SOFTWARE LICENSING THE RIGHT ADVICE & THE RIGHT CHOICE INSIDE THIS ISSUE WE HAVE IT COVERED. Advice from Equanet

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1 SOFTWARE LICENSING THE RIGHT ADVICE & THE RIGHT CHOICE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Advice from Equanet Licensing Options Audit and Compliance Software Asset Management Software Assurance Latest from Microsoft WE HAVE IT COVERED

2 LICENSING WITH EQUANET 2 GET MORE FROM EQUANET SOFTWARE LICENSING & SOLUTIONS QUALITY ASSURANCE, BRAND NEUTRAL AND DEDICATED SPECIALIST LICENSING SUPPORT We partner with many leading software companies and are supported by a team of dedicated software solutions advisors who will consider your business size and the challenges you face, in order to recommend the best solution for you. DID YOU KNOW THAT EQUANET HOLDS MICROSOFT LAR ACCREDITATION? We hold Microsoft Large Account Reseller (LAR) status as well as being a Microsoft Gold partner. Equanet s LAR status accreditation means that we can offer support and advice across Select and Enterprise Licensing schemes as well as Open Licensing. SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Software requirements change as a business evolves. At Equanet we understand how integral software solutions are for day to day business operations. With years of specialist licensing experience we have a wealth of expertise within our dedicated Software Solutions team. We work closely with key partners: Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec, and many more to ensure that we are able to deliver the best solutions to meet your needs. WHAT LICENCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR MY BUSINESS? A software licence gives you the right to use a piece of software. It usually limits the software to a particular version and possibly for a specific length of time. Most Licences do not include the software itself. To get the software you will need to purchase this separately or download it from the vendor s web site. Commercial licences come in a number of versions. OEM comes with the machine, lives and dies with the machine. Boxed product typically a licence for a single use of software can be transferred. Volume purchase Licence terms typically issued to businesses to allow the use of multiple copies of software licences. These can include downgrade rights and maintenance which may allow upgrades to next release of same software. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? Equanet can advise you how to buy software, if you need boxed, OEM or more complex licence agreements through volume and other licence programmes. We can help you to decide what to buy, how best to use your licences, advice of updates and upgrades to maximise your investment and even help you manage the full Lifecycle. We can negotiate contracts on your behalf, manage multi-vendor relationships and help you to rationalise your assets. Our experts are on hand to help you through initial scoping, purchase and after sales care as well as offering advice and professional help with Solutions including unified Communications, Security and Virtualisation. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM US? As one of the UK s most established LAR s, our dedicated software solutions advisors are SAM accredited and can advise on asset management, licence management and software compliance, as well as helping you to maximise the return on your software investments. For any project you can trust Equanet to meet and exceed your expectations.

3 3 LICENSING WITH EQUANET WINDOWS 7 APPLICATION TESTING By nature, Windows is a very open and versatile platform. There is no standard set of requirements or tests that all applications have to abide by so here at Equanet we offer a service to ensure your applications are ready for full deployment when you are ready to upgrade. Please call our experts who will be happy to help. SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT Equanet has introduced a hosted SAM (Software Asset Management) solution. The solution provides our clients with a highly secure web based view of their IT infrastructure and software licence position. A Software Asset Management process can make a real difference in helping your business run more smoothly and efficiently. With Software Asset Management you can: Save Money - Companies that systematically manage the life cycles of their IT assets will reduce cost per asset by as much as 30 percent in the first year, and between 5 and 10 percent annually in the next five years. Manage Technological Change - SAM can help you assess which software assets have proven beneficial plus highlight where upgrades or new programs may be needed. Be More Secure and Reliable - Serious problems can affect and damage your computers and entire networks when unauthorised software is being used. Avoid Costs and Fines - Abuse of software licences can result in financial penalties, legal costs and even potential criminal judgments. AT A GLANCE, WE OFFER Software licensing based engagements Software Lifecycle Management Vendor contract negotiation Dedicated licence consultancy Microsoft Risk Reviews and Audits SAM optimisation workshops

