Software license management are one of those tools that almost all organizations have to either handle internally or outsource externally. It does not matter how small the company is with a few applications or a big corporation handling thousands of software licenses. There’s always a need to track licenses to avoid infringement, compliance barriers, and waste.
In this article, I’ll provide you with a list of the best software license management tools and I will give you the reasons why they feature in the list and how you can use them to optimize your software asset management (SAM) processes.
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What are Best Software License Management Tools
Before we even start the best software license management tools, let us take some time to understand what software license management is. It is the process of monitoring, controlling, as well as planning how the software licenses owned by the organization are used. Management of licenses is essential for:
Ensuring adherence to the contracts of software licensing processes.
Making sure no money is lost through the purchase of software licenses that are not.
Limiting the threats and risks from the vendors and their audit requests.
Why Do You Need a Software License Management Tool?
Trying to implement a manual diaspora to track software licenses is inefficient, full of errors, and a drain on time. In effect, such management solutions shorten the time required to manage and track licenses and reports. The following are the features offered by these solutions:
License tracking and compliance: Protect your organization and do not violate licensing terms and conditions when using the software.
Cost savings: Reduce excess costs by finding and disposing of software licenses that are not being used or are underutilized.
Audit preparation: Some essential requirements include making sure that proper documents to support such licenses are readily available for use during vendor audits.
Cloud and SaaS management: With a growing number of software solutions moving into the cloud, SaaS subscription management is becoming increasingly important.
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At this point, you probably have an understanding of the main objectives of software license management, and let us review some of the best SM tools that would assist in reaching these objectives.
1. Flexer
Flexera has advanced software licensing management tool, especially for large organizations. A complete solution with a range of a larger number of vendors is supported and software use is comprehensively evaluated.
Key Features:
License compliance: Monitors the licensing status of the organization’s software assets to ascertain contractual obligations with the vendors.
Usage insights: Keeps a record of utilization of the software solution to optimize the number of licenses.
Cloud and on-premise: support both conventional and cloud-based software management.
Automated license management: Manual processes are reduced by the use of technology.
Flexera is suited to organizations that face complex licensing regimes with several software vendors.
2. Snow License Manager
Powerful Software Asset Management capabilities are also observed in Snow License Manager when managing traditional and cloud software licenses alike. It makes it easy to control expenses by seeing the usage of all the software in real time and remaining compliant.
Key Features:
Active usage monitoring: Tracks how the organization is using its software deployment in terms of software access.
Cloud and SaaS management: Helps manage licenses for cloud-based software and SaaS applications.
License management: sustainability means and helps to achieve optimum utilization of software even when it is not being actively used.
Snow is ideal for organizations looking for much detail about their software estate trying to expand but already have a lot of SaaS allocations.
3. ServiceNow Software Asset Management (SAM)
Service Now organization SAM module integrates with other IT service management utilities within the organization that is suitable for users who already engaged in Service Now single form of operation.
Key Features:
Automatic software discovery: Automatically scans the installed software in your organization’s network.
License verification and reconciliation: Verifies that you are operating your software within the licensing boundaries you have.
Preparation for audit: Maintains detailed reports of your activities in readiness for any possible audits by the vendor.
Integration: Can regulate other service now IT units.
This tool is most suitable for organizations that already have subscribed services now and they require a full-service Management for assets.
4. Ivanti License Optimizer
Ivanti License Optimizer is a tool developed to assist organizations with the issue of compliance and getting rid of unnecessary expenses in software. Indeed it offers on-premise, SaaS as well as a cloud-based license for its users.
Key Features:
Software discovery: This enables the automatic detection of software programs on all your systems.
License compliance: Keeps an eye on the software licenses acquired by the organization and the changes undertaken to ensure that the compliance policies are still in effect.
Cloud and SaaS support: Aids in dealing with the current age of cloud programs in management.
Cost optimization: Advises organizations on how to get the most out of every dollar that is invested in computer programs.
Ivanti is a flexible solution-oriented for all company sizes.
