Software Price Increases Roundup 2024 – 2025

The enterprise software landscape in 2025 has experienced unprecedented price increases that fundamentally challenge traditional IT budget planning and procurement strategies. This comprehensive analysis reveals a coordinated industry shift toward more aggressive pricing models, driven by market consolidation, artificial intelligence monetization, and the transition from perpetual to subscription-based licensing. Scale and Scope of Price Increases…

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Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Licensing Guide

SQL Server 2025 represents Microsoft’s most significant advancement in database technology, positioning itself as the premier AI-ready enterprise database platform. This latest version introduces groundbreaking vector data types, enhanced cloud integration capabilities, and substantial performance improvements that make it ideal for modern data-driven applications [1]. Understanding the licensing landscape is crucial for organizations looking to…

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Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Licensing Guide

This comprehensive guide is designed to help IT professionals, system administrators, and procurement specialists understand the licensing model for Windows Server 2025. Proper licensing is essential for compliance, cost optimization, and ensuring your organization has the right capabilities to meet its business needs. Windows Server 2025 is Microsoft’s cloud-ready operating system that enables organizations to…

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Microsoft System Center 2025 Licensing Guide

Microsoft System Center 2025 represents the latest evolution in Microsoft’s comprehensive datacenter management solution. It provides organizations with powerful tools for monitoring, automating, and provisioning their software-defined datacenter infrastructure. The solution enhances productivity and security through seamless integration with Azure security, backup, and log analytics tools. System Center 2025 continues Microsoft’s commitment to providing robust…

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Strategic Advantage: The Benefits of Locking in Favorable License Terms with Early-Stage Software Companies

Organizations face constant pressure to optimize their software investments while maintaining flexibility and control over their IT infrastructure. One often overlooked strategy that can yield significant long-term benefits is securing favorable license terms with early-stage software companies. Whether considering perpetual licenses, on-premise deployments, or even SaaS arrangements, early engagement with emerging software vendors presents unique…

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Improved Service, Less Cost: The Real Benefits of Third-Party Software Maintenance

In the world of enterprise software, there’s a persistent myth that has influenced IT decision-making for decades: lower cost inevitably means lower quality service. This misconception has kept many organizations tethered to expensive vendor maintenance contracts despite rising costs and diminishing returns. The reality, however, tells a different story. Third-party software maintenance providers aren’t just…

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Navigating Software Audits: How Third-Party Support Can Mitigate Audit Risks

Software audits have become an increasingly common reality for organizations using enterprise software from vendors like Oracle and Microsoft. These audits can be disruptive, expensive, and potentially damaging to both finances and reputation when companies are found non-compliant. While many IT leaders view audits as inevitable headaches, third-party support providers offer a strategic advantage that’s…

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Freedom from Vendor Lock-in: Why Third-Party Support Empowers Your Business

Businesses often find themselves trapped in relationships with software vendors that limit their options and dictate their IT roadmaps. This phenomenon, known as vendor lock-in, is particularly prevalent with enterprise software giants like Oracle and Microsoft. Their business models are designed to create dependency, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to chart their own technological…

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Uncovering Hidden Savings: How Third-Party Support Optimizes Your IT Budget

In today’s challenging economic climate, IT leaders are constantly looking for ways to optimize their budgets without compromising on quality or security. One strategy that’s gaining significant traction is the adoption of third-party support for enterprise software systems. This approach is revolutionizing how organizations manage their IT maintenance costs, particularly for major platforms like Oracle…

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Lessons from US Government Oversight: How Effective Software License Management Protects Your IT Budget

Software licenses represent a significant investment for organizations of all sizes. Yet, as a recent congressional oversight hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) revealed, even government agencies spending over $1 billion annually on software can struggle with fundamental license management [ 🔗 Read press release here ]. For IT managers, CIOs, and procurement…

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Is Microsoft’s Licensing Model Fueling Security Risks?

Microsoft’s recent security issue, aptly dubbed “BadSuccessor”, highlights deeper concerns within the software giant’s approach—not just to security, but to licensing and market dominance as well. Specifically, the exploitation of default Managed Service Accounts (dMSA) to escalate privileges within Active Directory underscores a broader issue: how Microsoft’s licensing and product strategy can inadvertently introduce significant security…

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VMware’s Mandatory Compliance Reporting: What You Need to Know

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has led to significant changes in licensing terms and conditions, notably affecting compliance reporting obligations. A crucial update that has slipped under the radar for many users is the Mandatory Compliance Reporting requirement embedded in VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) licensing documentation. Understanding Mandatory Compliance Reporting Under Broadcom’s VMware licensing, customers must submit compliance…

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Broadcom Faces EU Scrutiny Over Controversial VMware Licensing Practices

Broadcom’s recent overhaul of VMware’s licensing model has sparked significant backlash from European cloud service providers, leading to calls for regulatory intervention. The European Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) and its monitoring body, the European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO), have raised concerns about substantial price hikes and restrictive licensing terms imposed by Broadcom…

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Microsoft’s EU Antitrust Case Nears Resolution: EU Commission seeks feedback on remedy proposals

The European Commission (EC) is currently evaluating public feedback on Microsoft’s proposed commitments to address antitrust concerns related to the bundling of its Teams collaboration tool with Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites. This development follows a formal investigation initiated in July 2023, prompted by complaints from Slack Technologies and Alfaview GmbH, alleging that Microsoft’s…

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Microsoft Faces Major UK Class Action Over Software Licensing Practices

Microsoft is under legal scrutiny in the UK, facing one of the country’s largest class action lawsuits concerning its software licensing strategies. The lawsuit alleges that Microsoft has abused its market dominance by imposing restrictive licensing practices, leading to inflated prices for consumers and businesses.  Allegations of Market Abuse The core of the lawsuit centers…

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🐝 The Attack: RVTools Compromised to Deliver Bumblebee Malware

RVTools, commonly used for VMware environment reporting, was exploited to distribute a variant of the Bumblebee malware loader. The compromise was detected when Microsoft Defender flagged a suspicious version.dll file executing from the same directory as the RVTools installer. Further analysis revealed that the installer had been tampered with to include the Bumblebee loader, a…

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Microsoft’s New European Cloud Commitments: A Turning Point for Licensing and Digital Sovereignty

On April 30, 2025, Microsoft announced a set of updated commitments designed to address European concerns around digital sovereignty, fair competition, and cloud market dynamics. Titled the “European Cloud Principles” and framed within a broader “European Cloud Customer Commitment,” the move responds to growing regulatory scrutiny across the EU and attempts to align more closely…

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Retrospective on Anaconda’s 2024 Licensing Changes: What They Mean and Smarter Alternatives

In 2024, Anaconda quietly introduced new licensing changes that took many in the software and data science world by surprise. These changes, which may significantly impact research institutions, government agencies, startups, and enterprises alike, represent a broader trend: the increasing commercialization of open-source tooling ecosystems. For organizations navigating the complexities of software compliance, especially in…

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US Federal CIO Mandates Software License Inventory: What It Means for SAM and Why It Matters Now

In a significant move to enhance software asset management (SAM) across U.S. federal agencies, newly appointed Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia has mandated a comprehensive inventory of software licenses. By April 2, 2025, agency CIOs are required to report all licenses held with the government’s top five software vendors: Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, Oracle, and ServiceNow. This…

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