IT Supplier News, Insight, and Market Intelligence.
In this issue:
A Note from Kellsey Le, NET(net) CEO: Strength in Relationships
How You Can Tame AI-Driven IT Costs Before It Eats Your Entire 2026 Budget
Oracle's Java Audit Tour: "We're Just Checking In"
Microsoft's July Pricing Cliff is Just Six Weeks Away: Are You Positioned?
Over the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to spend time in Jackson Hole with a private equity partner, portfolio executives, longtime clients, and a number of new relationships as well. Events like these are always a valuable reminder that while markets, technologies, and headlines continue to change, the conversations that matter most to business leaders remain remarkably consistent.
Yes, there is no shortage of uncertainty in the world right now. Geopolitical tensions, economic pressure, AI disruption, and shifting technology landscapes are creating challenges across nearly every industry. But sitting across the table from executives responsible for running businesses, operating portfolios, and leading teams, the priorities remain grounded in fundamentals: taking care of people, controlling costs, driving growth, building resilient organizations, and trying to create meaningful careers and lasting relationships along the way.
One of the things I continue to appreciate most about this industry is that despite the scale of the companies, the complexity of the deals, or the pace of change, business is still deeply personal. The strongest partnerships are built on trust, consistency, and shared objectives over time. Reconnecting with so many familiar faces, while also building new relationships, was a reminder that long-term success is rarely built alone.
As always, we appreciate the trust our clients and partners place in NET(net)! We look forward to continuing to help organizations navigate complexity, create value, and stay ahead of the market in the months ahead.
- Kellsey
By: Tjeerd Edelman
For many organizations, Microsoft renewals have become routine. This summer, they should not be. Beginning in July, Microsoft pricing changes are set to materially increase costs across several key Microsoft 365 licensing categories. Frontline SKUs are expected to rise approximately 25% to 33%, while many business-tier offerings are increasing 12% to 17%.
For organizations renewing Enterprise Agreements (EAs) or cloud subscriptions in Q3, the window to influence commercial outcomes is rapidly closing.
The challenge is not simply the increase itself. It is that many organizations are approaching renewal discussions with the same posture they used in prior years, despite a fundamentally different pricing environment.
Artificial Intelligence was supposed to make businesses more efficient.
Instead, for many executives, it currently resembles a very intelligent toddler with access to the corporate credit card.
AI initiatives are exploding across enterprises in 2026. Boards want AI. Business units want AI. Vendors definitely want AI. Everyone has a “transformational” roadmap, a usage-based pricing model, and an urgent recommendation that you scale immediately.
What nobody seems eager to discuss is the invoice.
By now, many enterprise IT and procurement leaders are becoming familiar with a particular type of Oracle email. It usually starts innocently enough.
“Hi, we’d like to better understand your Java environment.”
Or perhaps:
“We noticed some historical Java downloads and would appreciate a quick conversation.”
Naturally, nobody has ever regretted replying to one of those emails (/s).
In 2026, there is substantial evidence among our Clients and across the industry that Oracle is using Java audits as far more than a routine compliance exercise. Increasingly, Java has become a strategic entry point into broader revenue expansion conversations, subscription growth initiatives, and enterprise-wide commercial negotiations.
