--- title: "Microsoft Unified Support Guide" id: "41085" type: "page" slug: "microsoft-unified-support-guide" published_at: "2021-02-11T18:47:14+00:00" modified_at: "2025-12-08T21:15:17+00:00" url: "https://www.uscloud.com/microsoft-unified-support-guide/" markdown_url: "https://www.uscloud.com/microsoft-unified-support-guide.md" excerpt: "[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=\"no\" hundred_percent_height=\"no\" hundred_percent_height_scroll=\"no\" hundred_percent_height_center_content=\"yes\" equal_height_columns=\"yes\" hide_on_mobile=\"small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility\" status=\"published\" class=\"white\" background_color=\"#1f3244\" background_position=\"center top\" background_repeat=\"no-repeat\" fade=\"no\" background_parallax=\"none\" enable_mobile=\"no\" parallax_speed=\"0.3\" video_aspect_ratio=\"16:9\" video_loop=\"yes\" video_mute=\"yes\" border_style=\"solid\" padding_top=\"50PX\" flex_align_items=\"stretch\" type=\"legacy\" admin_label=\"Hero\"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=\"1_2\" layout=\"1_2\" spacing=\"\" center_content=\"yes\" link=\"\" target=\"_self\" min_height=\"\" hide_on_mobile=\"small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility\" class=\"\" id=\"\" background_image_id=\"\" background_color=\"\" background_image=\"\" background_position=\"left top\"..." --- # Microsoft Unified Support Guide. ## MICROSOFT UNIFIED SUPPORT GUIDE ## Read the *Microsoft Unified Support Guide* for insider secrets from analysts and professional MSFT negotiators to save big on Unified. [READ THE GUIDE](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf) [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf) [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-business-support-unified.png](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-business-support-unified.png) ### **What’s Inside the Unified Support Guide** - ##### *Unified Support program details* - ##### *How to audit your Unified agreement* - ##### *Potential contract pitfalls* - ##### *Summary of current alternatives in the market* ### **Why Enterprises Must Read the Unified Guide** ##### Our primary mission is to help companies get the most out of their Microsoft software. And for some, Microsoft Support is still the right fit. ##### But with Unified Support straining many IT budgets, *it’s imperative to get the most from your agreement.* [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-support-for-business-premier.svg](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-support-for-business-premier.svg) [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-support-for-business-azure.svg](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/microsoft-support-for-business-azure.svg) ### Unified Guide 3 Year Support Cost Forecast ##### If you are accelerating Microsoft 365 or Azure adoption, your Unified pricing may see substantial increases in years two and three. ##### **[Read the Guide](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf)** for more details but the big takeaway is enterprises should do a 3 year forecast to fully understand their Microsoft Unified costs and avoid surprises. ### **Microsoft Unified Support Guide to Negotiating** ##### Start negotiating and evaluating alternatives at least 90 days prior to your Unified renewal. ##### Here is the Guide’s shortlist for negotiating Unified with Microsoft: - 3 year forecast - license-only penalty - hidden fees - check the math and itemize - press on security **[Read the Guide](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf)** for full details. [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Microsoft-unified-support-guide-negotiating-1.png](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Microsoft-unified-support-guide-negotiating-1.png) [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/microsoft-unified-support-plan-pricing.png](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/microsoft-unified-support-plan-pricing.png) ### **Guide to Microsoft Unified Support Alternatives** ##### Options for a new Microsoft support direction at your enterprise do exist. ##### Currently there are 3 alternatives to MS Unified: - Microsoft SAB support and Professional incidents - Independent 3rd party providers - Large system integrators ##### Each option has its pros and cons. **[Read the Guide](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf)** to see which is the best fit for your organization. ### **The Unified Support Guide Says Yes to Audit** ##### There are 8 recommendations for auditing your Unified agreement at renewal and reducing its cost. Here is #1: *Ask for a full list of contracts, including itemized products, and the Unified Support allocations for each. Make sure all the contracts are for your organization, are correctly classified, and are currently being used. Mistakes can and do slip though.* ##### **[Read the Unified Guide](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/microsoft-unified-support.pdf)** for audit recommendations 2 through 8. [https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/microsoft-unified-support-contract-audit-scaled.jpg](https://www.uscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/microsoft-unified-support-contract-audit-scaled.jpg) ## **Guided Unified Support Transition** ##### You can and should exchange your SAB incidents in order to reduce your Unified Support bill. They play a particularly impactful role during the first year of moving from Premier to Unified Support, softening the blow of the initial price increase. That often just pushes pain out into year 2, but it can buy time to evaluate alternatives.