Do's And Don'ts: How To Save Big Bucks On Software Licenses
The SearchWindowsManageability Site has this interesting article.
"Businesses lose millions each year because they are too lazy to do
a good job managing software licenses, according to licensing expert
Laura DiDio."
IT managers may realize poor license management costs them money and
increases the risk for penalties. Yet, they still procrastinate to
create effective license management processes, said DiDio, principal
of Information Technology Intelligence Corp (ITIC). They don't jump
through hoops to take charge and figure it out either, said DiDio.
"It's like, 'I know I should clean out the garage, but it's a sunny
day today so why should I?'"
Didio is the co-author of the recently released report: "Microsoft
Licensing 6.0 Program: Practical, Tactical Advice for Negotiating
the Best Deal," available at Sunbelt Software, see link below.
Several IT professionals attending last week's Windows Decisions
conference in Chicago, Ill admitted they have weak license management
practices, too. Yet, some have home grown management practices in
place that could rival any software company. DiDio and the attendees
shared what to do to keep software up-to-date, computers in compliance
and save money by not spending too much on licenses.
Don't buy licenses you don't need, and don't overbuy licenses. Some
organizations, for example, will buy a server license but not buy
enough client access licenses (CALs). "They're out of compliance and
in line for penalty," DiDio said.
Do invest in license management tools. Three weeks ago, Kevin Rost
bought Track-it! Rost, manager of network technologies at Autostock
International in Barnaby, British Columbia, took charge of his system.
Track-it! is a Web-based PC management system from Tampa, Fl-based
Blue Ocean Software. "We'll use it for licensing right through to
hardware," he said.
Do have a method to know if you're paying too much for licenses. Even
if it means you buy everything through a value added reseller (VAR).
That's what Rost does. "Everything we get is with a license directly
through Microsoft. So, it's really a registration process," he said.
"We don't actually go out and buy a copy of a license. We get a piece
of paper telling us we can install that software or application."
Do create an in-house auditing system and keep licenses updated
manually like Rick Woffard, Information Systems Coordinator at Hydro-
gear, in Sullivan, IL. "We ensure compliance through the in-house
auditing," he said. Yet, "We probably don't know if we're paying
too much for software," Woffard admitted with a laugh. No, he does
not have a method to make sure his company gets a good deal.
Do figure out what's on your network for security's sake, said DiDio.
"Different versions of software require different patches." If you know
what's there, you'll have an easier time getting the right patches in
place in a timely manner. Also, "if you're not getting a true account,
you may be gypping yourself out of higher licensing discount levels."
Full article here:
http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=020520RN-Save_Big_Bucks
The complete 50+-page report on how to get the best licensing deal
from MS is here:
http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=020520RN-MS_Licensing
This issue of W2Knews™ contains:
