{"id":15516,"date":"2023-07-24T10:31:04","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T10:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/?p=15516"},"modified":"2023-07-24T10:31:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T10:31:04","slug":"software-licence-audit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/software-licence-audit\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a software license audit?: An overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The consequences of software non-compliance can cause irrevocable harm to a company if not addressed \u2014 resulting in regulatory scrutiny, hefty financial penalties, and damage to its reputation and credibility.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These risks, however, aren&#8217;t easily mitigated, with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dbta.com\/DBTA-Downloads\/ResearchReports\/MANAGING-THE-SOFTWARE-AUDIT-2022-SURVEY-ON-ENTERPRISE-SOFTWARE-LICENSING-AND-AUDIT-TRENDS-12163.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unisphere survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> revealing, among companies audited by their software vendors in the past three years, 64% were charged additional fees for non-compliance. A significant percentage, 35%, had to pay $100,000 or more to achieve compliance with the vendor, while 10% were charged $1 million or more in fees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ongoing industry-wide <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/glossary\/digital-transformation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">digital transformation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> ensures that change is the only constant, with the quantity and frequency at which businesses are adopting new technology increasing tenfold.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/203428\/total-enterprise-software-revenue-forecast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Statista<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, worldwide IT spending on enterprise software amounted to approximately 783 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, with a growth rate of 7.1 percent from the previous year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"504\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/According-to-Statista-worldwide-IT-spending-on-enterprise-software-amounted-to-approximately-783-billion-U_9653bb28-1024x504.s\" alt=\"According to Statista, worldwide IT spending on enterprise software amounted to approximately 783 billion U.S. dollars in 2022\" class=\"wp-image-16177\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The enterprise software market, in particular, has experienced notable growth in recent years, with market revenues increasing by more than double between 2010 and 2020.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The proliferation of nascent digital tools, software solutions, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/the-future-of-it-investments-in-2022-and-beyond\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IT investments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> across sectors brings ample opportunities for new value creation. However, a precarious byproduct of navigating this new frontier is the material risks of poor <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/saas-asset-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">SaaS asset management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and a failure to demonstrate due diligence around software license compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As businesses broaden their digital presence, the intricacy of managing software licenses escalates. This has led to software license audits increasingly becoming routine in the business sector. It&#8217;s common for license agreements to include a provision that grants the vendor the right to conduct audits and a requirement for the licensee to comply and cooperate during these processes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article will explore software license audits, covering key factors contributing to non-compliance, best practices for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/compliance-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">maintaining compliance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and the importance of effective software asset management through self-audits.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What is a software license audit?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img height=\"680\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/What-is-a-software-license-audit_-1_17653bb2.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=680&#038;crop=1\" alt=\"What is a software license audit_\" class=\"wp-image-16179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/What-is-a-software-license-audit_-1_17653bb2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/What-is-a-software-license-audit_-1_17653bb2.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/What-is-a-software-license-audit_-1_17653bb2.jpg?resize=1024,680 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A software license audit is an <\/span><b>intricate process of examining a company&#8217;s software applications.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Its purpose is to validate that the organization abides by the legal and ethical parameters outlined in its software license agreements.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This process involves a thorough examination of all software applications installed across the enterprise network, comparing them to the legal entitlements that the company owns.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Independent third-party auditors typically conduct software license audits on the vendors&#8217; behalf.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While major software providers such as Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM can conduct their software license audits (with Oracle having its internal auditing department), they often contract third-party auditors from global players such as PwC, Deloitte and KPMG, and Ernst &amp; Young.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This approach allows these companies to maintain accuracy and impartiality in their audit processes, as third-party auditors can better ensure an objective and unbiased review of software usage and compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, it&#8217;s worth noting that these third-party auditors have a financial incentive to identify instances of non-compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"714\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/However-its-worth-noting-that-these-third-party-auditors-have-a-financial-incentive-to-identify-instances-of-non-compliance_33653bb2-1024x714.-1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16180\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A reported 33% of respondents in Flexera\u2019s 2021 State of ITAM Report paid vendors between $500,000 in software license penalties in the last year, with 10% paying upwards of $5 million. Similarly, more than half (67%) of respondents have paid fines of up to half a million dollars.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Non-compliant software license use: Contributing factors<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img height=\"994\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Non-compliant-software-license-use_-Contributing-factors-1_653bb337.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=994&#038;crop=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Non-compliant-software-license-use_-Contributing-factors-1_653bb337.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Non-compliant-software-license-use_-Contributing-factors-1_653bb337.jpg?resize=300,291 300w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/10\/Non-compliant-software-license-use_-Contributing-factors-1_653bb337.jpg?resize=1024,994 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Considering the complex and dynamic nature of modern IT ecosystems, the intricacy of managing license agreements makes it easy to fall into noncompliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Therefore, businesses must be aware of the common pitfalls and challenges that can lead to such violations. <\/span><b>Here are some significant factors that contribute to software license noncompliance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Virtualization<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> adds a layer of complexity to licensing, especially when vendors base their licenses on physical hardware, not just the virtual instances used. For example, consider Oracle&#8217;s Database Management Systems (DBMS) deployment within virtualized environments. Oracle requires licenses for all cores on the physical host, not just the ones assigned to the virtual machine running their software. So, even if you allocate only four cores to a virtual machine on a 16-core server, you must license all 16 cores. Misinterpreting or neglecting this rule can lead to noncompliance and considerable licensing fees.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Varying use-case definitions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Software vendors often have their definitions for terms like &#8216;user&#8217; or &#8216;usage,&#8217; which can vary significantly from one vendor to another. This lack of standardization can create confusion and misunderstanding. For instance, one vendor might define a &#8216;user&#8217; as anyone with access to the software, while another might define it as anyone who actively uses it. This discrepancy can inadvertently lead an organization to violate the terms of its license agreement without realizing they&#8217;re doing so.