1

I have a client with 1500 Servers/Desktops and I need to run an audit of MS licenses, can Spiceworks do that?

4 Spice ups
2

The Desktops/Servers are not going to tell you what licenses you have.

1 Spice up
3

If this is a self asses or SAM audit you can tell them to get lost

But if you are 1500 then surely you have an EA and its all managed via that?

4

Usually they will want serial numbers of the desktop/laptop to check with the manufacturer what OEM rights you have. Spiceworks can do that for you!

1 Spice up
5

Yeah, at a 1500 count, if you know you are clear I would tell them to bugger off. Way too much work.

It is completely voluntary if it is a “SAM Audit”. Hell, the next time they bother me I will be telling them to hose off. Takes too much time and I know we’re compliant. Send in the BSA instead of your minimum wage goon-wannabes if you think we’re not.

6

Many MS Licenses are pieces of paper stored somewhere. For instance, when you buy Server CALs you just just get a receipt showing what you purchased. There’s nothing on the Servers so there’s no way to scan for this.

If you use VL for your Desktop OS it’s similar - you get a receipt (and can look it up in the VL portal) for your license. There is nothing on the machines to scan.

7

Ignoring a SAM audit is not recommended. If you have the time (I’m assuming it’s paid time since you said it’s for a client) just do it and get it over with.
I will say if the SAM audit comes from someone with a non-@microsoft.com it probably has no teeth what-so-ever.

8

even the audits from v-@microsoft.com have no teeth. they will tell you if you don’t complete the audit you will get passed to the legal department, but there is no legal department; you just get marked as refusing to participate and then you get recycled with all the other customers that do participate. From what iv seen working in the industry they don’t train their “license experts” and they are really not worth spending any resources on. They really make their money by stuffing people around, taking their time so that any purchases during the length of the audit can be reported back to microsoft as “see how much money were making you”. The only auditors to be cautious with is BSA because they do have a legal team.

To the OP be mindful of what information you hand over, like dealing with police say nothing more than you have to. If its not BSA ask to speak to a supervisor and have them confirm the audit is optional, if they refuse to tell you this then you might be getting scammed from an illegitimate player.