IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Utilizing Software Metering to Drive Down IT Costs Kris Barker Co-Founder & CEO, Express Metrix

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Agenda What is software usage data? How is usage data collected? What is the network impact? The role of software recognition Putting software usage to work

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Software usage data Definition: Various measurements of software application utilization, including frequency of use, as well as launch, termination, and idle time.

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Data collection Software usage data is captured using a client installed on a workstation or server This is typically referred to as a “metering” client Various ITAM technology solutions offer a metering client

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Data collection Active metering –Launch interception –File keying –Process list monitoring –Online vs. offline usage –Idle time monitoring –Application control (preventing launches) Passive metering –Above mechanisms are sometimes used, but all data is cached –Registry is used more often to collect usage data

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Network impact Minimal data transmitted Targeted metering –Which applications? For how long? –Configuration options: on and off per machine –Do I meter across slow links? Caching –Cache data locally and transmit during off hours –Allow scheduling of data transmission Test, test, test!

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Role of software recognition Required to meter correct applications Enable proper grouping of versions License Management Desktop Management

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Role of software recognition Collect suite and component usage data

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Putting Software Usage Data to Work

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Reducing software costs Identify unused software –Re-allocate licenses –RE-NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS! –Reduce annual maintenance costs –Limit the number of supported application titles and versions

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Reducing software costs “Seventy-five percent of my computers had Microsoft Project installed, but only ten percent were being used.” “We reduced the number of supported software titles from 1,800 to 500.” “We’ve saved literally tens of thousands of dollars by discontinuing maintenance on unused software.” “We switched from buying Office Enterprise to Office Standard for 50% of our users.”

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Managing license compliance Unique licensing challenges addressed by metering –Concurrent licensing models –SPLA agreements (based on monthly usage) –WTS/Citrix environments Concurrent licenses Per-seat licenses –Need control –Read the EULA!

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Managing license compliance WTS/Citrix User: John Machine: Johnabc User: Sue Machine: Sueabc User: Fred Machine: Fredabc User: Ichiro Machine: Ichiroabc Monday MS Office 3 Licenses

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Managing license compliance WTS/Citrix MS Office 3 Licenses User: John Machine: Johnabc User: Sue Machine: Sueabc User: Fred Machine: Fredabc User: Ichiro Machine: Ichiroabc Tuesday Not compliant

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Managing license compliance Unique licensing challenges addressed by metering –Software virtualization Software is not installed, but is licensed per seat Must collect usage to reconcile! –Hardware / OS virtualization Applications metered similarly as a standard workstation/server

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Enhancing security policies Monitor and/or control “unfriendly” or unauthorized applications –Network games –Chat programs –Hacking tools –P2P programs Prevent access to sensitive computers Prevent access to sensitive applications

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Troubleshooting desktop performance issues Desktop –What is running? –When it is running? –Under whose account is it running? Network –What application is causing network spikes?

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Summary Collecting software usage data enables you to: –Reduce software costs –Remain compliant within complex and ever-changing IT environments –Help secure your network –Expand your arsenal of help desk tools –Improve all areas of IT asset management!

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Questions? Kris Barker

IAITAM 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition Bringing Green Together Thank you! Kris Barker