The ITAM Roundup: 4/6/25

roundup Apr 6, 2025

📰 News

DOGE Bites Oracle: Pentagon’s $280M Oracle HR Software Fiasco Spotlights Need for Smarter Licensing

The Pentagon has canceled its Oracle-based HR software project after it ran $280 million over budget—an enormous 780% cost overrun—due to mismanagement, delays, and Oracle licensing complexities. This failure has drawn sharp criticism from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which is pushing for more transparency and efficiency in government software spending and licensing.

Highlights of the New USU IT Asset Management Platform

USU has launched a reimagined IT Asset Management (ITAM) platform designed to give organizations complete control, transparency, and efficiency in managing software, hardware, and SaaS assets. The platform offers a unified interface, advanced discovery tools, AI-driven automation, and flexible deployment options, supporting use-case-driven customization across SaaS, SAP, datacenter, and hardware environments. With deep integration into ITSM systems like ServiceNow and a focus on compliance, cost optimization, and security, USU aims to transform ITAM from a burden into a strategic advantage.

Microsoft Increases for On-Premises Licenses Coming on July 1

Starting July 1, 2025, Microsoft will increase prices for on-premises Office server products by 10% and Client Access License (CAL) suites by 15–20%, aligning with the release of the new Exchange Server Subscription Edition. These hikes reflect Microsoft's shift toward cloud services, where functionality and engineering focus have moved, while on-premises customers face higher costs due to a shrinking user base and increased per-user support costs. Though Microsoft still supports on-premises deployments for specific needs, the pricing changes signal growing pressure on organizations to migrate to the cloud.

W15 SAM & ITAM Jobs | #ITAMjobs

Licenseware’s latest job roundup for the week of April 5, 2025, highlights global career opportunities in SAM and ITAM, catering to both seasoned professionals and newcomers. Roles range from SAM Consultants and IT License Managers to Procurement and Compliance Managers, with positions available across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Salaries vary, with some listings like Apryse in Colorado offering up to $160K, while others are not disclosed.

ServiceNow to acquire Logik.ai to boost CRM portfolio

ServiceNow is acquiring Logik.ai to enhance its customer relationship management (CRM) portfolio by integrating Logik.ai’s configure, price, quote (CPQ) technology. This acquisition will improve ServiceNow’s sales and order management capabilities, offering AI-driven self-service options for customers and improving productivity for sales teams. The integration of Logik.ai's solution with ServiceNow’s service management tools aims to create a more seamless and automated CRM experience, with enhanced recommendations and sales opportunities.

Data doesn't lie, but Microsoft's new Power BI prices might make you cry

Microsoft has raised Power BI prices, with Power BI Pro increasing by 40% and Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) rising by 20%, effective April 1, 2025. The price hikes are the first in nearly a decade and are justified by Microsoft as a result of updates to the service, but they may push businesses to explore alternatives like Microsoft Fabric or rival tools. While existing customers will keep the old pricing until their contract renewal, the increase could cause enterprises to reconsider their use of Power BI or switch to cheaper options.

VMware feuds with Siemens in legal battle over software licensing

VMware is suing Siemens AG for violating software licensing conditions, claiming Siemens requested support for VMware products it never purchased. The dispute arose when Siemens sought a one-year renewal for maintenance and support services but listed products for which it lacked proper licenses. VMware, now owned by Broadcom, is seeking damages, an injunction to stop Siemens from using unlicensed software, and emphasizing the costly consequences of poor software license management.

📖 Tips

Microsoft Licensing Update April 2025

The April 2025 Microsoft Licensing Update introduces significant changes, including a new Enterprise AI Code of Conduct emphasizing responsible use, security, and compliance for AI services, as well as a 5% price increase for monthly-billed CSP subscriptions and an extension of the Microsoft 365 Copilot promo until June 30, 2025. Microsoft has also made it easier for organizations to transition from Enterprise Agreements (EA) to Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) by allowing Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites with Teams to remain available during the move. Additional updates span the Product Terms, Privacy & Security policies, and license eligibility—notably for Frontline Workers and Windows 365—along with updated definitions and reorganized clauses for clarity and compliance.

The Future of Microsoft Partner Landscape

As Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is significantly reshaping its partner ecosystem by prioritizing value-added partnerships over traditional resellers like Licensing Solution Providers (LSPs). This shift favors partners who deliver strategic guidance, cloud implementations, managed services, and AI-driven transformation, especially through programs like the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. With the transition from Enterprise Agreements to the Microsoft Customer Agreement, Microsoft is streamlining procurement and encouraging partners to focus on customer impact rather than transactional licensing.

The many nuances of managing cloud licenses: A framework for getting clarity

Managing cloud software licenses is increasingly complex due to decentralized purchasing, evolving licensing models, and unclear ownership across ITAM, FinOps, and other teams. Organizations must actively define responsibilities, processes, and tools to handle audits, optimize spend, reduce sprawl, and ensure compliance. To gain clarity, teams should inventory their key SaaS and cloud applications, assign ownership, and collaborate to fill governance gaps and streamline license management.

9 principles to improve IT supplier relationship management

To improve IT supplier relationship management, businesses should implement a tiered management structure, separate key roles, and encourage peer-to-peer communication to streamline decision-making. Establishing a formal communication cadence, relationship management program, and regular health checks helps maintain alignment and accountability. Additionally, having a structured issue resolution process, ensuring resource continuity, and incorporating an effective onboarding plan for new hires can significantly enhance long-term supplier partnerships and improve IT outcomes.

How Does Licensing Work for Oracle Middleware in Virtualized Environments (VMware, Hyper-V)?

Oracle middleware licensing in virtualized environments like VMware and Hyper-V can be complex, as Oracle does not recognize soft partitioning technologies for license reduction. To manage licensing costs, businesses should isolate Oracle workloads to dedicated hosts or clusters, use Oracle-approved hard partitioning technologies like Oracle VM or Oracle Linux KVM, and avoid using containers or Kubernetes without compliant underlying infrastructure. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) offers a simpler licensing model with built-in hard partitioning, providing flexibility and predictable costs.

How Does Licensing Work for Oracle Middleware in Virtualized Environments (VMware, Hyper-V)?

Demystifying Oracle Middleware Licensing in Virtualized Environments (VMware, Hyper-V) - Get insights on managing licenses and reducing costs.

Redress Compliance - Just another WordPress siteFredrik Filipsson

🐛Bugs & Exploits

Max severity RCE flaw discovered in widely used Apache Parquet

A critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability has been discovered in Apache Parquet, affecting all versions up to 1.15.0, due to the deserialization of untrusted data that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-30065, has a CVSS score of 10.0 and poses a significant risk to big data environments, with platforms like Hadoop and AWS relying on Parquet. Users are advised to upgrade to version 1.15.1 to fix the issue, or to avoid untrusted Parquet files and validate their safety before processing.