The cloud has made many things simpler by allowing us to achieve economies of scale, eliminating the software installation process and enabling access of information from virtually anywhere. The list of benefits goes on, but contrary to popular belief, moving to the cloud will not make software licensing – and the challenges that go along with it – disappear. Instead, the cloud introduces a new set of software delivery models and licensing models that can make license management a challenge for the unprepared.
Cloud technologies need to be carefully considered by organizations considering new delivery models such as Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Closer examination of the licensing rules tied to the type of cloud considered (public, private or hybrid) is also essential – each has its own set of license management ramifications.