Other product use rights such as upgrade rights, downgrade rights, VM rights (as discussed above), etc. also come into play in the data center and must be applied to correctly calculate a license position. This allows enterprises to maintain continuous license compliance and minimize ongoing software license and maintenance costs.

Given the complexity of data center licensing, few companies will want to invest in developing their own solution for automating license optimization. However, by understanding the four pain points of data center licensing and how they are likely to impact your organization, you can ensure that the solution you purchase will meet your specific needs and offer a tremendous return on investment.

Flexera Software is the leading provider of strategic solutions for Application Usage Management. Flexera Software helps application producers and their customers strategically manage application usage to achieve continuous compliance, optimized usage and maximized value. The producer and consumer communities have moved beyond just tactical tools for application administration to now seek strategic solutions for Application Usage Management. Contact the author at SSchmidt@flexerasoftware.com.

in Network World's Data Center section.