The ITAM Roundup: 3/18/24
After AWS and Google, Microsoft says itās removing Azure āegressā data transfer fees ā but with caveats
Microsoft joins AWS and Google in removing egress data transfer fees for Azure customers, citing voluntary pro-customer motives and alignment with the European Data Act, which aims to promote competition among cloud providers. However, Microsoft's announcement comes with caveats, including the requirement for exiting customers to cancel all Azure subscriptions, limiting flexibility for businesses adopting a multi- or hybrid-cloud approach, and the exclusion of egress fee waivers for certain Azure services like the Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN).
Paul Sawers
After 114 days of change, Broadcom CEO acknowledges VMware-related āuneaseā
Broadcom CEO Hock Tan acknowledges the unease among VMware customers and partners following Broadcom's acquisition of the virtualization company 114 days ago. Despite the concerns, Tan asserts that Broadcom's changes aim to innovate faster and meet customer needs more effectively, ultimately leading to greater profitability and improved market opportunities for channel partners. However, Broadcom's actions, such as taking over top VMware accounts, ending the channel partner program, and shifting to a subscription-only licensing model, have disrupted businesses and raised financial concerns among IT solution providers.
Scharon Harding
Zscaler buys Avalor to bring more AI into its security tools
Cloud security company Zscaler has acquired cybersecurity startup Avalor for $310 million to enhance its platform with AI-driven security capabilities. The acquisition aims to improve incident reporting, asset discovery, data classification, and security policy generation. Avalor's unique ability to handle data from various sources and its advanced vulnerability risk management tools set it apart in the cybersecurity space, aligning with Zscaler's strategy to bolster its offerings and expand its market presence.
Kyle Wiggers
Microsoft and Oracle expand partnership to meet demand for Oracle Database@Azure
Microsoft and Oracle have expanded their partnership to meet the rising demand for Oracle Database@Azure, Oracle's solution for consolidating data across platforms, now available in Europe's Germany West Central region, with plans for 15 more cloud regions by 2024. Karan Batta, senior vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), highlights the growing demand from global enterprises across various sectors and emphasizes the importance of multicloud deployments for joint customers, including those in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and more.
LicenseFortress Enhances Software Asset Management with Licenseware Integration
LicenseFortress has partnered with Licenseware to revolutionize software asset management services, providing organizations with a more comprehensive and efficient solution to manage software licenses and avoid compliance risks. The integration of Licenseware's analytics and reporting tools with LicenseFortress' ArxPlatform enhances the ability to track and manage software licenses, ensuring compliance and optimizing software investments. This partnership addresses the critical need for organizations to proactively monitor software usage, especially considering the high likelihood of audits from major vendors like Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM.
CIOs take aim at SaaS sprawl
The article highlights the challenge of managing SaaS sprawl faced by CIOs, as the adoption of various cloud applications leads to inefficiencies and complexities. Strategies such as rationalization, integration, and vendor management are being employed to address this issue, with many enterprises leveraging SaaS management platforms and integration platforms like MuleSoft Anypoint. Despite the benefits of SaaS adoption, concerns about integration, vendor management, and total cost of ownership persist among IT leaders.
Paula Rooney
Anglepoint is Now a Verified Partner in the New Oracle Software Asset Management Program
Oracle RAC on AWS: Tackling Licensing, Support, and Technical Hurdles
Oracle RAC presents challenges when migrating to AWS due to licensing, support, and technical limitations like shared storage and multicast networking. Oracle's licensing policies for AWS don't cover RAC, necessitating traditional core-based licensing or rare exceptions like Standard Edition RAC bundles. While technical issues such as shared storage can be addressed with AWS tools like EBS Multi-Attach or FlashGrid, Oracle's lack of support for RAC in third-party clouds remains unresolved, leaving organizations to accept the risk or seek alternative solutions like migrating to single-instance databases.
Joe Grant
Exploit Microsoft 365 Usage Data to Decide Who Should Get Copilot for Microsoft 365 Licenses
The article discusses how to use Microsoft 365 usage data retrieved through Graph APIs to assess the suitability of user accounts for Copilot licenses, priced at $360/user annually. It outlines criteria such as recent sign-ins, usage of Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, Email, and OneDrive to determine eligibility for Copilot licenses. The script provided in the article fetches usage data and assesses users based on defined criteria, recommending users who meet the suitability requirements for Copilot licenses.
Tony Redmond
How Do ITSM, BRM, Agile and Project Management Frameworks Work Together, With David Tomlinson
The article explores the integration of various frameworks such as ITSM, BRM, Agile, and Project Management within organizations, emphasizing the importance of adaptation and human factors for successful implementation. David Tomlinson, a Senior Learning Specialist, suggests that instead of blindly following a framework, it's crucial to tailor it to the organization's needs and focus on effective communication and competent leadership. Ultimately, the key to success lies in empowering teams, fostering continual improvement, and applying principles with common sense.
Manuela Aggio
Microsoft Dynamics End of Life
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central version 21 is reaching end of life on April 14, 2024, requiring users to upgrade to a supported version to continue receiving security updates and technical support. Additionally, Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and 2013 R2 are also nearing end of life on April 11, 2023, prompting users to update to version 2015 or higher. Microsoft offers audit reports to assist in identifying assets running unsupported versions, facilitating the transition to compliant versions of Dynamics software.
Laura Libeer
Ready for takeoff? The secrets of launching a successful Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
The article discusses the importance of a successful Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) and compares it to a plane ride, emphasizing the unseen efforts necessary for a smooth experience. SHI experts, acting as pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers, ensure seamless EA management through meticulous planning, ongoing support, and proactive renewal planning. They offer a T-36 methodology for onboarding, quarterly business reviews for engagement and planning, and continuous support for licensing program inquiries and renewal preparation, ultimately maximizing the value of the EA for organizations.
Andy Bernard, Deborah Childress
Never-before-seen Linux malware gets installed using 1-day exploits
Researchers have uncovered Linux malware, a variant of NerbianRAT, installed through exploitation of recently patched vulnerabilities, circulating for at least two years, with Checkpoint Research identifying it as part of a for-profit threat group's operations. Named Magnet Goblin, the group utilizes 1-day vulnerabilities to deliver the custom Linux malware, aiming to generate revenue from small ransom payments. The malware, identified on compromised servers, communicates with attacker-controlled IPs and includes MiniNerbian, a simplified version of NerbianRAT, indicating an ongoing trend of threat actors targeting previously unprotected areas.
Dan Goodin