5. Certero for Enterprise SAM
Certero provides you with the possibility to manage all aspects of software licensing, cloud assets, and SaaS subscriptions all from one inclusive platform. It is cloud-based and, therefore, can be easily adapted to the growing needs of the company.
Key Features:
All-Around license management system: Governs licenses from on-premise, cloud, or hybrid environments.
Cut costs: Assists in the to come software cost by doing away with unutilized licenses.
Before the audit: It is the management of the license usage to ensure that no penalties are imposed for violation of vendor terms.
Cloud-Based Solution: Convenient and flexible for businesses with prospects of expansion.
Due to mass and intricate IT systems being operated within enterprises, Certero is addressed primarily to enterprises.
6. ManageEngine AssetExplorer
To small and moderate enterprise-level companies (SME), it comes So cheap, that it is ManageEngine Asset Explorer. It is a one-stop shop for IT asset management and software license management tools.
Key Features of the First Stage:
Software inventory: Its primary function is to monitor the materials installed and used software.
License compliance: Verify your compliance with software vendors.
Vendor management: Track the vendor contracts and their expiration dates.
Customizable reporting: Offers a range of reporting tools for compliance assessments.
ManageEngine AssetExplorer is an affordable asset management software that fulfills SMB’s simple licensing requirements.
7. IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT
IBM Tivoli is an excellent solution for software asset management alongside software license management making it preferable to big organizations.
Key Features:
License compliance: Such application provides enterprise-wide license compliance and usage.
Vendor audit support: Retain colored indenting records, and the vendor’s data when carrying out audit exercises.
Virtualization and cloud support: Deals with the management of physical software licenses and software licenses for the cloud.
Detailed reporting: Engages in up-to-date reports and endorsement of license usage and compliance.
Tivoli is more appropriate for Apple’s complicated IT environment and it works optimally with other IBM products and services.
8. OpenLM
If you work within areas of CAD, GIS, or Engineering OpenLM is the perfect software for controlling specialized software licenses across the organization. It helps prevent wastage in the case of high-cost engineering licenses.
Key Features:
License server monitoring: They monitor the usage of engineering software licenses in real-time.
Cost optimization: Saves you from buying high-cost licenses when the amount you are being charged can be offset by other costs of running the software.
Usage reporting: They give detailed reports of how the licenses are being utilized.
Audit support: Useful in preparing for audits by vendors as it will contain records of the transactions in check.
We especially recommend OpenLM for organizations that use specific software which usually has a high price for a license.
9. Zylo
Zylo specializes in the security and governance of SaaS solutions and cloud software applications. It also gives soft metrics to the users which help them manage the subscription usage of software.
Key Features:
SaaS management: Helps in maintaining an overview of the SaaS subscriptions at the organization.
License optimization: Helps in saving some money by searching for unutilized SaaS licenses.
Renewal tracking: Enables you to effect works associated with SaaS renewals to avert surprises.
Integration with financial systems: Gives an overview of the sums that are exhausted on SaaS.
Zylo will be most appropriate for businesses that use multiple SaaS applications.
10. Aspera SmartTrack
Aspera SmartTrack for bigger companies supports even the most sophisticated environments of software licensing management with such tools as this.
Key Features:
Enterprise level management: Management tools for large corporations operating with a multitude of 3rd party software vendors.
Cloud and on-premise management: There are traditional licenses and cloud licenses.
Vendor contract management: Manages vendors and vendor contracts.
Detailed compliance reporting: Provides compliance tracking and reporting capabilities.
Aspera SmartTrack best fits companies with complex licensing structures.
Conclusion: Selecting the best software license management tools
The type of best software license management tools you need will vary based on the size of your company, the intensity of the licensing environment, and your ability to pay. If you need a good and cheap program, like ManageEngine AssetExplorer, or an excellent solution for big enterprises, such as Flexera, or Aspera SmartTrack, all the programs listed above will help you become compliant, save money, and avoid problems with software management.
The right tool for the job can save your organization a lot of money and a lot of trouble down the road.
