Blogs

Managing technical debt and legacy investments: Microsoft SQL Server 2012

July 05 2021

In our previous blog, Understanding and eradicating your technical debt, we looked at the concept of ‘technical debt’ in software estates. At how, without proper attention to detail or if upgrades have been passed over one too many times, technical debt can accumulate massively. That, if b... Read More Read More

The importance & value of Trustworthy Data – Part 1

June 07 2021

Accurate and insightful intelligence based on Trustworthy Data is an essential component of successful ITAM strategies. Only when organizations understand and manage this data can they use it to effectively inform compliance, contract, consumption and control – the four stages of ITAM maturity t... Read More Read More

The importance of choosing the right ITAM partner

May 25 2021

The need for software and cloud management has never been greater – spending on software and cloud solutions continues to rise in the changing world of work. With more people being empowered to make purchasing decisions, the ways in which we consume and deploy applications is continually evolvin... Read More Read More

Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures: Why it pays to keep ITAM in mind

June 07 2021

Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures are complex transactions that result in fundamental structural company change or transformation. There are many aspects to consider, from staffing and office space, to operations and finances – and, crucially, software and cloud contracts. Ensuring that ... Read More Read More

For an Optimized ITAM Strategy, Independence Matters

September 01 2021

July saw the launch of the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Managed Services, in which – I am very proud to say – Livingstone Group was named as a Leader. Following the publication of the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant, the ITAM Review provided an interesting take ... Read More Read More

Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures activity hits record high; placing ITAM further up organizations’ agendas

September 03 2021

Earlier this year, my colleagues Gareth Redshaw and Chris Gough discussed the importance of a robust ITAM strategy for organizations navigating complex mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Since then, the volume of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity across the world has hit new heights,... Read More Read More

The importance of Trustworthy Data – Part 3

September 20 2021

Managing compliance, renewals & consumption successfully In Part 1 and Part 2 of ‘The importance and value of Trustworthy Data’, we looked at why it is necessary to create a set of accurate Trustworthy Data, and the cleansing and normalization processes of obtaining this information... Read More Read More

Microsoft Briefing Series

October 11 2021

Free On-Demand Video Series Subscribe and view the videos today using the form opposite Series of six short Microsoft briefings available October through January, helping you to prepare for 2022. Please complete the form opposite and we will notify you when each of the videos and related conten... Read More Read More

Why it pays to start budgeting for your 2022 software & cloud renewals early

October 18 2021

Now is the time of year that many managers and business leaders are staring at spreadsheets even more intently than usual, as they find themselves deep in the process of planning their 2022 budgets, whether their financial year starts in January or in April 2022. Expenditure on software and cloud s... Read More Read More

The Perils of Oracle Java

October 28 2021

In 2019, Oracle changed its licensing practices for its open-source programming language and development platform software, Java. The changes meant that, while individual developers could still use the tool for free, organizations now had to buy Java as a product. However, in September 2021, Oracle... Read More Read More

Livingstone’s Software Asset Management Managed Service Value Add

November 03 2021

Recently, during an initial meeting with a CIO from a large multinational headquartered in the US, our team was asked the question, ‘what makes you think you can optimize and manage our software, cloud and service licenses better than our current provider?’ Being asked a question like t... Read More Read More

Women in Information Technology Roles

October 21 2021

Careers in IT and technology have traditionally been male-dominated, and although gender diversity is gradually increasing across the sector, there is still much work to be done to improve equality and opportunity for everyone. The ITAM and licensing industry has seen a big increase in females filling... Read More Read More

Livingstone Industry Highlights November 2021

October 22 2021

Livingstone Group's Software Asset Management and Licensing specialists provide insights and experiences through our monthly Industry Highlights. These insights are a compilation of news and press releases that may impact your business’s upcoming software renewals and estate. Fina... Read More Read More

An introduction to our Microsoft Briefing Series

November 10 2021

What you need to know when planning your 2022 renewal Managing Microsoft investments and environments has become more complicated than ever for organizations. Not only are costs spiralling out of their control as a result ofunchecked consumption, but a lack of strategicintelligence, planning andfor... Read More Read More

Episode 1: Microsoft Briefings: Microsoft Price Increases

November 22 2021

In Episode 1 of our Microsoft Briefing Series, we discuss Microsoft’s upcoming price increases, planned to hit specific products on 1st March 2022. We discuss the impact these planned price increases will have on existing Microsoft customers, as well as the best way organizations can prepare. Th... Read More Read More

Episode 2: Microsoft Briefings: PowerBI & Power Apps

November 29 2021

In Episode 2 of our Microsoft Briefing Series, we take a look at Microsoft PowerBI and Power Apps, specifically looking at what’s changed and how organizations can optimize, forecast and leverage certain information during negotiations to get the best deal that suits their requirements and consu... Read More Read More

Oracle Briefing Series

January 10 2022

Free On-Demand Video Series Subscribe and view today using the form opposite Series of six short Oracle briefings available throughout January and February, helping you to prepare for 2022. Please complete the form opposite and we will notify you when each of the videos and related content is r... Read More Read More

Livingstone Industry Highlights December 2021

November 26 2021

Livingstone Group's Software Asset Management and Licensing specialists provide insights and experiences through our monthly Industry Highlights. These insights are a compilation of news and press releases that may impact your business’s upcoming software renewals and estate. Fina... Read More Read More

Explaining the ITAM managed service value-add

December 07 2021

There’s a common misconception that, when an organization deploys a SAM or ITAM tool, the service wrap provided by the vendor constitutes a managed service. Tool vendors do provide some exceptionally high standard services that are designed to help organizations get their solutions up and run... Read More Read More

Livingstone Industry Highlights January 2022

December 31 2021

Livingstone Group's Software Asset Management and Licensing specialists provide insights and experiences through our monthly Industry Highlights. These insights are a compilation of news and press releases that may impact your business’s upcoming software renewals and estate. Financia... Read More Read More

SAP Briefing Series

February 08 2022

Free On-Demand Video Series Register today using the form opposite Series of three short SAP briefings available throughout February and March, helping you to prepare for 2022. Please complete the form opposite and we will notify you when each of the videos and related content is released. ... Read More Read More

Oracle Video Briefing Series - Insights & Recommendations for 2022

January 14 2022

Understanding, analyzing, and optimizing Oracle licensing models is both complex and challenging, and is a situation often further complicated by how Oracle operates its audit practice, as well as how business operation and IT changes impact on license agreements.Without a clear understanding and over... Read More Read More

Oracle ULAs - what you need to know for 2022

January 26 2022

In Episode 1 of our Oracle video briefing series, we’ll take a look at those all-important ULAs, including some considerations if you’re planning on signing a new ULA or whether you’re gearing up for a renewal. What is an Oracle ULA? In basic terms, a License Agreement (ULA) gi... Read More Read More