Free ESXi Is Back! But What’s the Catch?

Broadcom quietly revives VMware’s free hypervisor, and the virtualization world takes notice. In a quiet yet significant pivot, Broadcom has reinstated the free version of VMware ESXi, the widely used Type 1 hypervisor, just over a year after pulling the plug on it. The return was noted subtly in the release notes for vSphere 8.0 Update…

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Adobe Retires VIP Commercial Program: Transition to VIP Marketplace by May 31, 2025

Adobe has officially announced the retirement of its Value Incentive Plan (VIP) for commercial segment customers, with a complete transition to the VIP Marketplace required by May 31, 2025. This change affects all commercial customers globally, including those who had previously received extensions to the migration deadline. After this date, end-users remaining under the VIP…

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Upcoming Price Increase and Changes to Microsoft On-Prem Server Licensing

Microsoft has announced significant licensing and pricing changes for its on-premises server products, effective July 1, 2025. These updates will impact organizations relying on Exchange Server, Skype for Business Server, and SharePoint Server. As the software asset management (SAM) landscape evolves, understanding these changes is crucial for maintaining compliance and optimizing costs.  What’s Changing? 1.…

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Introducing NEO Support: AI-Powered Customer Support for Licenseware Products

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of NEO Support, a specialized version of our beloved AI licensing chatbot, NEO, tailored specifically for customer support inquiries related to Licenseware products. Why NEO Support? The standout feature of NEO Support is its training—it’s exclusively trained on our own documentation! This laser-focused approach ensures accurate, reliable, and specific answers…

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DOGE Bites Oracle: Pentagon’s $280M Oracle HR Software Fiasco Spotlights Need for Smarter Licensing

Behind the Oracle HR Software Debacle The Pentagon has decisively terminated a massive human resources software project, built on Oracle technology, after it ballooned $280 million over budget and fell dramatically behind schedule. This cancellation is a significant blow to Oracle, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and the efficiency of large-scale government software licensing and…

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US Lawmakers Revisit Software Licensing Bill: What It Means for Your SAM Strategy

In a significant move for government IT management, lawmakers are once again introducing the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act. The bill aims to standardize and improve software licensing practices across federal agencies, addressing persistent issues of inefficiency, overspending, and compliance risk. “By improving transparency, reducing duplication, and leveraging enterprise licensing, we…

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Major Update for VMware Customers: minimum purchase requirement of 72 cores per product

If you’re managing VMware licenses, this development demands your immediate attention. Starting April 10, 2025, VMware customers will face significant licensing changes following Broadcom’s updated policies. The update introduces a minimum purchase requirement of 72 cores per product, not a per-CPU licensing requirement of 72 cores as initially reported. What’s Changing? What This Means for You…

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VMware’s Lawsuit Against Siemens: A Stark Reminder to Get Your Software Licensing in Order

In a significant development for the software licensing industry, VMware, now a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc., has initiated legal proceedings against Siemens AG and several of its U.S.-based subsidiaries. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, accuses Siemens of copyright infringement related to unauthorized usage of VMware software. The…

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Oracle Data Breach: Important Information and Steps to Protect Your Organization

On March 21, 2025, a user going by rose87168 posted on BreachForums claiming to have compromised Oracle Cloud, a widely-used platform in enterprises worldwide. According to the alleged breach details, the attacker gained access through the login portal login.[region-name].oraclecloud.com . The stolen database reportedly contains sensitive data, including: While Oracle has publicly denied the occurrence of any security…

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Licenseware Recognized as a High Performer on G2 Grid for SAM Tools

The latest G2 Grid for Software Asset Management (SAM) tools has just been released, and Licenseware is honored to once again be recognized as a High Performer, driven largely by our exceptional customer satisfaction ratings. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to providing intuitive, flexible, and effective SAM solutions that meet the evolving needs of…

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Introducing NEO – Your Free AI-Powered Licensing Chatbot

We have some BIG NEWS! 🎉 NEO, our Gen AI licensing chatbot, is now officially available to everyone. And it’s completely FREE of charge! What is NEO? NEO is an AI-powered chatbot designed to simplify software licensing. Built using advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, NEO can:✅ Answer complex licensing queries instantly✅ Provide…

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Est. global distribution of ITAM, SAM, Software Licensing, and Licensing Auditor professionals

🌎 North America Metric Estimate ITAM Professionals ~100,000 SAM Professionals ~75,000 Software Licensing Professionals ~50,000 Software Licensing Auditors ~12,000 Primary Sources – IAITAM membership data 🌍 Europe Metric Estimate ITAM Professionals ~60,000 SAM Professionals ~45,000 Software Licensing Professionals ~30,000 Software Licensing Auditors ~10,000 Primary Sources – ITAM Forum EU and other regional associations 🌏 Asia-Pacific…

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ITAM, SAM, SLC Job market insights 2024

Another year has passed, and SAM & ITAM jobs still haven’t been automated by AI 😆 Over the past year, I’ve shared over 800 job opportunities via my weekly job post for SAM & ITAM roles. I’m pleased to have Shaun by my side this year to accelerate our community efforts. He’ll take the front seat while…

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Licenseware Featured in Gartner’s Market Guide for SAM Tools

We’re humbled and excited to be included in Gartner’s latest Market Guide for Software Asset Management (SAM) Tools! 💙 Why This Recognition Matters Gartner’s Market Guide provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving SAM landscape, helping organizations navigate the complex world of software licensing, compliance, and cost optimization. Being featured highlights Licenseware’s commitment to providing…

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Welcoming Shaun Ashbury to Licenseware! 🚀

We’re thrilled to announce an amazing new addition to the Licenseware team—Shaun Ashbury! 🎉 A Recognized Leader in ITAM Talent & Solutions For over a decade, Shaun has been a driving force in the IT Asset Management (ITAM) industry, helping organizations and service providers connect with the right talent to tackle complex ITAM challenges. His…

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A New Chapter for Licenseware: Welcoming Our New CTO

We are thrilled to announce a pivotal change in our leadership team as we enter the next phase of growth and innovation at Licenseware. Adrian Steps Up as CTO & Co-Founder Effective today, Adrian, our talented Lead Data Engineer, will take on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Co-Founder. Over the past three…

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Welcoming David Foxen to Licenseware’s Advisory Board! 🎉

We are excited and honored to welcome David Foxen to Licenseware’s Advisory Board! 🎊 At Licenseware, we’ve always emphasized that feedback is key to developing solutions that solve real-world ITAM challenges—not just those we see from within our own walls. Having industry veterans like David on board ensures that our innovations align with actual market…

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🎉 Happy bday, Licenseware! 🎉

This month, Licenseware turns four. Four years might seem short, but in startup years, it’s a lifetime of challenges, growth, and relentless drive. We started our journey in 2020 amid a global pandemic—one of the worst times to launch a startup. Since then, we’ve weathered the macroeconomic conditions of a global recession, stock market crashes,…

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