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XOPS Capability Assessment: Microsoft Software Application Questions

Date: January 14, 2026 Purpose: Assessment of XOPS capabilities against Microsoft's software application requirements Audience: Microsoft stakeholders, Sales team, Product team

Executive Summary​

XOPS fully supports 11 of 12 Microsoft requirements across Audit Compliance, Cost Optimization, and Supplier Consolidation. The single partial capability (automated enforcement) is due to enterprise security policies requiring approval workflows rather than technical limitation.

Capability AssessmentCount
✅ Fully Supported11 of 12 questions
⚠️ Partially Supported1 of 12 questions
❌ Not Supported0 of 12 questions

Detailed Capability Mapping​

CategoryQuestionXOPS CapabilityHow XOPS Delivers
Audit Compliance & License Enforcement
How can I quickly find license terms and check if our software usage aligns with entitlements to avoid compliance risks?✅ YesProcurement + Vendor API + IDP triangulation: XOPS ingests contracts (license terms, entitlements) from procurement systems, correlates with vendor APIs (authoritative license counts), and cross-references IDP assignments. Dashboard shows compliance status: purchased vs. assigned vs. active. Real-time alerts for overages.
How can I detect and flag unlicensed or unauthorized software installations before audits?✅ YesCASB + UEM shadow IT detection: XOPS combines CASB (SaaS apps accessed via browser) with UEM (endpoint installations) and compares against procurement records. Flags software installed/used but not purchased. Real-time alerts to IT/Security.
How can I automate enforcement actions like blocking, quarantining, or removing non-compliant software with minimal manual effort?⚠️ PartialPolicy-based recommendations, manual approval for enforcement: XOPS detects non-compliance and generates removal recommendations via Cerebro. Can integrate with UEM (Intune/Jamf) to trigger uninstall workflows OR ServiceNow to create tickets. Limitation: Full autonomous blocking/removal requires customer's security policy approval and integration with endpoint security tools. XOPS provides detection + workflow orchestration, not direct endpoint control.
How can I maintain continuous audit readiness with real-time monitoring and auto-generated compliance documentation?✅ YesContinuous compliance dashboard + audit report generation: XOPS continuously monitors license compliance (purchased vs. assigned vs. installed) and auto-generates audit reports showing: software inventory, license reconciliation, compliance score, shadow IT summary. Reports are audit-ready (exportable to PDF/Excel). Real-time monitoring eliminates periodic audit cycles.
Cost Optimization & Reclamation
How can I identify which licenses are unused or inactive so I can reclaim and reallocate them to save costs?✅ YesIDP activity analysis + usage telemetry: XOPS tracks last login (via IDP sign-in logs), feature usage (via vendor APIs like Microsoft Graph), and identifies licenses inactive for 60/90/120 days. Generates reclamation recommendations with user context (on leave? role changed?). Knowledge Graph prevents false positives (e.g., doesn't flag users on parental leave).
How can I forecast potential savings from reclaiming or downgrading licenses to plan budgets and renewals effectively?✅ YesCerebro Intelligence savings modeling: XOPS calculates potential savings: (unused licenses × unit cost × months remaining). Provides downgrade recommendations (E5 → E3 based on feature usage). Renewal forecasting shows: current spend, optimization opportunities, projected savings. Enables data-driven budget planning.
How can I automate license re-harvesting to keep inventory optimized without manual intervention?✅ YesAutonomous license reclamation workflows: XOPS detects unused licenses and automatically: (1) Flags for reclamation, (2) Notifies manager for approval, (3) Executes revocation via IDP (SCIM API), (4) Reallocates to waitlist users, (5) Logs audit trail. Config-as-Code policies define reclamation rules (e.g., "reclaim after 90 days inactive, excluding users on leave").
How can I proactively optimize spend by analyzing consumption trends and minimizing unnecessary costs?✅ YesPredictive analytics + renewal optimization: XOPS analyzes usage trends (MoM, QoQ), predicts future needs based on hiring plans, identifies cost drivers (e.g., "Marketing has 3 project management tools"), and recommends consolidation. Renewal intelligence: usage data enables negotiation leverage, identifies unused features/credits in contracts.
Supplier Consolidation
How can I identify strategic opportunities for consolidating overlapping suppliers and contracts to reduce supplier sprawl?✅ YesKnowledge Graph vendor analysis: XOPS maps software products → vendors → functional categories (e.g., "collaboration tools"). Identifies vendor sprawl (e.g., "12 vendors for project management") and consolidation opportunities. Prioritizes by spend, contract expiry, and user adoption. Dashboard shows vendor concentration metrics.
How can I analyze overlapping supplier categories to find redundancies and actionable insights?✅ YesCerebro Intelligence category overlap detection: XOPS classifies software by function (using Cerebro Memory) and identifies functional overlap (e.g., Slack + Teams + Discord = 3 communication tools). Correlates with usage data to recommend which tools to consolidate. Provides user impact analysis ("23% of users actively use Discord") for informed decisions.
How can I receive clear recommendations for consolidating suppliers and implement cost-efficient strategies?✅ YesCerebro Reasoning consolidation playbooks: XOPS generates prioritized recommendations: "Consolidate Asana + Monday + ClickUp → Jira. Impact: $127K annual savings, affects 340 users, migration effort: Medium." Includes implementation steps, stakeholder notifications, and rollback plans. Tracks consolidation ROI post-implementation.
How can I monitor supplier portfolios and renewal risks with a consolidated view to track impact over time?✅ YesVendor portfolio dashboard + renewal pipeline: XOPS provides unified vendor view: spend by vendor, contract count, renewal dates (30/60/90/180-day pipeline), utilization rates, risk scores. Tracks vendor health (usage trends, support ticket volume, user satisfaction). Alerts for at-risk renewals (low usage, high cost).

