Licensing
Maximizing Flexibility: The Power of Oracle Fusion Cloud Contract Rebalancing
Oracle Fusion Cloud applications have become a cornerstone for organizations seeking robust enterprise solutions. However, the contractual aspects of these powerful tools can significantly impact your bottom line and operational flexibility. Among the most valuable yet often overlooked contract provisions is the rebalancing clause, a feature that can transform how you manage your Oracle investment…
Read MoreOracle Breached Again: Legacy System Hack Exposes Fresh Credentials, Sparks FBI Probe
Oracle is facing renewed scrutiny after confirming a second major cybersecurity breach in less than a month, this time involving customer login credentials, including some as recent as 2024. The breach appears to stem from a legacy system Oracle says has been dormant for eight years, but the presence of current credentials has raised serious…
Read MoreFree 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…
Read MoreAdobe 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…
Read MoreUpcoming 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.…
Read MoreFrom Microsoft to Open Source: How One German State is Rewriting the Rules of Public Sector IT
In the north of Germany, nestled between the North Sea and the Baltic, something radical is happening, and it’s not just the bracing sea air. Schleswig-Holstein, a state better known for its coastal towns and rolling countryside, has become ground zero for a digital revolution that could send ripples across Europe’s public sector. The mission?…
Read MoreNavigating Data Sovereignty: How Microsoft’s EU Compliance Battle is Reshaping Licensing and SAM
In March 2024, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) ruled that the European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 violated EU data protection laws. Over a year later, the issue remains unresolved, highlighting ongoing challenges in compliance, data sovereignty, and licensing strategies across the Software Asset Management (SAM) landscape. Microsoft’s Response and Ongoing Legal Battle Microsoft…
Read MoreOracle VirtualBox Licensing Guide
Oracle VM VirtualBox is a robust, cross-platform virtualization application that enables users to run multiple operating systems concurrently on a single physical machine. Developed by Oracle Corporation, VirtualBox is widely utilized by IT professionals and developers for tasks such as testing, development, and deployment across diverse environments. Understanding the licensing structure of VirtualBox is essential…
Read MoreDOGE 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…
Read MoreOracle’s attempt to hide severe cybersecurity incidents from customers in Oracle SaaS service
Oracle Faces Backlash Over Handling of Cloud Security Breach In March 2025, Oracle Corporation found itself at the center of a cybersecurity controversy following allegations of a significant data breach affecting its cloud services. A threat actor, known by the alias “rose87168,” claimed responsibility for infiltrating Oracle’s systems and exfiltrating sensitive data, including six million…
Read MoreOracle Q3 FY25 Results: What They Signal for Licensing Strategy and Enterprise Customers
Oracle just released its fiscal 2025 Q3 earnings, and the numbers are sending a clear message to the market and to its customers: the cloud is not just the future; it’s the now. But what does that mean for software licensing, ongoing customer commitments, and strategic planning for Oracle clients? 📊 The Numbers at a…
Read MoreUS 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…
Read MoreMajor Update for VMware Customers: minimum purchase requirement of 72 cores per product
EDIT: VMware Walks Back Controversial Licensing Change After Industry Backlash, Denies Official Announcement 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…
Read MoreVMware’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…
Read MoreOracle 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…
Read MoreUnlocking Trillions: The True Value of Open Source Software
In an era where software shapes nearly every aspect of our economy, understanding the true value of Open Source Software (OSS) has never been more critical. A recent study by Harvard Business School and the University of Toronto provides groundbreaking insights into how profoundly OSS impacts the global economy, highlighting both its enormous economic footprint…
Read MoreOracle ULA vs. PULA: Flexibility or Long-term Stability
Oracle licensing models significantly influence IT strategies, budgets, and operational flexibility. Understanding the distinctions between Oracle’s Unlimited License Agreement (ULA) and Perpetual Unlimited License Agreement (PULA) is essential for optimizing your organization’s licensing approach. Oracle ULA: Flexibility for Growth An Oracle ULA typically spans 2–3 years, granting unlimited deployment rights for specified Oracle products within…
Read MoreNavigating Oracle Java Licensing: Are You Making Costly Mistakes?
Recent revelations from government audits, such as those at HUD, posted by @DOGE demonstrate how easy it is to overspend on Oracle Java licenses. HUD’s audit found that out of 10,000 Java licenses, only 400 were actively used, a clear example of licensing inefficiency. A common misconception in the industry: Oracle Java licensing no longer…
Read MoreIntroducing 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…
Read MoreSoftware Audit Trends 2023–2024
Software vendors often conduct license compliance audits of their customers to identify unlicensed usage and drive revenue through back-license fees or new sales. In 2023–2024, audit activity remains high – in fact surveys show it has increased significantly – and certain vendors are notorious for aggressive auditing practices. Below we present recent data on audit-related revenue and customer audit…
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