Abstract
License Management: A Software Asset Management Approach Track: GIS Organization, Management and Implementation Author(s): Chris Eckstein In 1994, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources selected Esri GIS software as a technical standard for managing geographic information holdings. Throughout the last decade, GIS technology has become increasingly integrated into the organization's daily operations. Today, the Ministry is Esri Canada's largest client and one of Esri's largest international clients. Essential, albeit often unnoticed, is administration and management of corporate licenses. Implementing new software releases within an operational environment or simply ensuring that the right kind of software is always available can be challenging within any agency, especially those experiencing usage variation. Our organization has established a software asset management program to reduce costs, streamline processes, and enhance reliability and security. This paper will detail our approach and describe a variety of components (e.g., policies, procedures, inventory, tracking, release management, and deployment) that comprise our software asset management program which other agencies will find beneficial. Chris Eckstein Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Geomatics Services 300 water street peterborough , Ontario K9J8M5 CA Phone: 705-755-5050 E-mail: chris.eckstein@mnr.gov.on.ca |