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Inadequate license management and IT inventory processes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Organizations can easily lose track of software usage without a comprehensive tracking mechanism for licenses and IT assets. This oversight may result in discrepancies between the licensed software and its actual use.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An audit report published by NASA reveals that the space agency neglected to establish a centralized Software Asset Management tool for discovering, inventorying, and monitoring license data as mandated by federal policy. This oversight led to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oig.nasa.gov\/docs\/IG-23-008.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NASA expending about $15 million on unused Oracle software licenses over the past five years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014an amount deemed &#8220;wasteful&#8221; by the Aeronautics research agency.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Operating outside of a limited-use license<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: If the specific restrictions of limited-use licenses aren&#8217;t properly understood or are disregarded, organizations may inadvertently exceed the stipulated boundaries of their license agreement.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Unawareness of shifting product use rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: When organizations fail to stay updated with alterations to the terms and conditions of software licenses, they risk crossing the lines of their agreement without even realizing it.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Unaware that new iterations of software require new licenses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Software upgrades sometimes call for a new license. Overlooking this requirement can unintentionally cause organizations to operate unlicensed versions of their software.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Lack of understanding of licensing models<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Misinterpretation of the various licensing models available, such as per user, per device, and concurrent, can lead organizations to unintentional misuse of their software licenses.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Mergers and Acquisitions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: During the turmoil of mergers or acquisitions, the newly formed entity might not have a complete overview of all the licenses held by the original companies, which could cause inadvertent licensing oversights.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Maintaining Software License Compliance: Best Practices<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ensuring software license compliance proves ever-critical in business environments where robust software asset management is closely intertwined with success.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The BSA reports that around a quarter of businesses operating in the US are non-compliant in some manner, causing software vendors an estimated loss of $6 billion. As such, business and IT decision-makers must prepare for a software license audit.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A license audit can be a stressful and time-consuming experience, but several best practices are readily known to help your organization prepare for one.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Firstly, having a comprehensive understanding of your licensing agreements is essential. This includes knowing the terms and conditions of each license and understanding how your organization uses the software. It&#8217;s also important to have a clear record of all purchases, installations, and usage of software licenses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another critical best practice is establishing a dedicated team or person responsible for managing software licenses. This individual or team should be responsible for keeping track of all licenses and ensuring they&#8217;re being used in compliance with licensing agreements.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I would venture to suggest that many businesses aspire to 80% in the cloud, with the remaining 20% technology they can&#8217;t move to the cloud. It&#8217;s important to watch out for indirect licensing here \u2013 granting the users of one system access to the features and benefits of another system\u2026<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rorycanavan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rory Canavan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Software Asset Management Consultant and owner of SAM Charter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/quote_4164be50.jpg\" alt=\"quote\" class=\"wp-image-15519\" style=\"width:800px\" width=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/quote_4164be50.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/quote_4164be50.jpg?resize=300,176 300w, https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/quote_4164be50.jpg?resize=245,145 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition to the above, having a clear process for renewing and upgrading licenses is also essential. It&#8217;s important to avoid letting licenses expire accidentally or going out-of-date, which can lead to non-compliance and potentially costly consequences.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fact-checking for accuracy is also essential to preparing for a software license audit. Ensuring that all information is up-to-date and accurate can help to prevent potential issues during an audit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, performing regular internal audits to identify potential compliance issues before an external audit occurs is key. This can help correct mistakes and ensure your organization is fully prepared for a software license audit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Software asset management: Getting it right with a self-audit<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While receiving an audit request from third-party auditors is expected, organizations should not rely solely on external audits to ensure compliance. Instead, implementing robust internal controls and software asset management practices can help organizations stay on top of their licensing obligations and avoid the pitfalls of non-compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gartner Inc. estimates that the probability of an audit for a midsize to large organization is 40% over the next two years and will increase by 20% annually.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, conducting self-audits can be a daunting task for many organizations. The financial and human capital required to carry out these audits can often leave businesses feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to defend their license entitlements in the face of third-party auditors who may be quick to promote and misunderstand noncompliance.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key parts of the self-audit process involve gaining a comprehensive understanding of the organization&#8217;s software assets, including purchases, entitlements, and usage patterns. This information is compared against software deployment to identify discrepancies or non-compliance issues. Throughout this process, careful documentation and record-keeping are also essential to ensure ongoing compliance and guide future software purchasing decisions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In such cases, it may be advisable to seek the assistance of experienced software asset management professionals who can help organizations navigate the complex landscape of software licensing agreements.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When done right, software license self-audits are proactive asset management solutions that empower companies to traverse the digital ecosphere confidently, maximizing returns on tech investments while working to strengthen overall corporate risk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<a href=\"javascript:;\" class=\"popup-threefields m-element-hidden j-initiator j-paid_post_feature\" id=\"imgpng\" form-type-id=\"imgpng\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"initiator-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/04\/Employee-productivity-A-min_1643bf27.png\"\/><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The consequences of software non-compliance can cause irrevocable harm to a company if not addressed \u2014 resulting in regulatory scrutiny,<span class=\"moretag\">&#8230;<\/span>","protected":false},"author":246,"featured_media":15517,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"mobile_image_id":0,"tablet_image_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[359],"tags":[7702,7709,7706,7708,7703],"class_list":["post-15516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-change-management","tag-digital-transformation-2","tag-it-investment","tag-saas-asset-management","tag-software-asset-management-2","tag-software-license"],"acf":{"__coauthors":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is a software license audit?: An overview<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover what a software license audit is and why it matters. 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