Microsoft is no longer just a software vendor. It is becoming an AI-underpinned platform — and its licensing model is changing to match. For SAM leaders, that means new cost structures, new audit exposure, and a growing gap between what Microsoft tracks internally and what your organization can actually see.
In this session, Xensam’s SAM specialists are joined by Alexander Golev — one of Europe’s most respected independent Microsoft licensing advisors — to break down what is shifting, what it costs, and what to do about it.
What you’ll learn:
- What E7 really is — and why it is designed to drive E5 adoption across your estate
- How Microsoft’s shift from per-user to per-agent pricing is changing how you model cost
- Where audit risk is building, and how Microsoft is quietly flagging non-compliant deployments
- How to close the visibility gap that Microsoft’s own reporting leaves open
Why this matters right now
As Alexander Golev puts it: five years ago he could account for around 95% of what there was to know about Microsoft licensing. Today he puts that closer to 70%. The space has not simplified — it has outpaced the experts.
AI costs in Microsoft’s newer products are token-based and hard to predict. Tenant-level usage data is tracked internally by Microsoft but not shared with customers. And in certain regions, audit activity is increasing. The window for proactive management is narrowing — organizations that build visibility now will be in a structurally stronger position than those that wait.
Legacy SAM tools were not built for this environment. The organizations that stay in control are those running third-generation platforms with the data depth and real-time intelligence to see what others cannot.
Clarity is the competitive advantage
This session brings together Xensam’s SAM expertise and Alexander Golev’s independent Microsoft licensing perspective. You will leave with a clear view of where the real risks are building — and a practical framework for getting ahead of them using the kind of visibility that only a third-generation SAM platform can deliver.
Featured speakers
Joel Sanderi
Joel built his first SAM solution in 2007 and has been connecting customer needs with engineering innovation ever since. As Solution Specialist at Xensam, Joel ensures our tools deliver best-in-class value in real-world environments.
Martin Tureniec
Martin has spent over two decades transforming complex SAM challenges into business opportunities. A recognized voice in the ITAM space, Martin helps organizations gain control and visibility over their software environments through strategic guidance and practical expertise.
Alexander Golev
Alexander Golev runs SAMexpert, an independent consultancy advising enterprises on Microsoft licensing and cloud costs. With 20+ years in Microsoft licensing and no vendor partnerships, he negotiates deals and defends audits without conflicts of interest. His work has saved clients over $1 billion. He was named ITAM Review Consultant of the Year in 2021.
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