The consultancy division of the Federation Against Software Theft (Fast) has become a Microsoft Certified Partner in the UK.

Joining Microsoft's Software Asset Management programme means that Fast is qualified to deliver Microsoft licence reviews to end user organisations.

Having undertaken one of these reviews, companies obtain an "effective licence position" for all of their Microsoft applications.

Once successfully completed, organisations are issued with a certificate stating that no further Microsoft licence reviews are necessary for 12 months.

Fast already provides education and training programmes covering software compliance to over 8,000 UK businesses.

But the new partnership means that Fast Consultancy is now in a position to provide the most up-to-date information and advice on Microsoft licensing to members of its Corporate Services programme and to non-member organisations.

Taisha Betz, Software Asset Management programme and partner manager at Microsoft, said: "Managing software assets can be a daunting, often complex and time consuming task.

"If you have limited resources it can be difficult to know where to start. Our structured programme puts organisations in control of their software assets, and most importantly ensures that they stay legal."

This is the first in a series of new supplier relationships as part of an initiative by Fast Consultancy to get closer to all the major software vendors.