Recommendations
Purpose
The License Recommendations report helps you identify premium Microsoft licenses that are assigned to users but not actively used.
It is designed to answer simple but important questions:
Are we paying for premium licenses that nobody uses?
Which users have licenses without sign-in activity?
Where in the organization can we optimize?
By analyzing Entra ID sign-in logs, the report supports cost savings, better license governance, and subscription optimization.
Important before you start
If you are a new customer, Bsure starts collecting Entra ID sign-in logs from the day of installation.
To ensure reliable recommendations:
You should have at least 60 days of sign-in data.
If you have less than 60 days of data, use the report with caution.
Early recommendations may reflect incomplete activity history.
Always review business criticality before removing a license.
What you can use it for
Reduce license costs
Identify premium licenses assigned but not used
Reclaim unused licenses
Lower subscribed quantities in CSP
Improve license governance
Validate that premium licenses are assigned to the right users
Detect inactive or low-activity users with high-cost licenses
Support renewal planning
Clean up unused licenses before CSP renewal
Avoid paying for unnecessary renewals
How the AI recommendation works
The recommendation engine:
Analyzes Entra ID sign-in activity
Identifies users with premium licenses assigned
Detects lack of usage over time
Flags licenses as potentially unused
The engine does not evaluate business role, automation scenarios, or exceptional usage. Always validate before removal.
How to use the report
1. Review the summary at the top
The top section shows:
Total unused value (potential savings)
Use the filters to narrow your analysis:
User purpose Created date Last sign-in User state (Active / Inactive) Sign-in status Account status Search by user
This allows you to focus on relevant user groups.
2. Start with the Focus Table
The Focus Table shows:
Which premium licenses are flagged as unused
How many assignments are affected
Potential cost impact
Use this to quickly see where the largest savings opportunities are.
3. Break down by department or other properties
Use the Breakdown filter to group data by:
Department Company Country Office Manager Other attributes
This helps you:
Identify departments with over-licensing
Assign ownership for cleanup
Understand organisational patterns
4. Review individual users
The User Details table shows:
User principal name
Unused license
Last sign-in
Days since sign-in
Department
Total cost
Use this table to:
Validate whether a license is truly unused
Confirm inactivity duration
Prepare a list of licenses to reclaim
5. Take action
After validation:
Remove the license in Microsoft 365 / Entra ID
Adjust subscription quantity
This is where savings are realized.
Recommended workflow
A simple optimization process:
Ensure you have at least 60 days of data
Identify high-value unused licenses
Break down by department
Validate with manager or business owner
Reclaim licenses
Reduce subscription quantities before renewal
Repeat monthly or before subscription renewals
Last updated
Was this helpful?