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The EA True Up Defense Checklist

Microsoft and SPLA audit defenseBuyer side onlyNew York and London

The annual true up is where a cloud heavy estate quietly overpays. This checklist shows how to establish your own pre renewal license position so you control the number before Microsoft does.

What is inside

  • How the true up counts your deployment against entitlement
  • Why Azure and Microsoft 365 telemetry can inflate the position
  • The pre renewal steps that put you in a controlled position
  • A worked example of a defended versus an undefended true up
  • The short list of evidence that holds up under questioning

Why it matters now

In 2026 Microsoft uses anomaly detection on licensing and telemetry to select targets, and a true up that looks high can invite a closer look. Establishing your position first, with independent help, turns the renewal from a demand you react to into a number you can defend.

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