4 4 MICROSOFT VOLUME LICENSING GET DISCOUNTS, FLEXIBILITY & MANAGEABILITY VOLUME LICENSING UNDERSTANDING MICROSOFT VOLUME LICENSING To choose the optimal approach for your organisation, we must first understand the main drivers for your business. We need to know: The size and requirements of your organisation The software you want to licence The way in which you want to use those products PERPETUAL LICENCE With a perpetual licence you own the licence and can use the software throughout the term of the licensing agreement and for ever afterwards. You can renew existing agreements and/or Software Assurance and continue to receive purchasing discounts, the rights to the latest versions and other benefits. Or you can decide not to renew and continue using the same software version for as long as you wish. 3-year term 3-year renewal option Media with licence purchase Non-organisation-wide option is available Software Assurance PERPETUAL DESKTOP PCS Comprehensive Transactional Open Value Open Licence * 2-year purchase period Media sold separately Up-front payment only Software Assurance optional NON-PERPETUAL LICENCE With a non-perpetual licence you can only use the software throughout the term of the licensing agreement. After this agreement ends, you no longer have the rights to use the software and the licence agreement will need to be re-negotiated and renewed. ORDER PROCESS: If your business uses multiple PCs, it might be eligible for one of Microsoft s volume licence programmes. These programmes help businesses use and manage Microsoft technology through the subscription or purchase of software licences. Each programme offers a specific plan to help you get the maximum value out of your software. Volume licensing programmes are flexible and open to organisations of all sizes, whether just a few licences are involved or hundreds. NON-PERPETUAL DESKTOP PCS Comprehensive Open Value Subscription 1-year/3-year options Subscription available Buy-out available (3+ years) Media with licence purchase Organisation-wide only Software Assurance Up-to-date discount available with up to 50% discount off the first year licence (for 3-year option only) EXPECT VALUE? You ll get unequalled discounts based on the level and type of licensing commitment you select. Buying licences as opposed to boxed or OEM products will bring down your cost per user, giving you a better return on your investment. NEED FLEXIBILITY? No problem you can choose the option best for your size and type of organisation, based on the products you want to licence, the way in which you want to use those products, and length of licensing commitment you want to make. WANT MANAGEABILITY? Volume licensing lets you manage software licences quickly and conveniently using online tracking tools, which means your growing business will have the flexibility it needs to acquire Volume Licence Keys, download and activate licenced products, and manage access rights for your staff. * Open Licence is the only scheme where a contract is not required. Comprehensive Programmes include Mandatory Software Assurance

5 5 VOLUME LICENSING MICROSOFT SELECT LICENCE For midsize to large organisations that have mixed software requirements, Select Licence allows you to acquire the latest Microsoft technology on a pay as you go basis with price levels established for each pool of products (applications, systems, or servers) based upon a threeyear forecast. MICROSOFT SELECT PLUS Microsoft Volume Licensing solutions offer you more flexibility, better asset management, and a way to balance growing technology needs with predictable costs. Microsoft Select Plus is for midsize and large organisations that want to acquire their software licences and services per product pool at any business unit or department level, while realising advantages as one organisation. Unique features like a single customer ID, an agreement that never expires and full 36 months of Software Assurance makes Select Plus an ideal solution. MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT The Enterprise Agreement offers large organisations substantial cost savings over standard licence pricing, as well as simplified licence and budget tracking through a single agreement. With the Enterprise Agreement, you can easily standardise on the latest Microsoft technology across your enterprise. MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT The Enterprise Subscription Agreement offers large organisations subscriptionbased licensing with substantial cost savings over standard licence pricing. You acquire only what you need when you need it, with simplified licence and budget tracking through a single agreement OPEN VALUE This agreement is ideal for organisations with up to 750 PCs allowing for natural growth without the organisation needing to change agreement or partner. The three year agreement gives organisations the right to use the version of Microsoft Software they buy forever and benefit from all products, within the agreement, being covered by Software Assurance. OPEN VALUE SUBSCRIPTION This three year agreement enables companies with up to 750 PCs to rent Microsoft Software, creating one of the most flexible licensing options available. With lower upfront and initial annual costs in comparison to buying licences outright, payments can be spread to help improve cash flow. BENEFIT WITH SOFTWARE ASSURANCE Both OPEN VALUE and OPEN VALUE SUBSCRIPTION are automatically covered by Software Assurance. A complete package of benefits, Software Assurance helps your business be more competitive and agile while increasing your control over costs and improving budget predictability. Providing access to the most current versions of Microsoft software, technical support, and deployment planning services to help you deploy, maintain, and support the entire IT environment, Software Assurance is a truly comprehensive package to assist you at every stage of the licencing process. Please call our Specialist team for more information on Volume Licencing for the 250+ Desktop PC organisations

6 6 SOFTWARE AUDIT COUNTING THE COST SOFTWARE AUDIT OF YOUR LICENSING EQUANET S LICENCE MANAGEMENT SERVICE HELPS YOU: What software assets does your business currently have in place? Where are they? How much are they costing you? Who is using them? Are they compliant with vendor licensing policies? How can you most effectively monitor and manage them? Making the most of your software investments can be a daunting task. Equanet will work with and advise the end-user on its licensing aiming to deliver cost saving solutions. Our specialist team has proven expertise with state-of-the-art tools to monitor and control your desktop and server software assets, cut software-related expenses and help you maintain compliance. We can provide a service that collects, analyses and delivers vital IT asset data. AT A GLANCE, WE OFFER It provides the knowledge you need to cut licensing costs by eliminating over-licensing, exposing underlicensing, identifying contract deficiencies and terminating inappropriate software usage. Want to transfer your software purchases to licensing today? Why not ask a member of the Equanet team to arrange for a licence review with one of our industry accredited professionals. Equanet uses the most efficient tools and continually invest in tools and technologies and training so that we are able to offer you top quality asset management. Simple software procurement Compliant licence management Rationalisation of software usage Improved cost savings Road mapping, compliancy and asset tracking Reduce your total cost of ownership by: Re-allocating software licences Eliminating obsolete service contracts Standardising software, resulting in lower help desk costs Highlighting opportunities to purchase software in volume or to negotiate software volume licence agreements Increase control and improve service to your users by: Understanding what you own, where it is, and who is using it Providing access to information needed to plan and monitor hardware and software upgrade projects Eliminating the use of unauthorised software Exporting IT asset management data to popular decision support and help desk Maintain compliance with software vendors by: Having ready access to a continuously updated software inventory database Using a consolidated repository of all software purchases and volume licence agreements Integrating software licence ownership with software installation information

7 SOFTWARE ASSURANCE A HELPING HAND WITH YOUR SUPPORT 7 SOFTWARE ASSURANCE Software Assurance offers a broad range of benefits in one program, combining the latest software with tools and resources to help you deploy, manage, and migrate software. Benefits include: Consulting services Training Around-the-clock web support Technical resources These benefits help increase the return on your technology investment by supporting budget predictability, lowering operating expenses, improving productivity, and minimising downtime. You can choose Software Assurance at the time of purchase and begin using your benefits immediately for the term of your licence agreement. BENEFITS THAT WE OFFER INCLUDE: E-LEARNING Equanet can help and advise on whether to host internally or externally, through one of our CTEC training partners Learning Management System (LMS) which will give you visibility of the skills within your organisation as well as the ability to track when certification renewals are due USE PROGRAM Equanet can manage enquires on your behalf. Your employees can HUP.<company name>@equanet.co.uk with a query and we will respond with the relevant programme code and 'How to' guide. NEW VERSION RIGHTS Through regular roadmap sessions, we can help guide you through deployment of technologies as they become available to help maximise your investment and increase productivity. We can map and document business issues and suggest Microsoft products and services that will help solve these issues as required. PACKAGED SERVICES Once the initial review session has been conducted and Equanet has mapped your technology requirements to your inhouse skills we will suggest candidates from our Solutions Partner Programme to enable best use of your package services days utilising best in their field Microsoft Partners. STEP-UP LICENCE AVAILABILITY Step up licences will be highlighted as the most cost effective way to increase functionality without incurring the cost of brand new licences. TRAINING VOUCHERS Equanet will operate a mini tender on your behalf with our CTEC training partners to maximise the training vouchers you have as part of your agreement. The ratio of training vouchers,dependent on which technologies require training and location, can be anywhere from 2:1 to 3:1 We will also negotiate onsite training for larger requirements. If your training vouchers can not be used we can convert them to packaged services consultancy days.

8 LICENSING COMPLIANCE 8 COMPLIANCE AND SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO BE COMPLIANT THE COST OF ILLEGAL SOFTWARE Get caught using illegal software and the world will suddenly become a much more expensive place! Exactly how serious this is will depend very much on what sanctions the company you are dealing with chooses to employ civil or criminal proceedings. In most cases however it is likely to be the Business Software Alliance (BSA) that first signals trouble. The BSA can be found at and represents its members interests including Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, Macromedia, Symantec, Veritas, Dell, IBM, Sun and Borland. In addition to speaking to such companies, governments and other influential organisations, it gathers information about suspected pirates, performing audits on companies and administering fines where necessary. Whether the software is handled by the BSA or not, it is important to know your rights. Many organisations have no direct legal weight and you certainly don t have to open your door to an audit, unless it is specifically written into your contracts and agreements, but refusing to may only raise suspicion! Bear in mind that in the event of an audit you will be expected to provide proof of your licences the auditor s job is not to prove you are not licenced. THE AUDITORS What do you do if you have slipped up? The only way to go is to buy the extra licences you need and ensure that your software asset management tools and policies are up to the challenge of keeping you legal in the future. Equanet offers an Asset Management service that will carry out an audit of all computers connected to a network. Our specialist consultants will snapshot your software deployment, enabling them to advise on the legality of products in question and whether current licence agreements offer the best value for your money. SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT Software is one of your company's most important assets. There are many reasons why a company should implement an effective software asset management strategy. Often the statutory and legal issues are well understood but businesses are still unaware of the business benefits Software Asset Management offers. How well are you managing yours? Software Asset Management (SAM) is the development and implementation of a set of procedures and policies, enabling you to manage and optimise your software assets effectively. Your software licences are valuable assets, it s important to know what you have and how they re used. SAM helps determine which software licences you own, where they are deployed, when to retire and when you are eligible for new upgrades. SAM also helps you accurately recapture the costs and benefits associated with the investment in the software you use. Usage of correct software tools Reduce costs - purchase only what you need Increase buying power Increase business continuity Reduce risk of illegal software Reduce risk of unauthorised copying

9 9 SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT BENEFITS INCLUDE: Ensure you are not paying for software that is not in use Increase business continuity by not basing critical business functions on unstable unlicenced software Eliminate the chances of unauthorised copying by users contravening your licence agreement Ensure there is no software duplication and that you are not paying for more licences than you need Lower the risks of being caught using illegal software BY ADOPTING A SAM STRATEGY YOU WILL SEE CLEAR, TANGIBLE BENEFITS: Cost savings (typically between 20-30% in the first year) Control your software assets Remain compliant and avoid the risk of counterfeit software Build on your SAM maturity Thanks to our SAM process, we can now look at our software compliancy in an instant Carl Stirland, Director of IT, Bowmer & Kirkland You may be unsure where to start, or how to implement it, and you may have limited resources at your disposal. Our entry level flexible Audit service "SamOnaStick" (Network audit service performed via a USB device) will help to provide an initial installed software baseline, which provides the first proper step of managing a SAM program. If you are responsible for SAM in your business or organisation, you will need to report your software investments on a regular basis. Microsoft s SAM program can help you to understand your licensing requirements. Upon completion of the program you will receive certification that validates your Microsoft software for 12 months. Working with our team can ensure that you are able to create the right SAM strategy for your organisation, REAP THE REWARDS OF THE MICROSOFT SAM PROGRAM Being a part of the Microsoft SAM program will provide you with a number of great benefits including; A licensing baseline for ongoing SAM planning A Microsoft recognised certificate of your Microsoft software, valid for 12 months Access to Microsoft financing to help finance your SAM program A Free place on SAM BASICS Training session ADDITIONAL SERVICES Equanet can provide a benchmarking service for the asset management processes. We also provide services to assist you in attaining vendor compliancy accreditation (Adobe, Autodesk, Symantec) and attaining industry recognised accreditations for software asset management such as ISO/IEC WHAT CAN SAM DO FOR YOU? Management and optimisation of software assets Getting the right procedures and policies in place can identify whether you are: Under-licenced may mean you are trading illegally Over-licenced means that you are wasting money on software that you do not need By undergoing a Software Asset Management service, Equanet can ensure you have the right licenses and that your software is completely compliant, we can help improve the costeffectiveness of your business computing assets. Call us today to find out more.

