Driving Accountability through Database License Optimization

Introduction

As businesses continue to rely heavily on data management, the use of database systems and software is growing rapidly. In turn, the costs of managing these databases have increased, with organizations spending large amounts of money on database licensing fees. The complexity of database licensing can make it difficult for businesses to ensure they are using the correct licenses and staying compliant. This is where database license optimization comes in. By optimizing database licenses, organizations can drive accountability by increasing transparency, reducing costs, and improving compliance.

This article will discuss how organizations can drive accountability through database license optimization, including the challenges of database license management, how database license optimization can drive accountability, the steps to drive accountability through database license optimization, and some case studies of organizations that have successfully optimized their database licenses.

Challenges of Database License Management

The complexity of database licensing can make it difficult for businesses to ensure they are using the correct licenses and staying compliant. One of the main challenges of database licensing is the various types of licenses. These can include perpetual licenses, subscription licenses, and named-user licenses, among others. Each type of license has different licensing terms and conditions, which can make it difficult for organizations to manage.

Another challenge is the different licensing models used by vendors. Some vendors use per-processor licensing, while others use per-core licensing, per-user licensing, or other models. These licensing models can be difficult to understand and can vary based on the vendor and the product.

In addition, maintaining compliance with licenses can be challenging. Organizations must avoid license overuse, avoid non-compliance penalties, and ensure that license renewals are up to date. With the growing complexity of licensing models, organizations may find it difficult to stay compliant without the proper tools and processes in place.

How Database License Optimization Can Drive Accountability

Database license optimization can help organizations drive accountability in a number of ways. Firstly, optimizing database licenses can improve transparency. By consolidating databases and eliminating unnecessary licenses, organizations can gain a clearer view of their database usage and costs. This makes it easier to monitor and report on compliance and usage.

Secondly, optimizing database licenses can reduce costs. By reducing license costs, organizations can allocate resources more effectively and invest in other areas of the business. This can increase accountability by promoting more efficient and effective resource allocation.

Lastly, optimizing database licenses can improve compliance. By optimizing license usage, organizations can reduce the risk of non-compliance. This can help maintain a positive reputation and avoid legal and financial penalties.

Steps to Drive Accountability through Database License Optimization

To drive accountability through database license optimization, organizations should follow a few key steps. Firstly, they should conduct a license audit to assess current license usage and identify opportunities for optimization. This will help organizations understand which licenses are being used and how, and will provide insight into areas where they may be able to reduce licensing costs.

Secondly, organizations should consolidate databases to eliminate redundant licenses and reduce costs. By consolidating databases, organizations can reduce the number of licenses they require, which can help reduce licensing costs.

Thirdly, organizations should negotiate with vendors to optimize licensing agreements and reduce costs. This can include negotiating better terms and conditions, or changing the licensing model to better suit the organization’s needs.

Finally, organizations should consider implementing license management software to help monitor and manage licenses. This can provide real-time visibility into license usage, and can help organizations identify areas for optimization.

Case Studies

There are many examples of organizations that have successfully driven accountability through database license optimization. Here are a few case studies that highlight the benefits and steps to optimize database licenses.

Case Study 1: University of Chicago Medicine
The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) was facing increased licensing costs for its database systems, which were affecting its ability to invest in other areas of the organization. To address this issue, UCM conducted a license audit and found that they were using more licenses than necessary, and many were redundant. They also found that they were using licenses for software they were no longer using. By consolidating databases and eliminating unnecessary licenses, UCM was able to reduce its licensing costs by 60%. This allowed them to invest in other areas of the organization and improve overall efficiency.

Case Study 2: Fujitsu
Fujitsu, a global information technology company, was facing licensing issues due to the complexity of its licensing agreements. They were using various licensing models, which made it difficult to manage licenses and ensure compliance. To address this issue, Fujitsu implemented a license management software solution, which provided real-time visibility into license usage and compliance. By optimizing their licensing agreements and implementing a license management solution, Fujitsu was able to reduce licensing costs by 30%.

Case Study 3: Nationwide Building Society
The Nationwide Building Society, a UK-based financial institution, was facing challenges with license management due to the complexity of its licensing agreements. They were using a variety of licensing models, including named-user and per-core licensing, which made it difficult to manage licenses effectively. To address this issue, Nationwide implemented a license management solution, which provided real-time visibility into license usage and helped them to optimize their licensing agreements. By consolidating databases and optimizing licensing agreements, Nationwide was able to reduce licensing costs by 20%.

Conclusion

In today’s data-driven business environment, database license optimization is critical for driving accountability. By optimizing database licenses, organizations can improve transparency, reduce costs, and improve compliance. The key to driving accountability through database license optimization is to conduct a license audit, consolidate databases, negotiate with vendors, and implement license management software. These steps will help organizations gain a clearer view of their database usage and costs, optimize licensing agreements, and reduce costs. By doing so, organizations can allocate resources more effectively and invest in other areas of the business, which can increase efficiency and overall performance.

About Enteros

Enteros offers a patented database performance management SaaS platform. It automate finding the root causes of complex database scalability and performance problems that affect business across a growing number of cloud, RDBMS, NoSQL, and machine learning database platforms.​​​​​​