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Author: Shawn Donohue

10 Oracle Cloud Mistakes to Avoid
Shawn DonohueCloud, Compliance, Contract Negotiations, Oracle, Oracle Cloud, Oracle license, Oracle Licensing Compliance, Uncategorized

10 Oracle Cloud Mistakes to Avoid Oracle’s new cloud first strategy has forced many of its clients to seriously evaluate moving some of their estate off-premise and onto the cloud. There can be very attractive advantages to using the Oracle Cloud, but it’s critically important to avoid these mistakes in your decision making process. Here’s what you should avoid. 1. Buying Oracle Cloud Solely to Avoid or Settle an On Premise Oracle Licensing Audit Be wary of buying Cloud products […]

MAD Software Audits: Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestiture
Shawn DonohueUncategorized

Software audits by companies like Oracle, Microsoft and IBM are frequently triggered when an organization engages in MAD activity; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestiture. Software asset managers (SAM) and procurement staff should be aware of the specific challenges related to MAD activity within their organization.  It’s vitally important to retain policy documents and licensing contracts to ensure compliance.  When these vendors become aware of MAD activity at an organization, they typically investigate these specific areas: Has the organization purchased new licenses to […]

5 Unusual Ways to Save on Microsoft Licenses & Subscriptions
Shawn DonohueCompliance, Core Licensing, IT Asset Management, Microsoft, Microsoft Audit, Microsoft Enterprise Agreements, Microsoft Licensing Compliance, Microsoft Licensing Tip, Microsoft Software Assurance, Microsoft Windows, software license, Windows

You know the basics, but do you know these advanced strategies for saving on your Microsoft spend? Your organization could save hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of these special techniques and Microsoft programs, but only if you know what to ask for. 1. Independent Contract Review When your contract is up for renewal, many organizations simply assume that there’s no need to review the details more than in the past. Unfortunately, a lack of diligence and oversight […]

7 Signs of an IBM Audit
Shawn DonohueCompliance, IBM, software asset management, Software audit, software license

Do you recognize the signs of an IBM audit? These 7 Signs of an IBM audit are red flags that you should recognize. You Get a Letter Introducing KPMG or Deloitte These are two of the “Big 4” accounting firms that manage the actual software license audit process on behalf of IBM.  IBM refers to them as, “third party independent auditors”.  Keep in mind that when it comes to their “independence,” these firms are paid by IBM for their services. […]

5 Things Oracle No Longer Offers in 2017
Shawn DonohueOracle, Oracle database, Oracle license

If your renewal is coming up soon and you were planning on using one of these, you may need to change your plans.  Here are 5 things that Oracle no longer offers in 2017: 1. Priceholds: Priceholds used to be the “bread and butter” of Oracle offerings, but are now quite uncommon. Besides being rare, their benefits are constricted, having a limited scope (in terms of applicable products) and limited discounts on subsequent procurements. 2. Limited Use: Many Oracle products […]

Top 5 Questions When Considering an Oracle ULA
Shawn DonohueCloud, Compliance, licensing, Oracle, Oracle license, Oracle ULA, Uncategorized

1. How well do I understand my organization’s environment? The first step in considering an Oracle ULA is knowing what is currently owned by your organization, as well as what may be changed in the next three to four years. This knowledge builds the foundation for considering an Oracle ULA, and alternative license engagements.   2. How well does my IT department communicate its uses and needs? While a ULA may attempt to be an “all-you-can-eat” agreement, Oracle ULAs require […]

Oracle License Grandfathering option for AWS & Azure
Shawn DonohueUncategorized

Update – August 23, 2017: Oracle LMS Rejects Grandfathering of Licenses We expected caveats to any grandfathering rules, but not a complete turnaround. However, that is what has apparently occurred. We were researching with Oracle some very specific grandfathering questions for a client. After several months, yes months, Oracle License Management Services stated that there would be no grandfathering option when it came to pre-Jan 23, 2017 Oracle license purchases that had been allocated to AWS environments that were in […]

This Type of Hybrid Environment Just Got Dangerous
Shawn DonohueCloud, Compliance, licensing

UK judge rules in favor of SAP against Diageo’s PLC for using a standard cloud connection Background Diageo PLC is the world’s largest producer of alcoholic spirits, with brands like Smirnoff and Johnny Walker. They paid SAP about $70M for use of the mySAP Business Suite, which included licensing and maintenance fees. SAP had sued Diageo for violations of the contract, and a UK judge decided the case in SAP’s favor, awarding SAP an additional $67M, essentially doubling Diageo’s costs. […]

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