November 2011
Private Sector organisations can learn from NHS
Private Sector Organisations Can Learn From NHS
NHS Direct recently partnered with an IT Services organisation to channel shift services online resulting in more than £10 million savings. With budget cuts driving changes in the Public Sector, and private Sector companies facing enormous challenges to streamline efficiencies, organisations are looking at developing more sophisticated channels of providing their services using today’s technology.
Terminal Services – Identify software usage by device
One way to address the challenge is to deploy a Software Asset Management (SAM) solution. Although few organisations would doubt the legal and financial value of a SAM Solution, questions should be asked about their current solutions effectiveness in managing continuous compliance to avoid licence breaches, particularly in Citrix environments.
Part of an effective SAM process is the identification of unnecessary, unused or underutilised software. Equally in a Terminal Services environment it is important to identify devices that don't access software. Effective SAM is even more complex in this type of environment as most licenses are device based. For example, if an organisation has published Microsoft Project then all devices (both PCs and Thin Clients) that can access Microsoft Project would have to be licensed regardless of actual requirements.
Even though the users of a device might not be able to access a published application (software), the device itself still needs to be licensed. By denying access to the device, licenses are no longer required, and, as a result, can be released.
Prevent unnecessary software licence purchases
Having the ability to identify unused software allows organisations to safely remove it and release the associated licenses for future allocation. The value of the released licenses can quickly be determined thus identifying cost avoidance. This is how you obtain an Optimised Licence Position (OLP). By continuing this approach organisations can ensure these efficiencies are maintained.
With organisations across all sectors facing a wide range of challenges centred around controlling costs and diminishing budgets - particularly in IT departments – solutions with a low cost set up that are powerful yet simple to use can help play a role in driving new efficiencies. For organisations such as Ideal Standard International – with some 4,000 users across 26 countries – it was crucial that the Software Asset Management solution provided accurate real-time compliance reports including virtual environments.
Provide usage evidence to present to negotiate contracts with software vendors
NHS Wiltshire is developing the provision of its services by deploying a SAM Solution specifically designed to detect and end duplicate and unnecessary licences. By monitoring and controlling access to Terminal Services applications by user and/or device NHS Wiltshire were able to provide usage evidence to present to software vendors which saved thousands on licensing expenditure. Catherine Horton, Head of IT says “NHS Wiltshire has been and continues to transform the way ICT is provisioned and the services it provides. The strategy is to improve service by adopting the best appropriate technology, processes and by having the best people. The NHS Shared Business Services Model, which in 2011 paid the NHS back £1 million, promises Trusts 30% costs savings. So you can see its attraction for budget restricted healthcare providers.
Organisations in both the Public and Private Sectors accept that they will have to show where they have made cost savings, and the value of the initiatives they have implemented to lower costs and improve service. Certero SAM solution has already proven on its ability to optimise software usages and provide evidence of compliance.
