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Optimization of the license management process entails more than simply comparing install counts to purchase quantities. The reason is that there can be a big difference between license consumption and install count. Getting an accurate picture of license consumption requires looking at some additional information:
- The purchase agreement (e.g. Microsoft Select or Enterprise Agreement, Software Assurance, Adobe TLP, etc.)
- The license model or metric (e.g. device, user, or processor based licensing)—what is being counted
- The product use rights (e.g. upgrade, downgrade, second use, etc.) as specified by the agreement type and license model—these define license entitlement—where and how the software may be used.
Use rights can dramatically affect license consumption—for example, the right of second use allows the same license to be allocated to both a desktop and a laptop computer (with the same owner/user). If this right is not taken into account, the enterprise will over count license consumption and may overspend on licenses.
In addition to the ARL and SKU libraries, ECM optionally provides Product Use Rights Libraries (PURLs) that define software entitlement. ECM is the only software asset management (SAM) solution on the market today that offers this type of license entitlement database for key vendors such as Microsoft and Adobe.
ECM Product Use Rights Library (PURL):
- Applies Use Rights—ECM uses the PURL to apply the appropriate set of use rights for a given license agreement type and application. Supported use rights include:
- Upgrade/Downgrade rights
- Second Use rights
- Multiple Versions rights
- Virtual Environment rights
- Enables calculation of an Accurate License Position—PURs enable organizations to minimize license consumption and reduce costs associated with software audits, year-end license true-ups, maintenance renewals, and more
- Monthly Updates—As with ARL and SKU libraries, monthly PURL updates are provided to customers
- Sold as part of a License Reconciliation Service package—PURL data plus services
IT Cost Saving Optimizations
Once you have attained an accurate license position for each of your key vendors, ECM allows you to slash license and maintenance costs via additional SAM optimizations:
- License recycling & reharvesting
- Optimized license allocation
- Reduce or eliminate excess license pools
For more information about how ECM enables you to optimize your SAM process and reduce software costs by up to 30% per year, please contact your nearest ManageSoft representative to arrange for a free Enterprise Compliance Manager demonstration.
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