Licensing
SAM Spotlight: Microsoft SQL Server
Short history Microsoft SQL Server is a database management system (DBMS) that Microsoft first released in 1989. It was initially called “SQL Server 1.0” and was designed to run on top of the OS/2 operating system. In 1992, Microsoft released SQL Server 4.2 for Windows NT, the first version of SQL Server to run on…
Read MoreLicensing Q&A: What is the most cost-effective setup for Oracle DB and SQL Server in Azure?
Licensing is essential to managing any software, and proper license management is critical for ensuring compliance and avoiding costly mistakes. This blog will explore some common questions about license management and provide guidance on managing your licenses effectively. Whether you’re new to license management or have been managing licenses for a while, this blog will…
Read MoreHow to use ITAM tools to uncover actionable insights
ITAM, or Information Technology Asset Management, refers to the practice of managing and optimizing the use of an organization’s technology assets. This can include hardware, software, licenses, and contracts. ITAM tools are designed to help organizations track and manage these assets, and can provide valuable insights into the utilization and efficiency of an organization’s technology…
Read MoreHow to choose the right software asset management tool for your business
There are many benefits to using a software asset management (SAM) tool for businesses. SAM tools can help businesses save money, and time, and prevent headaches associated with managing software assets. When it comes to choosing a SAM tool, there are many factors to consider. But, with so many options on the market, how do…
Read MoreThe benefits of implementing a FinOps strategy
The cloud has become the new normal for businesses of all sizes. It provides agility, scalability, and flexibility that were once only available to large enterprises. However, with this new way of doing business comes new challenges — namely, how to manage cloud resources and costs efficiently. This is where FinOps comes in. FinOps (short…
Read MoreFive Ways to Reduce Your Cloud Costs
If you’re not careful, cloud costs can quickly spiral out of control. But there are ways to keep your spending in check. Here are five tips: 1. Understand what you’re paying for Before you can start saving, you need to know where your money is going. Take a close look at your cloud bill and…
Read MoreLicensing 101: what is it, and why should you care?
If you’re in the software industry, then you know that licensing is a big deal. It’s how companies make money from their products, and it’s how developers get paid for their work. But what exactly is licensing, and why should you care about it? Licensing is basically a way for companies to control how their…
Read MoreMicrosoft SQL Server in AWS – what to consider for a cost-efficient setup?
If you’re thinking of migrating your existing Microsoft SQL Server environments to AWS, or just starting up fresh, there are a number of things that we must consider for a cost-effective setup. The most cost-efficient setup for Microsoft SQL Server in AWS will depend on several factors, including the specific needs and requirements of your…
Read MoreThe cloud demigration
While many organizations fully migrated to the cloud over the past decade, many others had one foot in the cloud and one on the ground. By now, companies have seen all the cloud has to offer, from on-demand bare metal to Kubernetes, and have a more educated opinion on its benefits and shortcomings. The cloud…
Read MoreLicenseware Shortlisted for the ITAM Review Awards – Technology of the Year
We are elated to announce that for the second year running, Licenseware has been shortlisted for the Technology of the Year award! The ITAM Review is an independent global community for worldwide ITAM, SAM and Licensing professionals. “The ITAM Review Excellence Awards celebrates the achievements of the true pioneers in the ITAM industry. Each year…
Read MoreWhat is an Oracle Audit and what does it mean for you?
Most software licensing agreements contain some form of audit clause. Vendors wish to protect against abusive use of their software and IP thus including an audit clause allowing them to audit their customers to check compliant usage is thus a great deterrent to keep organisations in check but also a great way to obtain financial…
Read MoreLicensing Automation Streaming Sessions (LASS)
We started our career in software licensing a decade ago. Back then, SAM was still the new kid on the block for most companies. Nearly all software audit programs were scaling up, and there was no real fear of the software boogeyman. The most popular SAM tool was a spreadsheet. Today, some of the most notorious…
Read MoreWhat you have is cheaper
In the past few years, we’ve seen how on-demand access to assets, rather than ownership, has set the tone for financial transactions. We’ve seen that in industries like accommodation, transportation, entertainment, computing, and software. Aside from other obvious advantages, such as convenience, increase in choice and offering, and scalability there is a strong financial incentive…
Read MoreOracle DB Analysis Tutorial
Part 2 Required Data Your DB Admins and product owners will help you find and collect the data you need. If you don’t have all this information already collated in a spreadsheet, create one. The Oracle Server Worksheet (OSW) is a great place to start. The bonus here is that in the event of an…
Read MoreOracle DB Analysis Tutorial
Part 1 The big debate The debate on spreadsheets vs. tools is a sort of SAM version of the chicken and the egg. And just like in the aviary version, the jury is still out. Yes, tools are supposed to make our lives easy and we’d all love to ditch the spreadsheet and still have…
Read MoreOracle DB Compliance Risk Scenarios
For over four decades, Oracle DB has been one of the most popular commercial databases in the world. Many enterprises rely on it as a mission-critical component of their business. During this time, aside from its obvious business utility the database product has also become well known for its complex and ever-changing contractual terms and…
Read MoreWhy Do I Need To Run Oracle Review Lite?
If you are part of the SAM world or if you manage Oracle software within your organization, surely the Oracle Review Lite or Oracle LMS script popped more than once in the conversation. To support their license management and audit strategy, Oracle has built tracking mechanisms inside the Oracle Database software. These mechanisms log any use…
Read MoreAPI Wars
As technology evolves, software copyright laws become fuzzy and open to interpretation. This year we’ll see the Supreme Court review the legal status of a copyright dispute related to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) between Oracle and Google. Previously the ruling was in favour of Oracle, who accused Google of infringing the copyright of the Java…
Read More