THE CHALLENGE:
IT departments are under increasing pressure to control software costs and ensure license compliance. How many licenses are deployed, on which systems, and how frequently are they being used? These are questions that must be addressed if IT is to gain control of software assets and implement effective software compliance policies. |
Cost of software Software is expensive. You pay for it when you purchase it whether you use it or not. You pay for support. You pay to upgrade existing users and to equip new users. Some of the most expensive software in your environment is the unused. Often a standard suite of applications is installed on all computers, whether the user has need for them or not. Licenses are not always reassigned when employees leave the company. Policies and practices can change and applications can be replaced without notifying the asset management team. To create a safety net against license violation or prepare for future need, some IT departments overbuy software licenses. You shouldn't have to pay for software that isn't being used - whatever the reason. Cost of license violation Penalties for violating software license agreements can be very high, and litigation can drive costs even higher. Companies need to maintain compliance with their license agreements and be prepared to verify that compliance. Downloading and running unapproved or unlicensed applications can end up being very expensive. Unintentional license violations can be subject to the same kinds of penalties as intentional violations. You can't afford to let unauthorized software run on company computers. The Gartner Group projects that by 2005 there will likely be a 20% increase in the number of audits ordered by both industry protection groups such as BSA, FAST and SIAA/SPA, and by software vendors themselves ("Ensure Software License Compliance Prior to an Audit" TG-19-3309). The chances that you will need to demonstrate compliance or risk penalty is increasing daily. Aggressively manage software assets Many companies implement software asset management policies. It analyzes the software installed on each computer to reconcile license purchases with installs, to plan future software purchases, and to ensure compliance with existing software license agreements. Even with automated inventory scanning, this can be a difficult, time-consuming process that's prone to error. Reconciling software version numbers, name changes, and undocumented installs increases the chances of violating license agreements despite tracking efforts. You need a comprehensive software monitoring, tracking, reporting, and license reconciliation solution. Return to top of page >> | 
