Spiralling Azure and O365 Costs? Are You Sure Your Microsoft Reseller Has Your Back?

Let’s be honest, keeping tabs on your Azure and O365 spending can feel like a full-time job. With Microsoft’s seemingly endless list of licenses, it’s easy to end up paying for more than you actually need. And guess what? That overspending adds up.

The Hidden Cost of Overlapping Licenses

Here’s a real-life (and slightly painful) example: One company recently found out that their previous Microsoft reseller had sold them both E3 licenses and Exchange Online Plan 1 and Plan 2 for 800 users. That little mix-up was costing them an extra £8,000 per month. Ouch.

If you trust your Microsoft provider to guide you, stories like this can be a wake-up call.

The Azure "Zombie" Problem

It’s not just licensing, Azure has its own money-draining pitfalls. Ever deleted a virtual machine but forgot to delete the storage or networking resources attached to it? You wouldn’t be alone. These “zombie” resources linger in the background, quietly racking up charges for things you’re not even using.

In all the Health Checks we’ve done, we’ve yet to find an Azure customer who isn’t wasting money somewhere. That’s not a reflection on you, it’s just incredibly easy to lose track of where your cloud spend is actually going.

We Don’t Hate Microsoft, But We Do Hate Wasting Money

Look, we love Microsoft’s tech, but seeing businesses overspend unnecessarily is frustrating. That extreme example above? That’s just one case; we typically find that companies are overspending by around 30%.

And beyond cost, there’s the security risk. Identifying gaps in your O365 and Azure setup isn’t just about saving money; it’s about protecting your business. The problem? It’s time-consuming and requires serious expertise. If you’re not regularly checking for risks, you could be leaving your business exposed without even realising it.

Meet SCOUT - Your Cloud Cost Watchdog

That’s where SCOUT comes in. Think of it as your cloud watchdog—sniffing out inefficiencies, optimising costs, and keeping your budget in check.

Here’s what SCOUT does for you:

Visibility into Cloud Spending – Get a clear breakdown of where your money is going, from compute to storage to network traffic. No more guessing.

Cost Optimisation Recommendations – SCOUT doesn’t just point out problems; it suggests fixes, like resizing instances, consolidating storage, or moving workloads to lower-cost regions.

Budgeting and Forecasting – Set budgets for teams, projects, or business units and track spending in real-time. No more month-end surprises.

Automated Alerts – Get notified before spending gets out of hand or when resources are underutilised. Stay ahead of waste before it becomes a problem.

Want a Free Health Check?

If you’re even a little curious about whether you’re overspending or if there are hidden security gaps in your setup, let’s take a look. A complimentary health check can give you clarity on where your money is going and whether your cloud environment is truly secure.

Get in touch today! Your budget (and your peace of mind) will thank you.