Fast launches software compliance tool

Many companies could be wasting money on licences they do not need

Fast Consultancy Services a wholly independent spin-off from the Federation Against Software Theft, has unveiled a new software licensing tool, designed to help businesses save money and comply with increasing amounts of legislation.

Fast Compliance Manager aims to provide education, consulting and managed services around software asset management and IT compliance to Fast members.

Recent research by analyst firm IDC suggests that around 30 per cent of IT departments do not measure the difference between how many licences they own and how many are actually deployed.

This could mean that they are either wasting money on licences they do not need, or putting themselves at risk of fines if they are found to be under-licensed. Furthermore, around two-thirds of organisations have no formal retirement process, creating further chaos when trying to effectively manage software licences.

IDC also revealed that 52 per cent of companies have been subject to a vendor audit or review in the past year, and that 23 per cent have had to go through three or more such audits.

"Fast Compliance Manager is a key element of the overall Fast proposition designed to put processes and tools in place to stop organisations from being at risk of negative output following a vendor audit or a compliance bill that they're not expecting," said Phil Heap, head of consultancy and membership products and services at Fast.

"It's no good showing what software you have installed, or the product boxes on a shelf. You need to demonstrate evidence of the licences."

According to Fast, the Compliance Manager was built in response to demand from its members, who frequently have discovery tools in place, but usually attempt to manage software licences and proof of entitlement through a spreadsheet or home grown database.

The new software is designed to generate a centralised proof-of-entitlement repository and is entirely web based. It offers role-based permissions and access levels, and allows licence records to be allocated, managed and reported in a flexible structure through multiple departments, areas and business units.

The system can also tie together invoices as well as various upgrade licences and software family management. It also provides a dashboard and reporting tools to offer an overall view of the licensing estate, including where there is an oversupply or shortfall and when various licences are up for renewal or renegotiation.

"This is designed to bring visibility to the overall licensing estate, allowing these issues to be brought to the board level," said Andy Pearce, managing director of Fast.

"With around four out of 10 businesses over-licensed, the potential for significant money saving is huge, and can give IT managers a much stronger negotiating position when taking to suppliers."

Fast Compliance Manager is not being sold as a standalone product, and is available to Fast members at no additional charge.