Looking for
Graduate-Level
Licensing Training?

Is your company about to make a major investment in a new Microsoft technology? Or renew its licenses for Microsoft software already in place? Don’t even think about making a decision until you attend this seminar.

The better you understand how Microsoft licensing really works, the better positioned you’ll be to make smart licensing decisions for your company – decisions that will save your company money, simplify your software management burden and put you in a position of strength in case of an audit.

Join our team of independent licensing authorities for two days of intensive training to develop your own licensing expertise and to learn how to extract maximum value from your company's Microsoft software investments.

Next Boot Camp: Chicago, November 2-3, 2010

Boot Camp Brochure and Curriculum

(download pdf)

"You did an excellent job of making this information understandable. I feel more
confident in my knowledge of Microsoft licensing. Now I’m interested in trying out your subscription and continuing to develop my licensing expertise.”

Jan Morris, CSAM, IT Procurement/Licensing Administrator, GuideOne Insurance

What is it?

The Directions on Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp is a two-day workshop that demystifies Microsoft licensing programs and rules. You will be able to intelligently evaluate your Microsoft licensing options and maximize the return on your software investment. Learn licensing in a way that is clear and concise, with no hidden agendas.

You will learn:

Key Microsoft licensing concepts, terminology and models
How to evaluate and purchase Software Assurance
Server and CAL models for the major products, such as Exchange and Windows Server
Key strategies to follow in your Enterprise Agreement evaluation process
How to license products under virtualized scenarios

"Although I have had many years in the IT field, I am new to Microsoft licensing and some of this
stuff can be overwhelming. Attending your Boot Camp validated my thinking on some of the key concepts and really helped me get a solid foundation of knowledge in order to help my company maximize our investments in Microsoft technology. Even several weeks later, I am still reaping rewards from taking it!”

Beryl Scrivens, Finance & Operations Officer, Intl. Development Resource Center

Who Should Attend?

If your job has anything to do with licensing Microsoft technologies YOU should attend this seminar. Whether you’re an IT procurement specialist, a software asset manager, an systems architect, or a major Microsoft partner, this Boot Camp will advance your skills and give you the resources you need to address any Microsoft licensing question.

This Microsoft licensing Boot Camp is relevant FOR YOU if you:

Are a software asset manager responsible software compliance
Are responsible for renewing your company’s EA
Need to know how products are licensed to stay in compliance
Need to understand the impact of licensing choices on your strategic decision

“At IVENT we spend a great deal of time and money making sure that we
carefully manage our Microsoft technology and licenses. It’s critical to our success that we have a strong understanding of Microsoft licensing so we can implement current and plan future initiatives in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. Your Boot Camp provided us with clear, understandable explanations on key Microsoft products. You have made our jobs a lot easier and now we can focus on other things using the time that we’ve saved.”

Christ van Gestel , Product Group Manager, IVENT

Why Attend?

You already know this better than anyone: Microsoft licensing presents an overwhelming array of programs and choices, each with its own set of implications that could seriously impact your IT operations, budgets, and plans. Making the wrong choice can cost you thousands of dollars, or worse, expose you to legal risk because of non-compliance. Gain confidence in your choices and network with your peers to get an insider's knowledge of how to find the answers your team needs for any licensing scenario.

“Before attending your Licensing Boot Camp, I would architect Microsoft landscapes without the benefit of licensing expertise. Now that I have the fundamentals, I will design more effective solutions that not only take advantage of Microsoft's technology but its business policies or licensing restrictions as well. This will result in our saving money on unplanned or avoidable Microsoft license fees. Thank you!"

Brien Johnston, IT Director, Ivensys Corporation

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Licensing Boot Camp

1. Get critical information and understanding to build your licensing expertise

2. Identify opportunities to keep your company in compliance without overbuying

3. Fill in gaps in your knowledge and identify weaknesses in your strategy

4. Discover new licensing options that could save you thousands of dollars

5. Network with your peers and compare notes

“Having read many editions of Directions on Microsoft I can honestly say the licensing content is truly first-class and has been an invaluable resource in providing me with detailed and accurate licensing information and answers that I have been unable to find anywhere else.”

