Letter from Oracle, Microsoft, or SAP? No reason to panic. But definitely a reason to act.
The letter usually comes as a surprise. A major software vendor announces a license and compliance audit. Internally, mild panic sets in – rightly so, because these audits can get expensive. Six-figures expensive.
The irony: most companies haven't consciously violated any license terms. The risks almost always stem from grown IT landscapes, complex licensing models, and the simple fact that nobody has the complete overview. The vendors know this. And they know how to leverage it.
When companies call me
A vendor has announced an audit – and internally, nobody knows where things stand
You want to get proactively prepared before the letter arrives
The actual license usage is unclear – and honestly, it has been for a while
Complex licensing models need to be evaluated before talking to the vendor
Negotiations with the vendor are coming up – and you don't want to go in empty-handed
With the big vendors, audits can quickly result in claims that go far beyond actual usage. Preparation isn't optional here – it's essential.
What I do
An honest assessment of your licensing position: How mature are the internal processes? Where are the gaps a vendor audit will uncover? This may sound uncomfortable, but it is always better to find out yourself before the vendor does.
Analyze the actual usage situation – honestly, completely, without sugarcoating
Evaluate the license and compliance position – where do we really stand?
Structure audit preparation – documentation, processes, communication strategy
Manage communication with the vendor – professionally, on equal terms, not subservient
Develop a negotiation strategy – because an audit is always also a negotiation
The most important step is often the first: honestly establishing where you stand. Someone who knows their own position negotiates differently than someone who hopes the vendor won't find anything.
What comes out of it
Clarity about the actual license situation – before the vendor sees it, not during the audit
Significantly reduced financial risk
Professional negotiating position with the vendor
Structured process instead of reactive crisis management
And often: the realization that the situation is better than feared
Who this is for
Companies with complex software landscapes – which is basically everyone above a certain size
Organizations working with major vendors (Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, IBM, etc.)
Companies that have just received an audit letter
CIOs who prefer to clean up proactively rather than pay reactively
Companies that want to put their license compliance on the test bench
Other services
Audit letter on your desk?
Then speed matters now. The earlier we talk, the better your starting position. The initial conversation costs nothing – except 30 minutes of your time.