Have you heard the news? Oracle’s Java Subscription change is likely going to cost your business a lot more money than before. Here’s how:
Oracle’s Java licensing change overview
Recently, Oracle made the decision to change its licensing metric for Java to a universal subscription model. This now means that the amount of money being charged is dependent on the number of employees in an organisation, not the number of actual Java users. For most organisations, this is going to see licensing costs increase substantially; in some cases, 600% more than previously.
But that’s not all, as the change to subscription is not the only way a business’s finances will be affected. This change of licensing metric means that Java audits are set to be carried out by Oracle to all clients over the next 3 years. So, if you’re not fully compliant with licensing terms, you will be faced with a fine on top of the new subscription charge.
Though additional costs may feel inevitable, here’s how you can minimise spend and maximise investment with your Java subscriptions in light of these changes:
Strategy and contract management
Before you can consider making changes to your business’ external relationships, it’s crucial to understand your internal goals first. By understanding how your business uses Java and in what capacity, you can determine the accurate number of licenses actually being used and compare it to the amount being charged.
Through identifying your strategy and carefully reviewing your current contractual agreements, you can make informed decisions based on your company’s best interests.
Make good connections and stay forward focused
Maintaining a good relationship with Oracle is a great way to ensure that you are kept informed of any license updates and changes. Also, if you establish a good connection within Oracle , you may be more likely to receive prior notice before a licensing audit.
It’s important to ensure that within your organisation, you’re doing all that you can to stay informed of Oracle’s latest news and pre-empt how it may affect your licensing agreement. Being forward focused is the key to staying on top of your licenses.
Change your vendor
Java is integral to most businesses and their functions, which means many businesses can’t afford (quite literally) to risk ignoring these changes by sticking with Oracle. Therefore, if the first two steps still leave you questioning your relationship with Oracle, selecting an alternative vendor could be a good option.
IBM, Red Hat and many other organisations offer alternatives to Oracle Java and do not operate on a universal licensing metric. This means you will likely be charged a cheaper rate, but there are other considerations to understand. The move from Oracle to an alternative vendor would require significant work over a lengthy period of time and may incur some fees for switching.
If you’d like to hear more about how Oracle’s licensing metric changes are impacting your business, reach out to us today and a member of bedigital’s expert licensing team will be in touch to help answer any questions.
