ENow 8.3 Release Summary

Enhancements for Managing Microsoft 365 Licensing & Storage Costs, Operational Efficiencies, and New Copilot Center Dashboard

We’re at a crossroads. The world is shifting; economies are increasingly unstable, AI promises transformation yet demands caution, and the cloud, while powerful, can feel like a labyrinth. At ENow, we’ve always believed that technology should empower, not overwhelm. We're pleased to introduce ENow EMS 8.3, a release born from listening to customer challenges and crafting solutions that not only address them but redefine what’s possible in Microsoft 365 management. 

The Storm of Economic Uncertainty 

Picture this: you’re an IT leader staring down a tightening budget. The global economy is unpredictable, and every dollar counts. Microsoft’s licensing landscape, already challenging, has morphed into a maze of new agreement types, rising costs, and underutilized subscriptions. Storage costs creep up as OneDrive and SharePoint usage balloons, and you’re left wondering how to avoid penalties without disrupting your team’s work. It’s a daunting puzzle, and it’s one we’ve seen countless organizations wrestle with. 

EMS 8.3 License Optimization improvements bring clarity to the chaos. Along with improvements to existing Licensing tools, three new licensing reports shine a spotlight on unlicensed users, giving your procurement team the insights to trim subscriptions, renegotiate agreements, and eliminate waste, while bolstering security. These reports aren’t just data; they serve as a roadmap to smarter spending. 

Storage, too, can be a silent budget-killer. Microsoft’s model—where SharePoint limits hit 1 TB plus 10 GB per license, and OneDrive’s unmanaged accounts rack up fees—demands vigilance. EMS 8.3 steps in with detailed storage cost reports that break down usage across Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint. We’ve even added a dedicated Unlicensed OneDrive Accounts report to help you sidestep future penalties and keep collaboration flowing. And for those navigating complex Enterprise Agreements? Our expanded M365 License Optimization Practice offers access to License Specialists to guide you through Microsoft licensing agreement negotiations, ensuring you get the most value from every contract. 

Figure 1: Enhanced Report: Microsoft 365 Storage Usage in the Last 90 Days

But it’s not just about cutting costs—it’s about empowering your people. Our Learning Management System (LMS) continues to drive adoption, turning underutilized licenses into tools for productivity. With EMS 8.3, we’re not just helping you weather the economic storm; we’re equipping you to thrive in it.

Embracing AI with Data-Backed Confidence

Now, let’s talk about the future: AI, specifically Microsoft Copilot. The buzz is electric. Copilot promises to supercharge productivity, streamline workflows, and unlock creativity. But as an IT leader, you’re not just excited; you’re cautious. You’ve heard the stories: Copilot surfacing sensitive HR or financial data to the wrong users, external sharing gone unchecked, or expensive licenses sitting unused. The pressure from Microsoft to deploy Copilot is real, but so is the risk of a misstep. How do you harness this game-changer without exposing your organization to chaos?

For Copilot to truly pay off, it requires a solid foundation of governance, visibility, and strategic planning. Without an organization-wide plan and preparedness, the risk of unintentionally exposing corporate data is high. EMS 8.3 rises to the occasion with a suite of tools that make Copilot less risky but transformative. At the heart of this is our Copilot Center, a dashboard that serves as mission control for your AI journey. It answers the big questions: Is your organization prepared for Copilot so as not to expose critical corporate data unnecessarily? Are your OneDrive and SharePoint sites ready? Who’s using Copilot effectively, and who needs to be reassigned? Are you getting a return that justifies the investment?

Figure 2: New Copilot Center Dashboard with new reports for Copilot Organizational Readiness, Copilot License Readiness, Copilot Adoption, and Copilot ROI Score. 

Our Copilot Organizational Readiness Reports are a game-changer, offering customizable views of your sites, folders, and files, with audit history extending up to 365 days (or more, if needed). These reports don’t just reduce the burden on admins—they strengthen security and compliance, ensuring Copilot only surfaces content that should be shared. Our new reports around Sensitivity Labels help enforce data protection policies, such as DLP and retention, ensuring that your sensitive data remains secure, whether it’s for GDPR, HIPAA, or your internal standards.

External sharing? We’ve got you covered. EMS 8.3 provides comprehensive visibility into externally shared content—volume, owners, recipient domains—so you can prevent data leaks and keep Copilot’s outputs internal. Add in our LMS-based Copilot training, and you’re not just deploying AI—you’re building a culture of adoption, with power users leading the charge. With EMS 8.3, Copilot isn’t a leap of faith; it’s a strategic advantage, backed by governance, insights, and a clear path to success.

Taming the Microsoft Cloud’s Complexity

Finally, let’s talk about the cloud itself. Microsoft 365 is a powerhouse, but monitoring it can feel like chasing shadows. By spending time with our customers to improve their ENow Monitoring experience, we recognized that each environment requires greater flexibility to prevent a flood of false positive alerts in their inbox. We heard from organizations that brief performance blips sometimes triggered unnecessary escalations, creating noise. Your support teams are stretched thin, and the last thing they need is clutter distracting them from real issues.

In our EMS 8.3 release, we've enhanced our Microsoft 365 cloud monitoring to be smarter and more intuitive. We’ve invested heavily in reducing false positives, fine-tuning default thresholds to filter out noise from fleeting incidents. But we didn’t stop there—we’ve given you the flexibility to customize alerts to match your environment’s tolerances, ensuring you only get notified when it matters.

For teams with specialized roles, EMS 8.3 introduces granular email configuration and policy settings, so the right people get the right alerts—no more inbox overload. This isn’t just about cutting clutter; it’s about empowering your team to focus on what’s critical. With improved reliability and accuracy, EMS 8.3 provides you with focus and peace of mind in a complex cloud environment.

How can ENow Help? 

Whether you’re navigating economic uncertainty, embracing AI with Copilot, or taming the cloud, EMS 8.3 is your partner in turning complexity into opportunity.

We've always believed that technology should make life easier, not harder. With EMS 8.3, we’re helping you save costs, strengthen governance, and empower your teams to do their best work. Reach out, schedule a demo, and discover how ENow EMS 8.3 can enhance your Microsoft 365 experience.

Here’s to smarter Microsoft 365 management, bolder innovation with Copilot, and a future where your organization not only survives but thrives.

• To view the 8.3 Release Notes, log into your ENow portal.
• To take advantage of these new features, contact Support to upgrade!
• Want to see a demo and talk to Sales? Get in touch.