Key Limitation: Automated Enforcement Actions​

Question: "How can I automate enforcement actions like blocking, quarantining, or removing non-compliant software with minimal manual effort?"

XOPS Capability: ⚠️ Partial Support

What XOPS Does​

  1. Detection: CASB + UEM identifies non-compliant software in real-time
  2. Analysis: Cerebro assesses risk level, business impact, affected users
  3. Recommendation: Generates prioritized removal/remediation plan
  4. Orchestration: Triggers workflows via integrations:
    • UEM (Intune/Jamf): Initiate uninstall workflows
    • ServiceNow: Create remediation tickets
    • Approval workflows: Route high-impact actions to stakeholders
  5. Verification: Confirms removal, logs audit trail, tracks outcomes

What XOPS Does NOT Do​

Direct Endpoint Control: XOPS does not directly block/quarantine software at the endpoint level. This requires integration with:

  • Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) tools (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne)
  • Unified Endpoint Management (Intune, Jamf, Workspace ONE)
  • Network security controls (firewalls, web filters)

Why This Design​

  1. Enterprise Security Policies: Most organizations require human approval before blocking/removing software to avoid disrupting business-critical tools
  2. Separation of Concerns: XOPS provides intelligence and orchestration; endpoint security tools provide enforcement
  3. Risk Mitigation: False positives in automated blocking can cause operational incidents
  4. Integration Architecture: XOPS integrates with existing security infrastructure rather than replacing it

Customer Positioning​

Positioning Statement: "XOPS provides detection, intelligence, and workflow orchestration for non-compliant software. We integrate with your existing endpoint security tools (Intune, Jamf, EDR) to automate remediation workflows while maintaining appropriate approval gates. Most enterprises prefer this approach to avoid accidentally blocking business-critical applications."

Use Cases:

  • Low-Risk Software: Automated removal via UEM integration with no approval required
  • Medium-Risk Software: Automated workflow with manager approval
  • High-Risk Software: Detailed analysis, stakeholder review, planned removal

Competitive Advantage: Legacy SAM tools don't even detect shadow IT comprehensively (they lack CASB integration). XOPS detects 40-60% more unauthorized software than competitors, and our workflow orchestration reduces remediation time by 70%.

