cloud licensing

European cloud computing has long battled for regulatory fairness in the face of US tech giants' commercial dominance, but a groundbreaking agreement between Microsoft and the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) may signal a new chapter for regional sovereignty and customer...

European cloud providers have long operated under the looming shadow of American tech giants, their ambitions often hamstrung by restrictive licensing, technical tying, and complex negotiations. In one of the most significant developments for the continent’s digital sovereignty in recent years...

News from the cloud sector rarely generates the kind of high-stakes drama seen in recent months between Microsoft, CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe), and a fractured landscape of European cloud providers. At the heart of the matter are longstanding grievances about...

Europe’s cloud landscape has long been a battleground for digital sovereignty, fair competition, and innovation. The latest chapter in this saga—pitting CISPE, the coalition of European cloud infrastructure providers, against Microsoft—marks a turning point that could reshape the future of cloud...

In a significant development for the European cloud computing landscape, the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) and Microsoft have announced further amendments to their licensing agreements. This move aims to enhance accessibility to Microsoft's software services for CISPE...

European cloud infrastructure providers, long frustrated by Microsoft’s complex and oft-criticized licensing rules, have scored a measured win in their drawn-out battle for more equitable cloud software terms. After more than two years of pressure from the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers...

Microsoft's recent migration of its Windows Key Management Licensing Service (MKMS) to Azure's Confidential Computing platform marks a significant advancement in cloud security and operational efficiency. This strategic move leverages cutting-edge technologies to enhance the protection of...

Navigating the complexities of running Windows Server workloads on Amazon Web Services (AWS) can be a daunting challenge, especially for organizations seeking to maximize value from pre-existing Microsoft licenses. As cloud adoption accelerates across industries, the Bring Your Own License...

As Cumberland and Westmorland Councils prepare to vote on a proposed three-year contract for a new Microsoft Enterprise and Server Cloud Agreement—a deal which could see costs soar up to £10.5 million—the discussion at Carlisle’s Civic Centre is emblematic of the growing complexity and stakes in...

Microsoft Office 2024, unveiled in September 2024, marked another milestone in productivity software by offering a range of upgrades and additional features. Yet, even as users and IT administrators eagerly adopted the latest iteration, a persistent and troubling licensing bug cast a shadow over...

Microsoft’s latest move in the cloud computing arena marks a significant evolution for enterprise IT management: the introduction of Windows 365 Cloud Apps, which allows IT administrators to deliver individual applications—such as Word or Outlook—directly from Cloud PCs without the overhead of...

Few undertakings within the U.S. federal government are as indicative of shifting strategic priorities as the Department of Defense’s ongoing review of its gargantuan software investments. The latest development—an exclusive confirmed by DefenseScoop—sees the Pentagon’s Chief Information Officer...

Microsoft is currently embroiled in a significant legal battle in the United Kingdom, facing allegations of anti-competitive practices related to its cloud licensing policies. The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accuses the tech giant of overcharging UK businesses for using its Windows Server...

The recent failure of Microsoft to deliver a special version of Azure for European Union (EU) cloud providers has brought its ongoing conflict with the Cloud Infrastructure Service Providers of Europe (CISPE) back into sharp focus. More than just a missed deadline, this episode underscores the...

Microsoft once again finds itself at the center of legal scrutiny in the United Kingdom, this time facing a potentially multibillion-pound collective claim that strikes at the heart of its software licensing practices. The suit, filed by barrister Alexander Wolfson and supported by the law firm...

In the latest chapter of Microsoft's ongoing legal and regulatory saga, the software giant now faces a multibillion-pound lawsuit in the United Kingdom, with claims that could reshape the market for software licenses across Europe. This case, led by the law firm Stewarts, directly targets...

Amid the relentless advance of artificial intelligence across global industries, German enterprises find themselves at a critical crossroads: embracing Microsoft’s rapidly evolving AI and cloud platforms, but wrestling with deep uncertainties about return on investment. This tension is starkly...

Microsoft’s ever-evolving cloud strategy is taking another significant leap with a slate of changes to its Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partner contracts, designed to streamline deal-making, improve customer lifecycle management, and sharpen the competitive edge of the global partner ecosystem...

Microsoft is again rewriting the playbook for its Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) ecosystem, unveiling a suite of major contractual changes set to roll out through 2025. These updates, spearheaded by Nicole Dezen, the company’s chief partner officer and corporate vice president of global partner...

Microsoft’s announcement strikingly expands the boundaries of what’s possible with software-as-a-service (SaaS) billing and licensing, marking a shift from the industry’s rigid, “one-size-fits-all” subscription rates toward a new paradigm: partners can now craft private offers that give buyers...