Microsoft Audit Roadmap

Microsoft offers an array of software licensing options for its business customers. However, during an audit, the timing and course of the project typically follows a fairly well-worn path:

1. Kickoff meeting. At this step, Microsoft's hired auditors (typically PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Deloitte & Touche, KPMG, Ernst & Young or Unified Logic) will schedule a meeting to discuss their agenda and timing goals for the review. The timing goals typically are aggressive, and companies should be prepared to push back if they would produce a burden to business operations.
2. Data collection. During this phase, the audited company will gather information regarding its hardware, the Microsoft products installed on that hardware, and the users accessing those products. This phase typically requires the most time to complete and can last anywhere from two weeks to two months or more.