Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend

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License keys are not needed with optional features accessible upon install. Conducting quarterly checks of the Oracle environment is critical because if products or features are installed, even if they are not actively in use, it constitutes use by Oracle and requires a license.
Ambiguous license models and definitions abound: terminology and licensing rules can be vague, making it difficult to purchase licensing even with the best of intentions to keep compliant.
Oracle has aggressively started to force new Oracle License and Service Agreements (OLSA) on customers that slightly modify language and remove pre-existing allowances to tilt the contract terms in Oracle's favor.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Focus on needs first. Conduct a thorough requirements assessment and document the results. Well-documented license needs will be your core asset in navigating Oracle licensing and negotiating your agreement.
Communicate effectively. Be aware that Oracle will reach out to employees at your organization at various levels. Having your executives on the same page will help send a strong message.
Manage the relationship. If Oracle is managing you, there is a high probability you are over paying or providing information that may result in an audit.

Impact and Result

Conducting business with Oracle is not typical compared to other vendors. To emerge successfully from a commercial transaction with Oracle, customers must learn the "Oracle way" of conducting business, which includes a best-in-class sales structure, highly unique contracts and license use policies, and a hyper-aggressive compliance function.
Map out the process of how to negotiate from a position of strength, examining terms and conditions, discount percentages, and agreement pitfalls.
Develop a strategy that leverages and utilizes an experienced Oracle DBA to gather accurate information, and then optimizes it to mitigate and meet the top challenges.

Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you need to understand and document your Oracle licensing strategy, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.

Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend – Executive Brief

1. Establish licensing requirements

Begin your proactive Oracle licensing journey by understanding which information to gather and assessing the current state and gaps.

2. Evaluate licensing options

Review current licensing models and determine which licensing models will most appropriately fit your environment.

3. Evaluate agreement options

Review Oracle’s contract types and assess which best fit the organization’s licensing needs.

4. Purchase and manage licenses

Conduct negotiations, purchase licensing, and finalize a licensing management strategy.

Member Testimonials

After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real-time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve. See our top member experiences for this blueprint and what our clients have to say.

9.9/10

Overall Impact

$58,713

Average $ Saved

Average Days Saved

Client

Experience

Impact

$ Saved

Days Saved

Testimonial

Aipso

Guided Implementation

10/10

$32,499

Scott is always helpful, knowledgeable, and customer-focused!

Swagelok Company

Guided Implementation

10/10

$123K

The analyst was extremely knowledgeable and well prepared for our call. The information provided gave me the confidence to present the "bad news"... Read More

MCAP Service Corporation

Guided Implementation

10/10

$50,000

Excellent insights and advice on how to navigate through this space. Thank you very much.

Hastings Mutual Insurance Co

Guided Implementation

10/10

$123K

The knowledge shared and the speed at which it was received. Thank you very much.

Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau

Guided Implementation

10/10

$247K

Level of knowledge was very good and I appreciated the prompt follow-up to outstanding questions with additional information after the meeting.

California Department of Industrial Relations

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

ATI CORP

Guided Implementation

10/10

$120K

Scott was a well informed SME in regards to our discussion.... we stayed on subject and focused on critical matters.... very comfortable conversat... Read More

Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation

Guided Implementation

9/10

N/A

The explanation provided on the Oracle Licenses Structure was very comprehensive and I am able to quantify potential savings. In addition, I will b... Read More

Government of Cayman Islands

Guided Implementation

8/10

N/A

Best part is the consultant was knowledgeable on the subject matter

London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care, London

Guided Implementation

10/10

$55,000

California Department of Industrial Relations

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

Oman LNG L.L.C.

Guided Implementation

10/10

N/A

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Workshop: Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend

Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.

