GuideICT equipment
Software licensing: keeping track of renewals and compliance
By Inara Crest Engineering 1 min read
A simple licence register prevents surprise renewals, lapsed security software and compliance gaps.
Software licences are easy to buy and easy to lose track of. A lapsed licence can stop work; an unlicensed installation is a legal and security risk.
1. Build a licence register
For each product, record:
- Product and edition.
- Number of licences and how they are counted (per user, device or server).
- Who and what each licence is assigned to.
- Start date, renewal date and cost.
- Where the licence keys and invoices are stored.
2. Reconcile regularly
Compare the register with what is actually installed or assigned. Remove licences from people who have left and reassign them.
3. Plan renewals
- Set reminders well before renewal dates.
- Review whether the edition and quantity still fit.
- Renew security software without gaps in protection.
4. Buy genuine licences
Buy from authorised channels and keep proof of purchase. Unlicensed software often lacks security updates and may contain malware.
See our software licensing and supply services.
About the author
Inara Crest Engineering
Engineering team
Written by the Inara Crest Technologies engineering team, who design, install and support software, network, security, power and data centre systems for organisations in Kenya and East Africa.