licensing, ensuring you maximise your investment with tailored solutions and expert support.

Understanding Microsoft Licensing

If your organisation uses Microsoft products, purchasing licences is essential. However, there are various ways to buy these licences, each with its own terms, conditions, and benefits.

Microsoft Licensing Types

Navigating the complexities of Microsoft licensing can be daunting, but at BCN, we’re here to simplify the process. As a trusted Tier 1 Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, we specialise in maximising the value of your Microsoft investment. By managing the billing and administration of licences and subscriptions for Microsoft Cloud Services directly on behalf of Microsoft, we ensure a seamless and hassle-free experience. With expertise across all six Microsoft Cloud partner designations and multiple specialisations, we are committed to delivering exceptional guidance and support tailored to your needs.

Microsoft Licensing Types

How to Buy Microsoft Licensing

Microsoft licensing is available in various models to meet the needs of organisations of all sizes and industries. Below are the primary Microsoft licensing types.

  • Enterprise Agreements (EA)

    Designed for larger organisations, offering volume discounts and comprehensive tools for IT management and scalability.

  • Microsoft Customer Agreements (MCA)

    Simplified direct agreements with Microsoft. The direct nature of this agreement means there are no partner benefits such as personalised support or added services which can sometimes make things more confusing.

  • Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)

    Flexible, pay-as-you-go licensing with fixed pricing, expert support, and additional value-added services. Partnering with a CSP like BCN ensures businesses receive dedicated, fast assistance along with access to complementary services, expert guidance, and tailored solutions to optimise their IT environment.

  • Microsoft Open Licensing

    Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, providing straightforward agreements for purchasing perpetual licenses.

  • Nonprofit and Academic Licensing

    Specialised licensing options designed to deliver maximum value for nonprofit organisations and educational institutions.

Power BI Financial Reporting

Microsoft Licensing

As well as deciding the best way for your business to purchase your Microsoft licence you will also need to consider which Microsoft products will best fit your business and operations. Whether you’re looking to leverage the cloud with Azure licences or want a Microsoft 365 subscription, these can be purchased through all the above methods with differences in contract terms, pricing, depending on the chosen purchasing method.

Each licensing model offers unique benefits, enabling businesses to choose the right mix of cost, flexibility, and features to support their business objectives. To find the best option for you, consider a free licensing health check with BCN.

  • Review your Microsoft Licence
  • Free Licensing Health Check

    With different ways to purchase licences and different licensing products, it can be very confusing and you can often end up choosing the wrong option and overpaying or not getting the most out of your investment. Not sure where to start? Sign up for our Free Licensing Health Check. In this no-obligation session, our experts will:

    • Assess your current licensing setup.
    • Determine if you need to migrate to new licensing models.
    • Provide insights into potential cost savings.
    • Recommend tailored solutions to maximise your investment.
    • Review the tools you are currently using that might already be included in your Microsoft licence but are underutilised.

    Why is now the right time for a licensing review? Microsoft is making significant changes to its licensing types. Starting January 2025, Microsoft will begin notifying selected customers in direct markets about the non-renewability of certain “cloud Enterprise Agreements.” These clients will be required to transition to CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) or MCA-E (Microsoft Customer Agreement – Enterprise). A licensing review ensures that your business is not caught off guard and helps identify the most effective solutions for upcoming changes.

    Book your free licensing health check

Why Would You Want a Licensing Review with BCN?

It’s easy for businesses with over 300 users to go for enterprise licences across the board. While discounts may make these deals appealing, this method may not align with your actual business needs. At BCN, we take a different approach.

  • Tailored Licensing Recommendations

    Instead of starting with a product list, we begin by understanding your business: How does it operate? Who needs access to technology? In what scenarios? We then craft a licensing plan that fits your specific requirements.

  • Expertise in Clever Licensing Strategies

    There are many innovative ways to approach licensing that can save money while meeting all your operational needs. Our team ensures you’re only paying for what you truly require.

  • Proactive Response to Microsoft’s Changes

    With Microsoft pushing many Enterprise Agreements (EAs) into Microsoft Customer Agreement for Enterprises (MCA-E) and a significant shift towards CSP, we’ll help you navigate these transitions seamlessly. Whether it’s understanding CSP or transitioning agreements, we’re here to support you.

Benefits of a Licensing Review

A comprehensive licensing review with BCN can help you:

  • Tailored Solutions

    We begin by understanding how your business works, how your team uses technology, and who needs access to specific tools. From there, we craft licensing plans that fit your organisation perfectly.

  • Deep Expertise

    With certifications across all Microsoft solutions, we’re equipped to provide recommendations that align with your unique needs.

  • Proven Track Record

    We’ve helped countless organisations optimise their Microsoft investments with innovative licensing strategies.

