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Resource for the resourceful

When it comes to the task of saving money, it pays to know the areas where you can make a return. That's why we've pulled together some useful information and suggestions to help you get started. From the tools that you can get at no extra cost, to the things that you've paid for but perhaps not made the most of, we'd like to help you deal with the pressures of today without spending like there's no tomorrow.

Then we'll touch on ways you can invest the money you've saved, and see how you can save even more in the future.

Microsoft Office Live, Windows Live and Visual Studio Express all add value without subtracting money. From free websites and email accounts for employees, to all-in-one web platforms for developers, they’re totally free to use.

You can also use free planning and deployment resources to plan upgrades and improvements long before you spend, and save money in the process…

Windows Live comes with Mail, Messenger, Writer, Photo Gallery and many more features, all in one easy-to-use place. And of course, it’s completely free.

Best practices and experiences from Microsoft IT
Get a unique, inside view into how Microsoft plans for, deploys and manages its own enterprise solutions. Visit How Microsoft does IT and the Microsoft IT Showcase to see how the various projects benefited the Business and IT Teams.

Also see how using Microsoft IT Value Cards can help build a business case for implementing a wide range of IT solutions.

Virtual Labs on a wide range of products and technologies
Quickly evaluate and test Microsoft's newest server products through a series of guided, hands-on labs you can complete in 90 minutes or less. You can use TechNet Virtual Labs online immediately, free.

If you’ve already subscribed to our products, there may be some features from which you’re yet to benefit. The resources listed here will help you squeeze every last bit of value out of them.

Subscribe to Windows Server 2005, SQL Server 2005 and 2008 or Microsoft Office?

Then make sure you try these cost-saving features…

  • Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008!

    With Hyper-V you can virtualise - consolidating physical servers, cutting data centre costs and saving on energy consumption.

    Hyper-V enables you to rapidly migrate a running virtual machine from one physical host system to another with minimal downtime, making use of familiar high-availability capabilities of Windows Server and System Center management tools.

    You can also run multiple different operating systems - Windows, Linux, and others - in parallel, on a single server and making use of the power of x64 computing. Read more on virtualisation and how to implement it in Windows Server 2008 in the Hyper V Techcentre

    Create a report to see how you can cut costs and save energy using virtualisation Virtualisation licensing – watch a previous event on how to license in a virtual environment

  • Reporting Services in SQL Server 2008

    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services provides a complete, server-based platform designed to support a wide variety of reporting needs enabling organisations to deliver relevant information where needed across the entire enterprise. It helps businesses make smarter, more informed decisions, increasing efficiencies in the short term and positioning for growth in the long term.

  • Top New Features:

    • Design reports with any structure by using the new unique layout capabilities of Flexible Report Layout
    • Benefit from enhanced performance and scalability to reach all users throughout the enterprise
    • Render reports into Microsoft Office Word format
    • Integrate Reporting Services with Microsoft Office SharePoint Services for central delivery and management of business insight
    • Metadata is stored in a SQL Server, which makes backup and disaster recovery very easy

    Find out more about how Business Intelligence can help your organisation.

  • Data mining add-ins for Excel with SQL Server 2005/8
    • Extend the benefits of predictive analysis to all users with the Data Mining Add-ins for Office 2007
    • Empower users to harness advanced data mining technology within the familiar spreadsheet environment, enabling seamless transition between discovery and exploration and hiding complexity behind intuitive tasks with the Table Analysis Tools for Excel
    • Gain more information, validation, and control with the Data Mining Client for Excel, delivering a full data mining development life cycle for advanced users
    • Using Microsoft Excel - a familiar and intuitive tool - as part of an integrated Business Intelligence environment, you can empower more individuals with access to corporate data so that more employees can analyse, share, and manage critical business information and make faster, more relevant business decisions - decisions that may determine how well you emerge from today’s economy

    • Read this whitepaper to find out more (369 KB PDF)

  • Information Rights Management in Windows Server and Microsoft Office(to stop the unauthorised spread of information)

    • Protect sensitive emails from onward distribution
    • Ensure redundant information in expired documents can no longer be used
    • Allow users to control permissions to download or open documents above and beyond what Active Directory provides

    Find out more

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Whichever product you subscribe to, these guides can save you money and improve efficiency…

Then make sure you try these cost-saving features…

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TechNet Plus subscribers can get far more than their money’s worth by ensuring they’re capitalising on all these benefits…

Find out more about the benefits of your TechNet Plus subscription

<For when promotion is running> Or if you’re not already a TechNet Plus subscriber but are interested in buying a subscription, get 15 per cent off if you subscribe to TechNet Plus before 30 June 2009.

(Promo code: TNWIN7RC)

<For when promotion has expired>

Or if you’re not already a TechNet Plus subscriber but are interested in buying a subscription, see our TechNet Plus subscription purchasing options

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Software Assurance subscribers are already saving money, but perhaps not in as many ways as they could…

Software Assurance combines the latest software with tools and resources to help you deploy, manage and migrate software. Features include:

  • Consulting services
  • Trainin
  • Around-the-clock web support
  • Technical resources
  • Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)
  • Access to Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Desktop Deployment Planning Service
  • Home Use Program
  • Employee Purchase Programme
  • TechNet Plus subscription

Use these features to support budget predictability, lower operating expenses, improve productivity and minimise downtime. Watch this video to see how. Play video direct from the page

Use this online calculator to find out how Software Assurance can benefit you

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Once you’ve exploited all the free or previously paid-for benefits, you might want some ideas on how to spend your budget wisely.

Improving data centre operations management, reducing travel and communications costs, and improving security are three key ways in which you can make substantial savings further down the line.

  1. Improve data centre operations management with Microsoft System Center. This will significantly reduce the cost of server ownership, as shown in this data centre management case study.
  2. Reduce travel and communications costs with Microsoft Unified Communications solutions. You can save money and streamline processes, just like this company did.
  3. Reduce costs and improve security with standardised configurations of Windows desktops, servers and mobile devices that optimise infrastructure. See how others have done just that .

As your company expands, you'll also want to manage your software licences carefully to ensure that you have the most cost-effective solution.

Take a closer look at where your IT money is going

Managing your software licences may not spring to mind as being your priority right now, but you could be surprised at how, by not managing your software assets, you could actually be spending unnecessary money, paying for software that’s not being used, and missing out on the most cost-effective bulk buy options available to you.

Small savings here and there can make a big difference. Here are a few quick ideas on how to save money: