22Oct
In Microsoft Audits, Don’t Forget About True-Up Rights
Following the conclusion of a software audit, Microsoft’s standard practice is to require an audited company to purchase licenses associated with calculated “unlicensed use” within a set period of time (typically, 30 days) following receipt...
22Sep
How to Protect Your Company in a Microsoft SPLA Self-Certification
If your company licenses products to third parties under the Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA), you may receive a request to perform a self assessment and provide a certification of compliance to Microsoft. The...
31Aug
Preparing for the Inevitable SPLA Audit
If your company uses a Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA)—and it probably does if Microsoft considers you to be in the commercial hosting business—you will be audited at some point. Typically, Microsoft SPLA customers...
25Mar
Attempts to Transfer Microsoft Licenses May be Ineffective
Like most software publishers, Microsoft includes terms in its standard license agreements to restrict a licensee’s ability to resell or otherwise assign to another party the right to install or use software. Increasing the level...
29Oct
What is a Microsoft SPLA Verified Self-Audit?
If you provide commercial hosting services using Microsoft’s Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA), you may become a target of an ever-increasing variety of license audits from Microsoft and its vendors. The latest flavor of a...
10Oct
Avoid Mixed-Mode Microsoft Licensing Whenever Possible
Most Microsoft software products – especially server products – can be licensed under multiple different models and metrics. SQL Server probably is the best example of a product that presents companies with multiple decision layers...