10 10 MICROSOFT SOFTWARE COMBINING INNOVATION TO BRING IMPROVED PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE As a business owner, you need a PC that keeps up with the way you work. A PC that is responsive and ready, helps you be more productive, and offers greater protection from security threats. The Windows 7 Professional operating system provides a powerful combination of innovation, improved performance, and productivity. Most importantly, it delivers on what matters to running a business: speed, reliability, compatibility, connectivity, and security. 1 IT S FAST, RELIABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE Get working quicker with faster and more reliable start up and shut down. Keep your current software. Most programmes and devices running on Windows Vista will run on Windows 7 Professional. It will even run dedicated Windows XP programmes. Makes networking easier. Share files and devices like printers easily, with no need to invest in a server. 2 MAKING YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE Find what you need fast. Just type a few letters in the search box to find files, applications, even a control pane menu, in seconds. Make more of your mouse. A simple shake will arrange windows side-by side or maximise them. Stay productive while mobile. Improved power management preserves battery life. Print first time. Windows 7 Professional detects whether you re at home or in the office and automatically chooses the right printer. 3 SAFEGUARDING YOUR WORK Prevent accidents. Schedule regular backups to save your data and avoid the damage done by a missed backup or a lost laptop. Even restore old versions of documents you have deleted or changed. Be more secure online. Internet Explorer 8 helps you protect your data and defeat internet threats. Windows Defender protects you against spyware and other malicious software. Be even more secure with Windows 7 Professional. Encrypt confidential business information or backup your data to a network drive. GET MORE DONE IN YOUR DAY WITH MICROSOFT SMALL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Microsoft provides the ideal small business software solution that boosts personal productivity. It helps everyone get more done, work together more easily, and share information more securely.

11 SECURITY FROM SYMANTEC EFFICIENT & SECURE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 11 SYMANTEC SOFTWARE Symantec provides security, backup, storage and systems management solutions to help everyone from small businesses to large global organisations - secure, backup and manage information more completely and efficiently. COMPLETE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Symantec s buying programmes provide you with a consistent and flexible way to purchase Symantec products; enabling you to earn greater discounts and effectively track and manage your software licences. SYMANTEC BACKUP EXEC 2010 Delivers reliable backup and recovery designed for your growing business. Easily protect more data while you reduce storage and management costs through integrated deduplication and archiving technology. Reduce business downtime, ensure critical information on virtual or physical systems is always protected and restored in seconds. Symantec Express is a programme for those who need a practical way to purchase small licence quantities, without time consuming paperwork. Companies can use this programme to purchase Symantec security, software products, as well as support and maintenance service options. Symantec Rewards is a programme that offers easy access to all Symantec software solutions, support and maintenance service options with volume purchase incentives, a predictable pricing tool, regardless of volume with the ease and flexibility of centralised purchasing. Symantec Rewards points are also assigned to each product. By accruing points you are able to access better pricing and potential savings. SYMANTEC BACKUP EXEC 2010 DEDUPLICATION Provides integrated and customisable deduplication offering to optimise any backup strategy with: Client deduplication: Deduplicates data at source or Remote Server Media Server deduplication: Deduplicates data at media server Appliance deduplication: Integrates with OpenStorage deduplication appliances Deduplicated backup set copy: deduplicates data from remote offices to headquarters SYMANTEC BACKUP EXEC 2010 ARCHIVE Provides unified backup and archiving for Exchange file servers by uniquely archiving data from the backup copy rather than by separately pulling data from the source. The archive option provides administrators with the ability to reduce redundant data primary server source to free up storage space. Users can easily retrieve individual archived s using the Backup Exec Retrieve Google-like web interface and administrators can retrieve archived data through the Backup Exec console. Overall administrators will be able to easily index data and set retention periods to efficiently manage data lifecycles.

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