For a long time, Vector has promoted the idea of Software Asset Optimization as a best practice approach to managing software assets. Our view is that management of software assets is never properly ‘joined-up’ until equal weight is given to the four elements of Quantifying what your organization really needs. So often, this is largely overlooked … Continue reading Software Asset Optimization – right for today
I just found this synopsis of a study by Computer Economics of the increasing maturity of IT Asset Management. The main report is only free to subscribers of the site, but the synopsis on its own contains useful comments on the scope and economic justifications for adopting IT Asset Management.
It’s been encouraging to hear that our Software Compliance and Optimization solution recently enabled another customer to respond comprehensively to the demands of a Microsoft license audit. With over 2,000+ PCs highly dispersed across the US, it was necessary to provide evidence of reliable and recent identification of every deployment of Windows, Office and other … Continue reading Microsoft Audit: A Complete Response
I read, with interest, this blog post which claims many business are finding BSA and SIIA audits costing them thousands because of settlement claims. The post says expectations of some companies as to the settlement figure is far too low, resulting in “unpleasant surprises”. These can be avoid though, as can audits in the first … Continue reading “Unpleasant surprises” can be avoided, saving thousands
I heard last week about an organization that had been asked by a major software supplier to cooperate with an audit. Some time later, the organization produced a tally of the total copies installed of each of the supplier’s applications. Turns out, that’s never going to be enough. Unless maintenance is totally up to date … Continue reading Counting installs is not enough for software license audit
In a recent press release, Robert J. Scott of Scott & Scott, LLP highlighted what his organization feels to be some common mistakes that companies make when presented with an audit request from BSA, SIIA or a software vendor. He lists – Failure to compile and produce accurate installation information. Relying on internal IT staff to … Continue reading Avoiding audit hassles with license optimization
Well known Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley alerts us to a new report from Microsoft Directions with some very useful observations for any organization interested in reducing its annual spend on Microsoft renewals. The negotation process to minimize that spend is going to be illuminated and strengthened for the end-user organization if they have clear information … Continue reading Microsoft Agreement Renewal Coming Up? Get Smart!
A colleague pointed me the blog of Ray Wang of Forrester Research, at http://blog.softwareinsider.org/ where his post for March 24th provides some guidance for organizations looking to squeeze costs out of their operations wherever possible. The notes make absolute sense, but they point to the need to understand application usage, not just where it is installed. Software … Continue reading Five Simple Steps to Reducing Software Maintenance Costs
I’ve just read an interesting post on this topic on ZDnet, making the case that the advent of cloud computing is going to raise users’ expectations of performance, which will in turn drive the need for a much higher level of analytical information on the performance of all the key elements of the cloud infrastructure. … Continue reading System Analytics and Cloud Computing / SaaS
It’s too much of a coincidence that we are seeing more interest now in the combined virtues of Software Inventory and Application Software Usage Measurement. Software Inventory in support of compliance audit has always been seen as something of a gamble as far as RoI is concerned. Each organization is unsure as to whether it … Continue reading Tough economic climate drives a shift in SAM focus?