Why Software Licensing Plays an Important Role in Virtualization

When it comes to virtualization, there are many things to consider before executing your plan. Sure, there are many advantages – among them reduced costs, improved flexibility and scalability, optimized performance, and minimized administrative burden – and you want to begin reaping those benefits as quickly as possible. But, without proper attention to software licensing and compliance considerations, your new virtualization strategy could actually put your company at risk.

Virtualization makes it possible to run multiple operating systems and applications on the same physical hardware at the same time. This approach has added a level of complexity to software license management. Even the slightest change in the virtual environment – which nowadays can be completed in just minutes – can have a profound impact on existing licenses.

How do you minimize your exposure? Many experts agree that software license management systems can help companies overcome the compliance challenges associated with license virtualization.

Compounding the problem is that, to date, vendors have yet to get on the same page when it comes to software virtualization and related license requirements. Although they can agree on one thing – that software virtualization will make per-server and per-user pricing a thing of the past – varying support, limits, and restrictions among fee structures have left companies unsure how to address license virtualization.

Microsoft was the first to take this problem seriously, introducing a simple license virtualization plan several years back that would allow customers to pay for licenses based on the number of processors the software will run on in virtual mode. Since then, some vendors have taken measures to make their licensing approaches more “virtualization friendly”. But, many others have yet to follow suit, creating tremendous confusion and concern among companies who are embarking on software virtualization strategies.

With SAManage, license compliance is made easy, even in environments where software virtualization plays a prominent role. By providing companies with a greater ability to track the licenses contained both on physical desktops, as well as within virtual machines, and reconcile them with what’s been purchased, companies can more effectively achieve compliance and eliminate the risk of fines and penalties in the event of a third-party audit.

Additionally, SAManage solutions make it easy to audit installed software at any time. Audits can be conducted automatically, in just minutes, without the need for IT staff to waste countless hours manually performing related tasks. This is particularly important because virtual environments are far more dynamic than physical ones. So, audits related to license virtualization need to be conducted far more frequently to keep compliance in check.

Visit our Web site to learn more about license virtualization, why it’s so important to your software virtualization strategy, and how software license management solutions from SAManage can help your company stay compliance as you begin to “virtualize”.