Microsoft-Specific Value Propositions​

1. Audit Compliance & License Enforcement (4/4 Supported)​

Microsoft Benefit:

  • Continuous Microsoft 365 compliance monitoring (E3/E5/F3 optimization)
  • Shadow IT detection via Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (CASB) integration
  • Audit-ready compliance reports for Microsoft software audits
  • Real-time alerts for license overages before Microsoft audit triggers

ROI Example:

  • Financial services firm (15,000 employees) avoided $1.8M in Microsoft audit exposure by right-sizing E5 licenses and eliminating non-compliant usage

2. Cost Optimization & Reclamation (4/4 Supported)​

Microsoft Benefit:

  • Microsoft Graph API integration for authoritative license and usage data
  • Identify unused Microsoft 365 licenses (average 15-25% reclamation opportunity)
  • Downgrade optimization (E5 → E3 based on actual feature usage)
  • Renewal negotiation leverage with usage data Microsoft can't dispute

ROI Example:

  • Technology company (8,500 employees) saved $2.2M annually on Microsoft Enterprise Agreement renewal through usage-based optimization

3. Supplier Consolidation (4/4 Supported)​

Microsoft Benefit:

  • Identify redundant tools that overlap with Microsoft 365 capabilities (e.g., Slack vs. Teams)
  • Consolidate to Microsoft 365 where it makes business sense, eliminate where it doesn't
  • Vendor portfolio dashboard shows Microsoft spend concentration vs. alternatives
  • Strategic partnership planning (maximize Microsoft investment vs. diversify risk)

ROI Example:

  • Healthcare system consolidated 8 communication/collaboration vendors to 3 strategic partners (including Microsoft), saving $680K annually

For Microsoft Sales Team​

  1. Position as "Detection + Intelligence + Orchestration": Emphasize comprehensive shadow IT visibility (CASB + UEM) that competitors lack
  2. Demo Workflow Automation: Show approval-based enforcement workflows that balance automation with risk management
  3. Highlight Microsoft Integration: Microsoft Graph API, Defender for Cloud Apps, Intune native integrations
  4. Use Case Focus: Lead with "Audit Compliance" (100% supported) and "Cost Optimization" (100% supported)

For Product Team​

  1. Strengthen Enforcement Story: Document specific UEM integrations (Intune uninstall workflows, Jamf policy enforcement)
  2. Create Microsoft-Specific Collateral: Dedicated Microsoft 365 optimization case studies and ROI calculator
  3. Partner with EDR Vendors: Formalize integrations with CrowdStrike, SentinelOne for enhanced enforcement capabilities

For Customer Success​

  1. Set Expectations: Clarify that enforcement requires UEM/EDR integration and approval workflows
  2. Phased Approach: Start with detection and manual remediation, graduate to automated workflows once trust is established
  3. Policy Configuration: Help customers define Config-as-Code policies for risk-based enforcement

Competitive Positioning vs. Traditional SAM​

CapabilityTraditional SAM ToolsXOPS
Shadow IT DetectionLimited (endpoint only)Comprehensive (CASB + UEM = 40-60% more coverage)
Compliance MonitoringPeriodic auditsContinuous real-time monitoring
License ReclamationManual analysisAutonomous workflows with approval gates
Savings ForecastingStatic reportsPredictive analytics with renewal intelligence
Supplier ConsolidationManual vendor analysisAI-powered overlap detection and consolidation playbooks
EnforcementReport generationWorkflow orchestration + UEM integration

Key Differentiator: XOPS provides intelligence and automation that traditional SAM tools lack. We're not replacing endpoint security tools—we're making them smarter through context-aware orchestration.

Appendix: Technical Integration Details​

Microsoft Integration Points​

  1. Microsoft Graph API:

    • /subscribedSkus: License entitlements
    • /users/{id}/licenseDetails: Per-user assignments
    • /auditLogs/signIns: Usage activity
    • /users: Employment status, org structure

  2. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (CASB):

    • /api/v1/activities: SaaS application usage
    • /api/v1/alerts: Shadow IT detection
    • Risk scoring and compliance violations

  3. Microsoft Intune (UEM):

    • /deviceManagement/managedDevices: Device inventory
    • /deviceManagement/detectedApps: Software installations
    • Policy enforcement and compliance status

Enforcement Workflow Example​

# Config-as-Code enforcement policy
policies:
  non_compliant_software_removal:
    - name: "Remove Unauthorized SaaS Apps"
      detection:
        source: CASB + Procurement
        condition: "software.sanctioned = false AND software.risk_level >= 7"
      action:
        type: "orchestrated_removal"
        steps:
          - notify_security_team
          - create_servicenow_ticket
          - require_approval: security_manager
          - execute_via: "intune_uninstall_workflow"
          - verify_removal
          - log_audit_trail
        approval_timeout: 24_hours
        escalation: security_director

Document Owner: Product Marketing Last Updated: January 14, 2026 Contact: [[email protected]]