Built to Fight for Your Budget

We founded Strategic SAM on a simple premise: organizations deserve honest, independent advice about their Microsoft licensing — without the conflicts of interest that come from resellers and Microsoft itself.

Our Mission

We founded Strategic SAM on a simple premise: organizations deserve honest, independent advice about their Microsoft licensing—without the conflicts of interest that come from resellers and Microsoft itself. Too many organizations overspend on software because they lack independent visibility and negotiating power. We exist to change that.

Our mission is to help organizations optimize their Microsoft licensing posture, reduce audit risk, and reclaim millions in software budget through expert analysis, transparent advice, and skilled commercial negotiation. We measure success not by our billable hours, but by the savings our clients achieve.

Our Core Values

Independence

We're not a reseller. We don't sell, implement, or resell Microsoft products. We don't earn commissions on cloud spend. Our only incentive is to deliver the best licensing advice for your business—nothing else.

Transparency

Fixed fees. Clear deliverables. No surprises. You know what you're paying and what you're getting. We believe in honest communication about what we can and can't do, and what outcomes are realistic.

Expertise

We're specialists, not generalists. We've spent decades focused exclusively on Microsoft licensing. We know the rules, the risks, the negotiation playbook, and where the savings hide. That depth matters.

Our Expertise Covers the Full Microsoft Stack

  • Enterprise Agreements (EA) — Pre-renewal analysis, negotiation strategy, true-up management, mid-term amendments
  • Microsoft 365 — Right-sizing, license tier optimization, Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, and compliance
  • Azure — Hybrid Benefit, Reserved Instances, compute right-sizing, BYOL strategies, cost optimization
  • Dynamics & Power Platform — D365, CRM, and Power Apps licensing and true-up management
  • SQL Server & Windows Server — Core CAL licensing, Software Assurance, cloud deployment strategies
  • SPLA & CSP Programs — Compliance, pricing, and audit management
  • License Audits — Defense, exposure reduction, settlement negotiation
  • SAM Programs — Design, tooling recommendations, governance, and compliance frameworks

Why We Started Strategic SAM

For years, we watched organizations make expensive Microsoft licensing decisions because they lacked independent advice. Resellers had a financial incentive to maximize sales. Microsoft had an incentive to claim the broadest interpretation of their licensing rules. Neither party represented the customer's true interests.

Organizations needed someone in their corner—someone with deep Microsoft knowledge, no vendor conflicts, and a track record of successful negotiations. That's when we founded Strategic SAM.

Today, we've delivered over €2.5M in licensing savings to clients across manufacturing, finance, healthcare, retail, technology, government, and more. Our success is built on the principle that when we win for our clients, everyone wins.

By The Numbers

  • 15+

    Years in Microsoft licensing

  • €2.5M+

    Client savings delivered

  • 50+

    Organizations served

  • 100%

    Client retention rate

Our Team

MC

Marcus Chen

Founder & Principal Consultant

Marcus brings 15+ years of hands-on experience in Microsoft licensing across reseller, vendor, and independent consulting roles. He's negotiated hundreds of EA renewals, defended clients in Microsoft audits, and designed SAM programs for organizations of all sizes. His deep technical knowledge combined with commercial acumen drives our approach to every engagement.

Certifications: Microsoft Licensing Specialist, Software Asset Management Practitioner

We're Not Just Advisors—We're Your Advocates

Every day we fight against the assumption that Microsoft licensing is too complex to optimize, that audits are inevitable, and that organizations have no leverage with their software vendors. We prove otherwise. Our clients tell us we don't just advise—we partner with them to navigate Microsoft licensing challenges and seize opportunities they didn't know existed.

"Strategic SAM didn't just analyze our licenses—they went to bat for us in negotiations and saved us hundreds of thousands. They made a complex situation simple."

— Head of IT, Financial Services

Ready to partner with independent experts?

Let's discuss your Microsoft licensing challenges, opportunities, and strategy. A conversation with us could change your budget outlook.

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