software licensing - News, Features, and Slideshows

• Aussie companies caught using $200k worth of unlicensed software so far this year

  ​Australian businesses have been caught using $200,000 worth of unlicensed software so far this year, according to industry advocate BSA.

• Save millions, don't renew Microsoft Enterprise Agreements

  Renewing contracts for bulk licensing of Microsoft products may be costing businesses millions of dollars for products and services they likely won't need before the contracts run out, says an expert who helps customers negotiate the agreements.

• Software licence optimisation critical to enterprise app store success

  Gartner recently predicted that 25% of organizations will have their own app store by 2017, and while app stores can improve flexibility and empower staff, once the floodgates open it can be incredibly difficult for enterprises to manage software licensing, control entitlement and track actual software usage.

• Cloud-based legal software the way forward: BSA

  Business Software Alliance (BSA) Australia is encouraging companies and individuals to invest in cloud-based software as a way to track compliance and save money.

• Juniper finally talks SDNs

  Juniper Networks at long last has laid out its software-defined networking (SDN) strategy, which includes a revamped software licensing plan that the company says will change its business model and differentiate it from competitors.

• Use software license optimization tools to get your money's worth out of SaaS

  <em>This vendor-written tech primer has been edited by Network World to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitter's approach.</em>

• Foiled! How to beat software vendors' sneaky price increases

  Between complex licenses and the cloud, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP have lots of ways to hike up prices. Here's how to fight back

• Cisco vs. Juniper: How different are their SDN strategies?

  On the surface, Cisco and Juniper's SDN strategies seem to have sharp contrasts if recent announcements are any indication.

• Software Licensing: New Options, New Headaches

  For decades, software buyers have been engaged in an "arranged marriage" type of relationship with software vendors: too much tradition, too little choice and a partnership of unequals from a deal's beginning. Typically, these deals had two key variables: the number of seat licenses (volume) a company purchased and the amount that the software publisher was willing to discount the purchase price, which was linked back to the volume.

• Office 2010: The pros and cons for businesses

  With Office 2010 set to launch in June, businesses of all sizes are considering if it is worth the money and hassle to upgrade, especially for small and midsize companies that never moved from Office 2003 to Office 2007.

Whitepapers about software licensing

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  IDC MaturityScape: software license optimisation

  Managing the software licensing landscape within most companies is a complex task, which is made more complicated by the sheer number of contracts to be managed (hundreds, if not thousands) as well as the different types of licenses that must be administered. This IDC MaturityScape will enable organisations to refine or develop strategies for effective software license optimisation. Software license complexity will cost organizations an average of 25% of their software license budgets in 2015, industry trends such as virtualisation, cloud, and increased flexibility in software licensing have added to this challenge, IT buyers should understand the key triggers and be especially vigilant with license management.