Microsoft 365, run right.
Without the license waste.
Most Phoenix SMBs are overpaying for Microsoft 365 by 15–30% and underusing the security features they are already paying for. We audit, optimize, and manage your tenant. Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Entra ID, so you stop overpaying and start getting the value you already bought. Plus the third-party backup Microsoft doesn’t include but every cyber insurance carrier expects.
Most MSPs treat M365 like a checkbox. We don’t.
Microsoft 365 is a sprawling, fast-moving platform. Run wrong, it leaks budget and creates security gaps. Run right, it pays for itself.
License sprawl is the silent budget killer
Half your users are on E5 when E3 would fit. Old accounts still licensed after offboarding. Add-ons no one uses. We audit quarterly and right-size. Most clients see 15–30% savings in the first cycle.
Default M365 security is not secure enough
Out-of-the-box settings leave too much open: external sharing, legacy auth, no Conditional Access, partial MFA. We harden the tenant against the real attack patterns. BEC, OAuth phishing, token theft. Using settings already in your license.
Identity is the new perimeter
Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is your front door. Conditional Access policies, MFA enforcement, app provisioning, conditional sign-in from managed devices only. These are not optional anymore. They’re what separates an inconvenience from a breach.
Microsoft doesn’t back up your tenant
Microsoft’s shared responsibility model means YOU are responsible for backup. Their retention policies are not backup. A ransomware event, a rogue admin, an accidental delete. Without third-party SaaS backup, the data is gone. Every cyber insurance carrier asks about this now.
What we typically find in a license audit.
Most clients walk into the first audit expecting a few hundred dollars saved per year. They walk out with five-figure annual savings. Here’s where it usually hides.
Ranges based on typical findings across our Phoenix SMB client base; specific savings vary by tenant size and existing licensing.
Four engagements that pay for themselves
Tenant Administration
User and group lifecycle, mailbox provisioning, license assignment, SharePoint site governance, Teams creation policies, Entra ID app management. The boring critical work that goes wrong fast when nobody owns it.
License Optimization & Audit
Quarterly tenant review: who’s overlicensed, who’s underlicensed, who shouldn’t be licensed at all, which add-ons no one uses. We produce a savings report with the specific changes to make. Most clients save 15–30% on the first cycle.
Migration & Onboarding
Google Workspace → M365, on-prem Exchange → Exchange Online, another tenant → yours (M&A scenarios), or initial M365 setup for businesses moving off file servers. Mailbox migration, file/SharePoint transfer, identity sync, user training.
Identity, MFA & Conditional Access
Entra ID (Azure AD) hardening, MFA enforcement, Conditional Access policies (block legacy auth, require managed device, geofence sign-ins), application consent governance. The configuration that turns your M365 from porous to fortified.
Everything in your tenant we manage.
Microsoft 365 is six different products in one license. Each one needs admin attention, governance, and lifecycle. Most MSPs only know two or three. We work all six daily.
Exchange Online
Email and calendar admin: mailbox provisioning, distribution lists, shared mailboxes, mail flow rules, Online Archive, retention policies, mobile device management for Outlook.
SharePoint Online
Site provisioning, permissions governance, external sharing controls, document library policies, retention labels. The collaboration foundation that goes sideways without active governance.
OneDrive for Business
Personal file storage with retention, shared link policies, sync client management, offboarding data preservation. The personal file layer that becomes a liability when people leave.
Microsoft Teams
Team and channel lifecycle, external/guest access policies, meeting controls, voice integration, Teams app governance, archive and decommission. Teams sprawl is real; we keep it in check.
Entra ID (Azure AD)
Identity provider for everything: user lifecycle, MFA, Conditional Access policies, app provisioning, password protection, sign-in monitoring. The new perimeter.
M365 Backup & Recovery
Third-party backup of Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. Microsoft does not back up your tenant. We do. Daily snapshots, granular recovery, immutable storage. Carriers expect it.
M365 governance shaped by your industry.
Every industry has different retention requirements, sharing constraints, and compliance overlays. Click yours to see the playbook.
No contracts, no surprises, no offshore handoff
Three steps from “we should talk” to “your tenant is running right.”
Discovery + tenant walkthrough
30-min call about your M365 usage and license history. Then a 30-min review of your tenant. License inventory, security posture, Teams/SharePoint sprawl, identity setup.
License audit + tenant health report
Within 3 business days you receive a written report: line-item license waste, security gaps, governance issues, and the specific savings/improvements available. Prioritized recommendations, scoped proposal. Yours to keep.
Onboard + go live
If we are a fit, we run a structured 30-day onboarding. Tenant admin handoff, backup configured, MFA enforced, Conditional Access deployed, quarterly audit cadence set, and a client portal where your credentials are always yours.
What people ask before they call
Do you migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365?
Yes. Common engagement. We scope the mailbox migration, file/Drive transfer, identity setup, MFA configuration, and user training. Most SMB migrations land in a 30–60 day window depending on user count and integration complexity.
Can you help us optimize our license tier (E3 vs E5)?
Yes. This is the heart of the license audit. We map every user against actual usage and the security features that justify E5 (Defender, Endpoint Manager, Sensitivity Labels, etc.). Most clients find a mix where E3 covers most users and E5 stays on a smaller subset that actually uses the advanced features.
What about Microsoft Defender? Do we still need separate email security?
It depends. Defender for Office 365 (P1 or P2) is solid and included in many M365 tiers. For higher-threat industries (banks, healthcare, insurance) we layer Avanan / Check Point Harmony on top for advanced BEC detection. We’ll recommend based on your actual risk profile, not a generic answer.
Do you back up our M365 tenant?
Yes. Third-party backup is included with our managed M365 service. Microsoft’s shared responsibility model puts backup on you, not them. Their retention policies are not backup. We deploy Datto SaaS Protection across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams with daily snapshots and granular recovery.
Can you set up Conditional Access policies?
Yes, and it is one of the most important things we do. Block legacy auth, require MFA, restrict sign-in to managed devices for sensitive apps, geofence the tenant. The configuration is included in your Entra ID license; the expertise to deploy it without locking everyone out is where we add value.
How do you handle external sharing in Teams and SharePoint?
Tenant-wide policy first (no anonymous links, expiration on shared files, allowed domains list), then per-site exceptions for legitimate client collaboration. We document the policy so it survives staff changes, and we audit shared links quarterly so old client access doesn’t linger.
Who owns our passwords and IT documentation?
You do. We maintain a client portal where all your credentials, vendor info, and IT documentation are always available to you, so if you ever need to vet another vendor or move on, nothing is held hostage.
Do you require a long-term contract?
No, we do not require one. Assessment is free, onboarding is scoped, and ongoing services default to month-to-month. Cancel any time. For clients who want budget predictability or locked-in pricing, we also offer 1-year and 3-year agreements.
Stop overpaying. Start using what you’ve already bought.
One hour with a Phoenix-based engineer who runs Microsoft 365 tenants every day. You leave with a written license audit, a tenant health report, and the specific savings/improvements available. Yours to keep.