In common with most of the western world, I am so dependent on technology that I am convinced my business and private life would be a nightmare without it. But this is a dangerous state of affairs (even when everything is running smoothly), and a disaster when things go awry. So we are fortunate that the technology that creates some of these problems can also provide the solution. 'In our experience, vast chunks of an IT budget can be saved during the course of a year by ensuring that software is accounted for and properly licensed,' says Geoff Webster, CEO of the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST), an organisation representing both software publishers and end users. So, despite the plethora of technology-based assets you have to manage, it doesn't do to forget the basics. 'We don't really care if the software deployed on our standard image is used or not, it's just easier to support if we give everyone all of the applications,' says one IT manager who shall remain nameless for his own protection. He's not alone, however. Many companies license the same software for every box on every desk without bothering to try to find out what's necessary where, because uniformity seems easier. But it has significant cost implications.
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