Database License Usage Analysis Customer Case

Client Situation:

A large financial institution with multiple data centers, large mainframe processors, various platforms and a very high number of application and database users.

Situation Summary:

• The company was unaware of the number of database licenses required for its current data processing needs
• The company was unaware of its total number of database instances or how to provide adequate discovery
• A third-party software vendor was threatening an audit to uncover a perceived deficit of required database licenses
• The company was unaware of its database user entitlements or actual number of named and concurrent users
• The company was unaware of its total database entitlement through a history of purchases and mergers, including embedded licenses from third-party vendor applications
• The company had no methodology to ensure on-demand accurate database license requirements going forward

What SSG Accomplished with Database Usage Analysis Methodology:

• Enhanced current scripts to provide complete discovery of instances and installed options
• Established links within the company to match database instances with their corresponding hardware configurations
• Established a baseline entitlement of database licenses according to license type
• Mapped and reallocated database licenses to more accurately reflect how the company was using their licenses in their unique environment

Results and Benefits:

• Effectively minimized a perceived substantial shortfall in database licenses providing over one million dollars in savings
• Provided hardware consolidation recommendations to save the company over one million with implementation
• Created a methodology for the company to obtain on-demand database server and user requirements
• Provided company with ten environment-specific recommendations worth millions of dollars in savings
• Helped to established a different data flow process to avoid licensing costs