Issue

Syensqo needs a standardized mechanism for assigning Microsoft licenses to different employee personas (Blue Collar, Contractor, White Collar, Cadre) to ensure compliance, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with business needs.

Recommendation

Adopt the following license assignment mechanism:

Background & Context

Syensqo’s transition from Google Workspace to M365 is a key IT initiative facing every Syensqo employee. The company’s diverse workforce includes blue collar workers, contractors, white collar employees, and cadres, each with different IT requirements.

Microsoft licenses (F3 and E5) offer varying levels of functionality and cost, making it essential to match license types to actual needs.

• E5 License: Full-featured M365 license with desktop apps, advanced security, and analytics.
• F3 License: Web-based M365 license for basic productivity and collaboration.
• F3 + E5 Add-On: In special cases, an F3 user may need advanced E5 features (like enhanced security). An E5 add-on can be assigned to cover these needs without granting a full E5 license.

Assumptions

• Blue collar and contractor roles typically do not require a dedicated device or full Office suite access.
• White collar and cadre roles require advanced productivity tools and security features provided by E5 licenses.
• Exceptions for device allocation to blue collar and contractors will be managed through a defined approval process.
• The “Non-blue collar nor contractor” category requires further clarification before a license policy can be set.

Constraints

• Budget limitations may restrict the purchase of additional licenses.
• Changes to license assignment may impact user access (limitation for M365 application, Fat client vs Web versions) during and after the migration period.
• Integration with MyID may require additional development.

Differences between E5 and F3+E5

See also

The following section describes relevant documentation: