What if Microsoft pulls the plug?

Intro

Digital dependency isn't just theoretical. More and more organizations rely — partially or fully — on Microsoft's infrastructure, cloud services or user accounts. It's convenient, reliable and widely adopted. Until something goes wrong. What happens if Microsoft suddenly cuts off access to your environment?

It may sound like a worst-case scenario, but it's happening more often than you think. Accounts are being suspended without clear explanation, customer support is slow to respond, and users find themselves locked out of Outlook, SharePoint or Teams. You're left watching helplessly.

How vulnerable is your organization?

It usually starts with a small issue: a confusing compliance alert, a licensing error, or a billing discrepancy. In some cases, even a simple mistake can trigger an account suspension — or worse, a full lockdown of your digital environment.

If your business operations rely heavily on Microsoft, this can lead to:

• inaccessible email and communication tools

• blocked access to cloud platforms and documents

• interruption of mission-critical workflows

• compliance or contractual breaches

Lock-ins amplify the damage

Most organizations don't realize how deep their dependency runs — until it's too late. Licensing, storage, collaboration tools, identity management, CRM... everything lives in one ecosystem. While convenient, it concentrates risk in a single point of failure.

That's why digital sovereignty is more than a buzzword. It's a strategy for control — legal, technical and operational.

How to reduce the risk?

At AltF7, we help businesses regain control over their digital infrastructure. It starts with transparency: do you know how many of your critical systems rely solely on Microsoft?

Steps you can take today:

• use hybrid cloud or multi-vendor setups

• keep identity management outside Microsoft's reach

• maintain separate backups or email gateways

• request a software audit or second opinion

• review your legal position on data access and vendor terms

What if it's already too late?

If you've been locked out, time is your most valuable asset. Don't wait days or weeks for answers. AltF7 offers emergency assistance:

• technical diagnosis and escalation

• legal support and remediation

• restoring access and minimizing downtime

• long-term strategies to prevent repeat issues

Digital control starts with awareness

Trusting a major cloud vendor makes sense — total dependence does not. If you're unsure about your current level of risk, let us help. Request a no-obligation audit or ask for a second opinion. At AltF7, we empower your business with resilience, autonomy and clarity.