By Sarah Kempfer, Account Executive, Synergy Technical
When people talk about Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, “flexibility” is usually the first word that comes up. And most of the time, that gets simplified to one thing:
“CSP means we can license month to month.”
While monthly licensing is certainly a key benefit, it's not the whole story—and if that's your entire strategy, you’re probably leaving value on the table. In reality, CSP gives you the ability to build a licensing model that mirrors the actual rhythm of your business—and that often means finding the right balance between annual and monthly licensing.
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Monthly terms can be incredibly useful when you're dealing with turnover, short-term contractors, or seasonal fluctuations. But they also come at a cost—about 20% more than annual commitments.
For many of my customers, especially those in nonprofit and commercial mid-market spaces, monthly licensing is best used strategically, not universally. These organizations often have a stable base of long-term users, but they also navigate temporary staffing, grant-driven timelines, and projects that scale up or down quickly. That’s where flexibility becomes more nuanced than just “monthly versus annual.” It becomes a mix—deliberate, responsive, and cost-conscious.
When I sit down with customers, I look at more than just user count. I ask about their hiring patterns, funding cycles, remote staffing, and growth plans. From there, we design a blended approach—using annual terms for the core team to lock in savings, and monthly licenses for variable or rotating roles to maintain flexibility.
This isn't a one-and-done conversation. Business needs change, and licensing strategies should, too. That’s why we revisit the licensing mix regularly—sometimes quarterly, sometimes tied to fiscal reviews—to make sure it still fits.
One customer I work with, a nonprofit that hires seasonal staff for summer programs, uses annual licensing for full-time staff and adds monthly seats for the seasonal workers they bring on for just a few months. Another, a commercial customer, flexes up monthly licenses during audit season when their finance contractors come onboard. The beauty of CSP is that it allows for this kind of tailoring—if you’re intentional about it.
One of the biggest differences between working with Synergy Technical and a low-touch reseller is the way we approach support. We don’t just process your order—we help you understand what you’re buying, why it matters, and how to adjust it as your environment evolves.
We stay on top of Microsoft’s SKU changes, pricing shifts, and program updates so you don’t have to. If there’s a better way to bundle licenses, eliminate overlap, or get more value from what you already own, we’ll tell you.
That’s what flexibility really means—not just reacting when something breaks, but having a partner who helps you stay ahead.
CSP isn’t just about avoiding long-term commitments. It’s about building a licensing strategy that supports the way your organization really works.
Whether you’re managing headcount shifts, responding to funding variability, or planning for growth, you deserve a licensing model—and a partner—that moves with you.
That’s the kind of flexibility I talk about with my customers every day.
Ready to transform your licensing strategy? Contact us today to schedule a consultation, learn more about the Microsoft CSP licensing benefits, or start optimizing your Microsoft cloud services with a trusted partner by your side. Let’s modernize your cloud journey together!