Cost Management

Software cost management on unused seats, edition mix, and what you can drop before the next true-up. Coverage tracks the commercial saving on paper you already hold, not a FinOps view of cloud units.

Cloud Cost Control and FinOps sit in their own files when the meter is cloud spend. Vendor metric work stays in Microsoft, Oracle, and the other publisher categories. Use this archive when the question is license waste, not a new SKU buy.

A Market Briefing Is Not an NHS License Position

By Alex Cojocaru | April 10, 2026

NHS England awarded IDC £46k for licensing benchmarking on G-Cloud 14. A market note is not a live position. What SAM should count before the next round.

Why Your VMware Exit Needs a License Position First

By Alex Cojocaru | April 6, 2026

Western Union is moving 900–1,200 apps off VMware. Cloud Foundation cost, not a bake-off. What SAM should lock before you pick a destination.

Joiners, Movers, and Leavers: The ITAM Process HR Already Owns (and SAM Teams Should Be Connected To)

By Alex Cojocaru | April 3, 2026

Every organization runs a Joiners, Movers, and Leavers (JML) process. HR owns it for payroll,…

Why Shrinking VMware Usage Can Raise Your Unit Price

By Alex Cojocaru | March 22, 2026

Virtified found 48% of VMware customers plan to cut usage by 2028. VCF bundling, the 8.x support clock, and why a shrink is not last year’s unit price.

SAP ECC Conversion Before 2027 Is a License Position, Not a Slide

By Alex Cojocaru | March 17, 2026

SAP still booked €10.5 billion in software support in 2025. Gartner put 39% of ECC customers on S/4HANA. What SAM teams must recast before 2027.

Why Adobe Cancellation Fees Are Not Your Exit Cost

By Alex Cojocaru | March 16, 2026

UK CMA opened a consumer probe into Adobe early-termination fees. No finding yet. What SAM should lock in on Creative Cloud and VIP Marketplace paper.

Why the CISPE Filing Is Not Your VMware License Position

By Alex Cojocaru | March 16, 2026

CISPE asked the Commission for interim measures on Broadcom’s VCSP cuts. Bundling, upfront pay, potential-use commitments: what SAM should lock now.

Why Listed-Provider Terms Still Decide Your Cloud Placement

By Alex Cojocaru | February 24, 2026

JFTC is investigating Microsoft’s cloud licensing. Listed-provider terms still price Windows Server and SQL differently on Azure than on AWS or Google Cloud.

What SAM Should Count Before You Buy Microsoft ESU

By Alex Cojocaru | February 22, 2026

Windows 10 ESU starts at $61 a device year one and doubles. SQL Server 2016 ends 14 July 2026. Count licenses, not support flags, before you buy time.

Why Oracle Java Still Prices Your Headcount, Not Installs

By Alex Cojocaru | February 8, 2026

Azul’s 2026 survey finds 92% concerned about Oracle Java pricing. The metric is employees, not installs. The number SAM should walk in with.

The Spreadsheet That Runs Your Multi-Million Dollar Renewal

By Alex Cojocaru | February 1, 2026

Somewhere in your organization, there is a spreadsheet. It is probably named something like Vendor_Renewal_Tracking_v27_final_FINAL.xlsx.…

Why Your VMware CSP Invoice Is Not the Renewal Path

By Alex Cojocaru | January 29, 2026

Broadcom closed the VMware CSP program after 26 January 2026. Coterminous is not a new commitment. Who can still sell, and what SAM should lock.

What SAM Should Lock Before a Salesforce AELA Renewal

By Alex Cojocaru | January 25, 2026

Gartner says Salesforce AELAs may convert to defined quantity at renewal. Lock exit terms, multipliers, and a usage-to-quantity method in writing.

Why the GSA VMware Discount Is Not Your License Position

By Alex Cojocaru | January 20, 2026

GSA’s OneGov deal discounts Tanzu, Avi, and vDefend up to 64% through May 2027. vSphere Foundation is not on the list. A framework is not an entitlement.

The Hidden Cost of VMware Perpetual Support With No Path

By Alex Cojocaru | January 13, 2026

Tesco’s 2021 VMware deal still has no named support path. Dell, Computacenter, and Broadcom each tell a different story. What SAM should lock first.

Software Rationalization Playbook

By Shaun Ashbury | December 22, 2025

Why Software Rationalization Breaks Down at Enterprise Scale Software rationalization does not fail due to…

From Noise to Narrative: Turning IT Inventory into Strategic Intelligence with 🔵 NEO

By Alex Cojocaru | December 16, 2025

We often talk about the importance of data collection. With tools like LICENSEWARE Collector, gathering…

Oracle Java: Renewal or Replacement?

By Alex Cojocaru | December 6, 2025

The parent pack is the Oracle Java SE subscription cost page: published bands, Employee definition,…

Case Study: Preventing a $3M Oracle Exposure

By Chris | November 30, 2025

When you work with Oracle licensing, the tiniest technical detail can reshape your entire commercial…

Why Cutting Friction Beats Cutting Tools

By Alex Cojocaru | November 28, 2025

Enterprise IT teams are under more pressure than ever to control costs without slowing down…