As 2016 comes to a close, we’re revisiting our 10 most viewed posts throughout the year. They cover a variety of topics, such as “7 Best Practices for Managing Your Annual Microsoft True-up”, while others are ripe for the moment, like “Skype for Business on the MAC Client.” So if your 2017 “IT New Year’s resolution” includes getting a grip on your software portfolio, then take a look at the below posts that generated some noise throughout 2016.

Office 365 Education Replaces E1, E3 and E4: What You Need to Know

On September 1, 2015, Microsoft launched one Education Office 365 plan called Office 365 Education, and it will be $0. This will not impact any existing Office 365 Education customers, but any aspiring academic institutions considering Office 365 for its students, faculty, and staff will no longer need to choose between E1, E3, or E4; they simply need to consider the Office 365 Education agreement.

These Upcoming Changes WILL Affect Your SPLA Licensing Strategy

With the release of Windows Server 2016, Microsoft is removing processor licenses and adding core licenses to the SPUR. Previously, SPLA partners had to report each physical processor on each host. With the new licensing change, you must license each physical core.

Understanding the IBM Processor Value Unit (PVU) License Metric

IBM’s software portfolio is quite expansive. With a wide range of products comprising 18,860 different part numbers within IBM’s Passport Advantage Program, each available at nine different price levels, many large organizations find it difficult to maintain a solid understanding of the products relevant to their unique needs.