Troy Parker, Software Asset Management & Licensing Specialist, iComply Pty Ltd

What's it Worth to You?

Ever wonder if licensing training is worthwhile? Sometimes you can get free training from your software vendor or reseller. Sometimes you can hire a consultant to review your situation and give you negotiating advice.

Well, that's not what we do. We train you in the fundamentals of Microsoft licensing from A to Z so that you can develop your own expertise. By the end of our Boot Camp, you'll have the in-house knowledge you need to avoid tens-of-thousands of dollars in unnecessary licensing costs. And if you do decide to hire a consultant, you'll quickly know if the advice you're getting is sound.

No one can possibly know everything about Microsoft licensing. But you can get close enough to protect your investments. We'll help you master the ground rules, spot new opportunities for savings, and know what licensing traps to avoid as you plan new projects. You'll be in the driver's seat whenever you talk to your Microsoft sales representatives or consultants. Isn't it worth it?

"The Licensing Boot Camp was an incredible help in pulling it all together just in time for contract renewal. Without it I would be making uninformed decisions that would have left the company in a non compliance or over-purchase situation."

Jim Jones, Director, Information Technology, Pittsburgh Corning Corporation

Licensing Gotchas

These "licensing gotchas" are just a few examples of licensing guidance that Directions on Microsoft offers through our intensive 2-day Licensing Boot Camps.

1. Windows: If you hear the word virtualization, it probably means that Software Assurance is required on the Windows client. It's a hidden cost that could easily upend the economics of your virtualization strategy.

2. Windows Server: Upgrading just one of the Windows Servers in your company can trigger requirements for new Client Access Licenses (CALs) for all your Windows clients. It's a minor adjustment that could put you out of compliance and at significant financial risk in the event of an audit.

3. Exchange Server: It's common for companies to inadvertently deploy a feature in Exchange 2010 that requires an Enterprise CAL. It's an oversight during the project planning phase that can trigger expensive new licenses.

Convince Your Boss!

Cut and paste this letter if you need to justify this training for your boss:

Dear [your boss’s name here]:

I’d like to attend the Directions on Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp. This seminar will help me obtain essential but hard-to-find licensing knowledge and best practices – knowledge I’ll use to help our company make smarter licensing decisions and avoid potentially expensive mistakes.

Directions on Microsoft is an independent analyst firm out of Seattle, WA that has focused exclusively on Microsoft technologies and licensing programs since 1992. Their Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp provides two days of intensive licensing training, including:

The ins-and-outs of licensing the major Microsoft products, such as Windows Server and Exchange
How to evaluate Microsoft volume licensing programs such as Enterprise Agreement and Select
The best way to purchase the licenses we need
How to stay in compliance without overbuying

The seminar also gives me the opportunity to network with my peers from around the globe to discuss Microsoft licensing ideas, lessons learned and success stories. The registration fee covers the entry into the Boot Camp, morning coffee service and lunch both days, access to experts for 1:1 sessions and valuable content to share with my colleagues when I return.

This event is only held a few times a year and feedback from the previous Boot Camp attendees indicate it’s well worth the investment.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[your name here]

Registration Details

Dates and Locations:

November 2-3, 2010: Chicago, IL

Pricing:

Standard Price: $2,195
Early Bird Price: $1,995 (Expires September 30, 2010)
Register two or more, receive a 10% discount

Money Back Guarantee:

If you are not completely satisfied after you've attended the Boot Camp, we will refund your registration fee in full.

Location & Schedule:

The Boot Camp will held at the Gleacher Center (www.gleachercenter.com), University of Chicago, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL 60611. Please arrange your travel in time to begin by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. The Boot Camp will be finished by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

Registration:

For questions or more information, please call 425-739-4669 or
email us at licensing@DirectionsOnMicrosoft.com.