A UK company is offering the first remote web-based service to
probe organisations' IT networks, check software licences and fix
any
licensing problems.
The AppVelocity service, available now for approved beta users
from Virtual Network Partners, will help companies tackle the
growing problem of application software sprawl and help avoid
financial penalties of running
unlicensed software.
The service can also be used by firms to check whether they have
over-licensed their software assets.
The AppVelocity service combines a well-established asset
management product with an innovative "application juke box"
technology.
It is initiated from a remote location on the web using
IP-probing technology to audit a company network or group of
networks. It catalogues every hardware and software asset and also
highlights potential breaches of security, with non-authorised
hardware devices and software being discovered in the process.
Once the network has been fully audited, the network manager is
given options to remedy license mis-matches.
For under-licensing, optimisation of properly available
licences, using the Application Juke Box technology from Endeavors,
is quickly achieved, said Virtual Network Partners.
Once an audit is carried out, over-licensing can be remedied at
the next contract review opportunity, reducing maintenance and
renewals costs. Concurrent usage patterns can also be analysed,
again proving a cost-reduction opportunity.
"Software licensing compliance remains a major headache for IT
managers, with some 26% of all software thought to be running
illegally in the UK," said Warren Free, head of business
development at Virtual Network Partners.
"Much of the unlicensed software on corporate networks is there
without management's knowledge. However, it remains their
responsibility, with significant financial penalties for companies
that do not remove it," said Free.
The AppVelocity service is due to be fully released in July,
with Virtual Network Partners seeking beta corporate users
immediately to get involved in the early roll-out.