Software Licensing Featured Articles

Connecting the Dots for Software Deployment

By Michelle Amodio, TMCnet Contributor

When running a large organization that relies heavily on multiple software licenses, how and when IT teams “connect the dots” in terms of data, licenses, use, and compliance can get confusing.

The experts in software licensing, Flexera Software, recently covered this topic in a blog post, saying that the many disciplines within IT departments, like IT Asset Management, Application Packaging, Software Deployment and Inventory and Discovery, while all necessary, connecting the data sometimes leads to data gaps. Each department, while essential, is required to share information to ensure how and when software is used, whether there is a compliance risk, and keeping tabs on the latest software editions. If the departments aren’t on the same page, that’s where information falls through the cracks.

This is where software can help. Companies can employ the use of an enterprise app store that can track software requests, downloads, license purchases; processes which are automated to better assure compliance and approval.

Enterprise app stores mean less reliance on IT departments, and all of the information that was otherwise scattered across many sub-departments is now contained in a “single version of the truth.”

In corporate IT, an enterprise app store means platforms and systems are well structured. All employees in the same business unit will typically have the exact same experience.

This could very well be the direction corporations are headed in. According to Gartner (News - Alert), 25 percent of enterprises will have an enterprise app store for managing corporate-sanctioned apps and software on PCs and mobile devices by 2017.

“Enterprise app stores promise at least a partial solution but only if IT security, application, procurement and sourcing professionals can work together to successfully apply the app store concept to their enterprises. When successful, they can increase the value delivered by the application portfolio and reduce the associated risks, license fees and administration expenses,” said Ian Finley, research vice president at Gartner in a statement to the press.

IT professionals have a responsibility to make sure their businesses not only understand but comply with software licensing laws. It is up to these departments to demonstrate they have an understanding of licensing issues and bring to light any occurrence of noncompliance and challenges they find. Enterprise app stores can help mitigate information gaps and keep companies compliant and keep corporate information safe.