Module 1: Establish Licensing Requirements

The Purpose

Assess current state and align goals; review business feedback
Interview key stakeholders to define business objectives and drivers

Key Benefits Achieved

Have a baseline for requirements
Assess the current state
Determine licensing position
Examine cloud options

Activities

Outputs

1.1

Gather software licensing data

Copy of your Oracle License Statement

1.2

Conduct a software inventory

Software inventory report from software asset management (SAM) tool

1.3

Perform manual checks

1.4

Reconcile licenses

Oracle Database Inventory Tool

1.5

Create your Oracle licensing team

RASCI Chart

1.6

Meet with stakeholders to discuss the licensing position, cloud offerings, and budget allocation

Oracle Licensing Effective License Position (ELP) Template
Oracle Licensing Purchase Reference Guide

Module 2: Evaluate Licensing Options

The Purpose

Review licensing options
Review licensing rules

Key Benefits Achieved

Understand how licensing works
Determine if you need software assurance
Discuss licensing rules, application to current environment.
Examine cloud licensing
Understand the importance of documenting changes
Meet with desktop product owners to determine product strategies

Activities

Outputs

2.1

Review full, limited, restricted, and AST use licenses

2.2

Calculate license costs

Oracle TCO Calculator

2.3

Determine which database platform to use

2.4

Evaluate moving to the cloud

2.5

Examine disaster recovery strategies

2.6

Understand purchasing support

2.7

Meet with stakeholders to discuss the licensing position, cloud offerings, and budget allocation

Oracle Licensing Purchase Reference Guide

Module 3: Evaluate Agreement Options

The Purpose

Review contract option types
Review vendors

Key Benefits Achieved

Understand why a type of contract is best for you
Determine if ULA or term agreement is best
The benefits of other types and when you should change

Activities

Outputs

3.1

Prepare to sign or renew your ULA

3.2

Decide on an agreement type that nets the maximum benefit

Type of contract to be used
Oracle TCO Calculator
Oracle Licensing Purchase Reference Guide

Module 4: Purchase and Manage Licenses

The Purpose

Finalize the contract
Prepare negotiation points
Discuss license management
Evaluate and develop a roadmap for future licensing

Key Benefits Achieved

Negotiation strategies
Licensing management
Introduction of SAM
Leverage the work done on Oracle licensing to get started on SAM

Activities

Outputs

4.1

Control the flow of communication terms and conditions

Controlled Vendor Communications Letter
Vendor Communication Management Plan

4.2

Use Info-Tech’s readiness assessment in preparation for the audit

Oracle Terms & Conditions Evaluation Tool

4.3

Assign the right people to manage the environment

RASCI Chart

4.4

Meet with stakeholders to discuss the licensing position, cloud offerings, and budget allocation

Oracle Licensing Purchase Reference Guide

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 4-phase advisory process. You'll receive 11 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Establish licensing requirements

Call 1: Engage in a scoping call
Call 2: Assess the current state
Call 3: Determine licensing position

Guided Implementation 2: Evaluate licensing options

Call 1: Review product options
Call 2: Review licensing rules

Guided Implementation 3: Evaluate agreement options

Call 1: Review contract option types
Call 2: Review vendors

Guided Implementation 4: Purchase and manage licenses

Call 1: Determine negotiation points
Call 2: Finalize the contract
Call 3: Discuss license management
Call 4: Evaluate and develop a roadmap for future licensing

Authors

Scott Bickley

Aadil Nanji

Contributors

Imran Shaikh, Program Director – IT at Vista Equity Partners
Richard Spithoven, Partner at b.lay
Max Ablimit, Tarim Consulting, LLC
Eric Chiu, Director at Fisher IT Asset Consulting

Search Code: 80106
Last Revised: September 13, 2016

TAGS:

vendor management, SAM, software asset management, software purchasing negotiation, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, audit procedures, license agreement

Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend

Overspending with Oracle is easier than you think, thanks to the open access framework coupled with complexity of licensing.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Impact and Result

Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

1. Establish licensing requirements

2. Evaluate licensing options

3. Evaluate agreement options

4. Purchase and manage licenses

Member Testimonials

Client

Experience

Impact

$ Saved

Days Saved

Testimonial

Workshop: Demystify Oracle Licensing and Optimize Spend

Module 1: Establish Licensing Requirements

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 2: Evaluate Licensing Options

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 3: Evaluate Agreement Options

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

Module 4: Purchase and Manage Licenses

The Purpose

Key Benefits Achieved

Activities

Outputs

About Info-Tech

MEMBER RATING

What Is a Blueprint?

Need Extra Help? Speak With An Analyst

Guided Implementation 1: Establish licensing requirements

Guided Implementation 2: Evaluate licensing options

Guided Implementation 3: Evaluate agreement options

Guided Implementation 4: Purchase and manage licenses

Authors

Contributors

Related Content: Licensing

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