Finding the right software license management technology is hard enough. It’s even more challenging if your network environment includes servers running Citrix or Windows Terminal Server (WTS), as precious few tools provide usage statistics or management capabilities for applications delivered through these platforms.

To manage software in a Citrix or WTS environment, you need technology that collects software usage data not only at the server level, but also at the end-user and machine level.  And in order to effectively manage license compliance, you’ll want to explore capabilities that allow you to control in an automated fashion which end users and/or machines can run those licensed applications.

There are three software license types you need to consider in Citrix or WTS environments, each of which requires a different approach to license management. (more…)

If your organization has adopted a “Go Green” initiative and you’re evaluating ways to get IT involved with the effort, check out this article, “Retiring IT Assets for Green Reasons,” by Steve Suesens, of Staples Inc. Though not exhaustive, the column offers helpful advice for using IT asset management best practices to get more out of your deployed assets and determine when retiring those assets makes sense.   

As with any IT asset management initiative, whether it be license compliance, reduction of software costs, or planning for an organization-wide OS migration, developing a green policy for IT requires, at its most basic level, detailed computer inventory data revealing what assets exist and their capabilities, and software usage statistics showing what’s being used and what’s sitting idle. Once you’ve blended this information with key considerations such as power consumption, purchase and maintenance costs, recyclability, and more, you can begin to weigh the trade-offs related to various options such as upgrading, replacing, refurbishing, recycling, or donating it the dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Science and Technology. 

Express Software Manager delivers the “discoverable” IT asset data mentioned above that can be used as the foundation of any green IT policy.  After that, the hard part begins.  Of course, nobody said it was easy being green – but if you do your homework and apply your learning thoughtfully, you’ll receive dividends both in terms of reducing your carbon footprint and strengthening your bottom line.

Earlier this week, Kris blogged about analyst predictions for stronger growth in technology spending for 2010.  Among the areas expected to drive the growth are new hardware purchases (fueled in part by migrations to Microsoft Windows 7), continued adoption of virtualization technologies, and pent-up demand for PCs created during capital budget freezes of 2008 and 2009.  Given the anticipated increase in IT investment levels, I thought it might be interesting (and helpful) to take a look at how the upcoming release of Express Software Manager 9.5 can help your organization as your IT budget starts to show signs of life:   

• Migration Planning Reports:  If you expect to migrate to Microsoft Windows 7, you’ll be able to take advantage of Express Software Manager’s new “Express Query Builder,” which will allow you to specify certain machine configurations or attributes to target your planning efforts.  For example, you can run a report to see all the machines running Windows XP whose RAM is less than 2GB. 
• IT Purchase Tracking System:  With Express Software Manager’s brand new purchasing interface, you’ll be able to track and manage the entire lifecycle of your hardware and software assets, from purchase through retirement.  You’ll be able to enter or import unlimited purchasing details at any time, before or after assets are deployed; easily assign and allocate assets to users and organization groups; reconcile purchasing details with inventoried assets, keep track of contract expiration dates; and run summary-level and detailed reports on your IT purchases.  
• Enhanced Support for Virtual Environments:  If you plan to roll out more virtualization technology in 2010, you’ll be happy to hear that Express Software Manager has enhanced its support for virtual machines. In addition to Express Software Manager’s existing ability to inventory virtual workstations and server OSs and track and control the launch of applications launched within virtual software environments, you will now be able to identify and display the relationship between a host OS and guest OS in Microsoft environments.  
• New Software Usage Reports: Express Software Manager has always offered powerful software usage reporting to help you identify areas where your organization is over-licensed and spending too much.  With Version 9.5, Express Software Manager will offer new software usage reports your boss will love, showing where money can be saved by renegotiating your 2010 license agreements—and ensure any subsequent software purchases are being put to good use. 

(more…)

We all know that relying too heavily on technology can be perilous.  And while most IT pros recognize that software asset management tools in and of themselves don’t represent a “silver bullet” for managing one’s license position, they generally have a long way to go toward establishing, communicating, and enforcing the SAM processes necessary to address the gaps inherent in any technology.  What may surprise you is that even if you believe you have effective SAM processes in place, you’re still not necessarily in the clear.

Let’s assume you’ve finally got all your ducks in a row: You’ve consolidated all your historical license information, established procedures by which new software purchases and entitlement details are thoroughly documented, developed a sound software usage policy, and configured your SAM tool to reconcile all that licensing information with installed software. You feel confident, and you’re ready to tell your boss that your new SAM program is officially “up and running.” 

(more…)

In the IT world, we tend to view end users as an occupational hazard—a perilous yet inescapable part of our jobs.  After all, it seems employees will install just about any application they can get their hands on without regard for the potential licensing implications, compatibility issues, security holes, or bandwidth consumption.  But who can blame them?  They’re trying to do their jobs just like we all are, but without the benefit (or curse) of understanding the potential implications of their actions.

What we rarely acknowledge is that the onus is on IT leaders to ensure workers have the information they need—and are held accountable—to make good decisions. It all begins with a clearly articulated and effectively communicated software usage policy that educates end users about the importance of complying with a set of basic standards. Such a policy shouldn’t be long and infused with technical mumbo jumbo.  In fact, the shorter and more straightforward the guidelines, the greater likelihood it will be read, understood, and, most importantly, adhered to.  Not only can a properly developed software usage policy serve to curb risky behavior, but it will also generate goodwill among software publishers when and if they decide to audit you.  If a vendor sees your organization making a conscientious effort to prevent the use of unlicensed software, they’re more likely to treat you as a partner rather than a criminal throughout the software audit process.

The nature of your software usage policy will (and should) depend on your organization’s size, geographic dispersion, and diversity of your software estate, as well as the sophistication of your end users and their technology needs.  If you run the IT department of a small community college, for example, you may wish to prohibit anyone but the IT staff from purchasing or installing software on school-maintained systems. On the other hand, if you work for a technology company with software developers that rely on a variety of commercial and open source solutions to do their jobs, you may need to build more latitude into your usage policy. 

(more…)