License Management in the Cloud

Keywords:cloud computing, enterprise software, software licensing, private clouds, cloud-based software licensing
Authors: Stuart Charlton, Elastra Corporation.
Abstract:
Still a relatively new technology, cloud computing has evolved rapidly in the past two years. The opportunity to enable a new form of enterprise software licensing is now a reality and this approach boasts promising rewards. The benefits of cloud-based software licensing are relevant to all Enterprise IT applications. Such systems continue to grow its complexity in both businesses and in the software they consume. Enterprise software product licensing has been limited to desktop deployments, creating limited flexibility for software vendors. Enterprise cloud computing removes the fundamental limitations to issuing customized licenses for users and harmoniously linking developer-centric cloud platforms with ecosystem-driving cloud infrastructure.

The roadmap towards this technology is being executed today: an ecosystem for the cloud is rapidly forming, supported by digital identity technology, a licensing markup language, and cloud server reference architecture to integrate license enforcement with the overall security in the cloud. Elastra’s vision for the future of cloud computing is clear. Stuart Charlton will outline a blue print for cloud-based software licensing and what that means for public and private clouds in the enterprise.