SCHAUMBURG, IL--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2013) - As the server virtualization, desktop virtualization and application virtualization trends continues to take firm root within organizations globally, a new Flexera Software Survey, prepared jointly with IDC, has found 43% of organizations do not have sufficient processes and automation in place to manage their virtual licenses, placing them in substantial risk of falling out of compliance with their software licenses.
"While server, desktop and application virtualization provide tremendous operational efficiencies to organizations, each vendor has unique, evolving and frequently opaque licensing rules around virtualization. If sufficient measures are not taken to manage and optimize those virtualized licenses, companies may be vulnerable to substantial 'true-up' penalties if they are audited by their software vendors," said Amy Konary, Research Vice President - Software Licensing & Provisioning, IDC. "In one instance, I am aware of a global enterprise that saved $4 million in hardware through virtualization, but it cost them $52 million in a resulting software license compliance issue."
Growth in Virtualization & Audits Suggests Noncompliance Windfall for Producers
The survey points to both the increasing penetration of virtualization within organizations, and the increasing frequency of vendor software license audits, underscoring the vulnerabilities enterprises will face if they do not take additional steps to more strategically manage and optimize their virtualized applications. According to the survey, 56% of enterprises (up from 51% in 2011) report that 41% or more of their applications have been virtualized using server virtualization, and 24% say that between 10-25% of their apps are delivered though desktop virtualization (VDI).
The survey also reveals that application producers see virtualization as a new revenue opportunity. 50% of producers indicated that over the next 18-24 months they will be changing their licensing models to accommodate virtualization. When the producers were asked why they change licensing models, the overwhelming majority -- 69% -- said it was to generate more revenue.
Where will some of that additional revenue come from? According to the survey, 17% of producers currently rely upon trust-based licensing coupled with vendor-compliance audits. Looking into the future 18-24 months, this method of licensing and enforcement is expected to increase by 11% -- suggesting an acceleration of the audit trend.
"Our customers have been reporting a major uptick in the frequency of vendor compliance audits, underscoring the strategic importance of continual compliance, and continual license optimization in reducing financial risk," said Jim Ryan, Chief Operating Officer of Flexera Software. "When organizations have the best practices and solutions in place to optimize their virtual licenses, they will know ahead of time the impact that virtualizing their applications will have -- allowing them to minimize their virtualization costs, and risk."
Click here to access the complete survey results.
Resources:
Access the 2012 Key Trends in Software Pricing & Licensing Survey
Learn more about SoftSummit Regional Briefings
Learn more about Flexera Software's Licensing & Entitlement Management Solutions
Learn more about Flexera Software's Software License Optimization Solutions
Related Flexera Software Webinars
Related Flexera Software White Papers
About the 2012 Key Trends in Software Pricing and Licensing Survey
Since 2004, Flexera Software has produced the Key Trends in Software Pricing and Licensing Survey in conjunction with several industry partners such as the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), the Centralized Electronic Licensing User Group (CELUG), and Electronic Design and Automation (EDAC). Since 2009 Flexera Software has joined forces with IDC for the survey. Amy Konary, research vice president -- software licensing and provisioning at IDC, prepared the analysis and presented these findings at Flexera Software's SoftSummit Regional Briefings. Executives and managers at 334 software vendors, intelligent device manufacturers, and enterprises participated in the survey.
About Flexera Software
Flexera Software helps application producers and enterprises increase application usage and the value they derive from their software. Our Application Usage Management solutions are essential to ensure continuous licensing compliance, optimized software investments and to future-proof businesses against the risks and costs of constantly changing technology. Over 80,000 customers turn to Flexera Software as a trusted and neutral source for the knowledge and expertise we have gained as the marketplace leader in licensing, installation and compliance for over 20 years and for the automation and intelligence designed into our products. For more information, please go to: www.flexerasoftware.com.
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Contact Information:
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