Software metering measures and analyzes software usage in your organization. It ensures that your current usage falls within the limits of your license agreement.
This feature is a crucial component of any IT asset management (ITAM) software solution. It adds an extra layer of control over licensing costs, helping you make more strategic decisions about retaining existing subscriptions or opting for new software licenses.
Intelligently identify assets with health and performance issues with NinjaOne.
How does software metering work?
There are many available software metering tools (most in ITAM platforms), but they all serve the same purpose. Software metering tools gather various real-time data about the different software applications installed on an endpoint, including how frequently individual ones are used, when they are accessed, where they are downloaded, and which users use them.
The gathered data is then analyzed and detailed in a report for business leaders to understand their software usage and make more informed decisions.
What is software usage?
Software usage describes how individuals or organizations interact with and utilize software applications to perform tasks. It covers the frequency, duration, and manner in which software tools are employed, providing insights into their effectiveness and relevance.
Monitoring software usage is essential in identifying trends, such as which features are most utilized or which licenses are underused. It helps business leaders optimize resources and ensure compliance with licensing agreements.
What are the benefits of software metering?
Software metering is crucial in achieving and maintaining various compliance regulations, such as the GDPR and HIPAA. While compliance is often associated with data privacy, these regulations also emphasize the effective and efficient use of software. By tracking software usage, organizations can ensure they adhere to licensing agreements, avoid overuse or underuse, and minimize the risk of audits and penalties. Additionally, software metering supports better resource allocation, ensures that only authorized personnel have access to specific applications, and helps mitigate security vulnerabilities arising from unused or outdated software.
Some other benefits are:
- Improved endpoint security: Software metering helps provide a more comprehensive view of an organization’s software usage. This allows IT pros to see which applications are being used, where they are installed, and how efficient they are, and, in turn, determine better strategies to enhance endpoint security.
- Improved productivity: Software metering can improve employee productivity by clearly showing applications that need to be optimized. Done correctly and analyzed properly, software metering may also contribute to better operational efficiency.
- Accurate software forecasting: Software metering provides valuable data for predicting software needs, helping organizations make more informed purchasing decisions.
- Streamlined audits: It simplifies the process of compliance audits by maintaining a clear record of software usage, licensing compliance, and access history. This reduces the effort required to demonstrate adherence to regulatory standards.
NinjaOne provides complete and up-to-date asset information
NinjaOne IT Asset Management software is a robust tool that provides real-time and accurate data about all managed endpoints in a single-pane environment. By providing you with the most up-to-date data about the health and performance of every endpoint, NinjaOne helps you make more informed decisions to make your team more efficient.
If you’re ready, request a free quote, sign up for a 14-day free trial, or watch a demo.