  • End-to-End Support

    From initial assessment to implementation and ongoing management, we’re by your side at every stage. As a Direct CSP, we also provide expert premier support with Microsoft, ensuring that you have expert assistance whenever you need it—day or night, year-round.

BCN and Microsoft

Why Choose BCN for Licensing Support?

As a trusted Microsoft partner, we leverage years of expertise to help you maximise the value of your Microsoft investment.

  • Tailored Solutions

    We begin by understanding how your business works, how your team uses technology, and who needs access to specific tools. From there, we craft licensing plans that fit your organisation perfectly.

  • Deep Expertise

    With certifications across all Microsoft solutions, we’re equipped to provide recommendations that align with your unique needs.

  • Proven Track Record

    We’ve helped countless organisations optimise their Microsoft investments with innovative licensing strategies.

  • End-to-End Support

    From initial assessment to implementation and ongoing management, we’re by your side at every stage. As a Direct CSP, we also provide expert premier support with Microsoft, ensuring that you have expert assistance whenever you need it—day or night, year-round.

Understanding Microsoft Licensing

How to choose the right Microsoft Licence plan for you

Microsoft offers different licensing tiers to cater to the diverse needs of its users. These tiers are designed to provide flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

  • User Needs

    Smaller organisations might require basic productivity tools, while larger enterprises need advanced security and collaboration features.

  • Scalability

    Tailored solutions for businesses of different sizes, from basic plans for small businesses to comprehensive options for large enterprises.

  • Cost Efficiency

    Flexible plans ensure users only pay for the features they need.

  • Feature Access

    Higher-tier plans include tools like advanced security, compliance solutions, and business intelligence capabilities.

  • Customisation

    Add-ons and tailored subscriptions align with your specific requirements.

Microsoft Copilot

Take Control of Your Microsoft Licensing Today

Let BCN, one of the UK’s most trusted Microsoft Partner’s, help you unlock the full potential of your Microsoft investment. As a leading Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider with 1,600 customers, over 400 staff, and a 98% client retention rate, we’re your trusted partner for navigating the complexities of Microsoft licensing. Our outcomes-led approach ensures we deliver value-driven solutions that align with your business goals and accelerate growth.

Contact us and get started today with our Free Licensing Health Check and see how BCN can transform your Microsoft licensing strategy.

CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES

See how we’ve transformed organisations like yours

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Southway Housing Trust

With their outdated infrastructure fast approaching the end of vendor support, Southway Housing Trust needed to find a modern solution and a provider who could deliver it quickly. The not-for-profit organisation, which provides quality affordable housing in south Manchester, didn’t simply want to upgrade their systems, they wanted to build a new modern, cloud-first IT environment. BCN was able to quickly and successfully migrate the trust and its more than 300 users to a bespoke Azure infrastructure that provides a flexible, scalable and secure environment that’s fit for the future.

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  • Azure
  • Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Public Sector

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

Alder Hey and Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Trust needed to roll out Power BI across the joint analytics team. Our solution helped key stakeholders utilise and adopt Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts much more easily and efficiently for their monthly Integrated Performance Reports.

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  • EasySPC
  • Healthcare
  • Power BI

London Stansted

Stansted Airport’s IT team needed a system that would show the lifecycle of the hundreds of on-going projects in a single view. BCN developed RADAR, a SharePoint Online site that gives senior leadership a single source of up-to-date information across the airports' on-going projects.

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  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Travel and leisure

Interflora

Interflora wanted an intranet site to represent their brand identity, ethos and culture. BCN developed a SharePoint site that improves team collaboration and makes information sharing simple throughout the business.

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  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Retail

Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police had been using IBM’s Lotus notes for email and applications. This was a legacy technology that needed urgent replacement for over 4,500 users. BCN planned and implemented migration to Microsoft Exchange, supported by Azure private cloud, for a much more modern and secure solution.

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  • Azure
  • Public Sector

Network Digital Marketing

With a forward-thinking IT team and an objective to optimise both the IT environment and costs, Network sought a tech partner that could deliver both by re-platforming its lifted-and-shifted Azure environment, strengthening RTO and security posture and driving cost efficiencies. BCN worked closely with Network’s dev team to create a bespoke Infrastructure as Code solution that delivers unparalleled security and recoverability, while streamlining costs both immediately and for the future.

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  • Azure
  • Disaster Recovery
  • IaC
  • Retail

P&B Foods

Due to an ineffective disaster recovery plan, P&B Foods suffered an unsophisticated malware attack, highlighting the need to transition to a new IT provider. BCN developed a clear strategy to accelerate their digital transformation, giving P&B the confidence they needed to plan for organic growth and make future strategic acquisitions.

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  • Cyber Security
  • Food Wholesale
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • RingCentral
  • Sage200
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