Countdown to Festive Shutdown: Review Cloud Licences & Subscriptions (5 Weeks to Go)
- johncurrie
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Hello, fellow business owners!
If you’re like most SMEs in SA, Microsoft 365 and Azure (or similar cloud tools) keep your team connected, your files safe, and your customers happy. But with the December shutdown just weeks away, now is the perfect time to do a quick “health check” on your subscriptions and domains. A 30-minute review today can save you thousands of rands and a lot of headaches in January.
Why bother right now?
Nobody wants to be on the beach and get a panicked call that “the email is down”.
Unused licences and ghost users are quietly draining your cash every month.
A domain that expires while you’re on leave can lock your team out of email and files for days.
You’ll start 2026 with a leaner, cheaper, more secure setup.
Two simple things to check before you close for the holidays
1. Sort out your licences – pay only for what you actually use Log into the Microsoft 365 admin centre (or ask your IT person to do it) and look at:
How many licences you’re paying for vs. how many people are actually logging in.
Former employees or seasonal staff who still have accounts.
Whether some users can move from Business Premium down to Business Standard (or even the cheaper Microsoft 365 Apps licence).
Quick wins we see with most South African clients:
Removing 5–15 “ghost” users = instant R3,000–R10,000 saving per year.
Downgrading licences for admin or warehouse staff who only need email and Office apps.
Our Microsoft 365 Licences service does this for you in a couple of days: we audit what you have, recommend the perfect mix, remove old users, and set everything up properly. Many clients schedule the clean-up now so the new licences kick in on 1 January.
2. Check your domains – don’t let them expire while you’re on leave
Make sure your custom domain (e.g. info@yourcompany.co.za) is correctly linked to Microsoft 365.
Check the expiry date on every domain you own. Renew now if it’s due in December or January (most registrars let you renew early).
Confirm that auto-renew is switched on and the credit card on file is still valid.
A lapsed domain in South Africa can take days (or weeks) to get back, and you’ll be offline the whole time.
The result?
You and your team switch off properly over December knowing:
Email and Teams will keep working.
You’re not wasting money on licences you don’t need.
Nothing is going to expire while the office is closed.
Ready to get it sorted?
Drop us a message for a 15-minute call. We’ll look at your current setup and show you exactly what can be saved or fixed before the holidays. With only a few weeks left, now really is the best time.
Let’s make sure your business starts 2026 lighter, cheaper, and completely stress-free.
Chat soon!
Comments