NTT provides customers with software lifecycle management service SIDS based on Cisco EA​

Why is Software Lifecycle Management Critical to Business Success ?

As enterprise software spending continues to increase and vendors' software licensing structures continue to evolve, Software Lifecycle Management strategies are becoming increasingly important .

The software market has grown rapidly in the past few years . According to Gartner 's latest forecast, global software spending will reach $ 879.6 billion in 2023 , with an expected growth of

Factors contributing to this rapid change include network modernization, digital transformation, and the surge in home working caused by the pandemic in recent years .

To address the flexible work trend, businesses will need to address a number of software-related challenges, including the need for ubiquitous video conferencing software and greater cybersecurity software coverage .

Procurement of the right software is only the beginning of software lifecycle management. Effective management and use throughout the lifecycle of the agreement is where the real value lies. Having a clearly defined software lifecycle management strategy is the key to ensuring success .

Specific challenges that enterprises face in software management

Over-licensing/under-licensing . Enterprises can use a large number of software applications by purchasing software licenses, but the problem lies in the visibility management of actual consumption of multiple vendor software contracts. In many cases, enterprises either do not fully utilize the licenses they have purchased, resulting in wasted resources, or over-purchase licenses and face the risk of audit or adjustment .

Track software license spend . Many organizations lack the tools and resources needed to accurately track and optimize software spend. Without the right tools, there is a lack of visibility into spend, and without the resources, there is a lack of means to take action .

The challenge of creating a software enablement process . To maximize the use of end-user software applications, a clear process must be in place. In some cases, if the software application is not properly enabled or employees are not properly trained on how to access or use it, the utilization of the software may be low .

Governance and security . Ensuring that employees have access to the software they need, while limiting access to other software, helps maintain the right level of control to avoid unintended use and security risks .

License tracking and cost optimization . Software lifecycle management provides predictable and controllable license usage and entitlement, and actionable insights to help optimize utilization and spending. It will also provide deeper insights into

Cost savings. Understanding software spend—when, where, and how much—provides the insights and feedback loops needed to effectively optimize software protocol utilization, resulting in significant cost savings. NTT has helped some of its clients save hundreds of millions of dollars through enhanced spend visibility .

Right-sizing. The consumption visibility provided by software lifecycle management can also help enterprises right-size their software contracts. In some cases, enterprises will find that they are over-licensing based on current needs and future growth directions. The visibility provided by software lifecycle management can provide them with the details needed to renegotiate software contracts in line with business needs .

Efficiently manage changing license structures. A good software lifecycle management solution can also help companies stay informed of changing license structures and purchasing patterns to avoid unnecessary surprises and ensure they are suitable for business needs.

As IT budgets continue to rise, installing the best combination of software actually needed and managing it effectively is critical to the success of the enterprise. Through a software lifecycle management strategy, complexity can be reduced and overspending can be avoided, helping enterprises make wise decisions, reduce uncertainty, and maximize the use of software assets.

NTT's SDIS (Software-defined Infrastructure Services) can provide enterprises with the insights and expertise they need to accelerate business success and improve return on investment, providing you with the best lifecycle value through software-defined technology and hardware assets:

• Delivering trusted hardware support Uptime services to enhance and optimize the value of subscription and traditional license assets through lifecycle support capabilities ;
• Deliver actionable, data-driven insights, visibility and control needed to achieve greater ROI through a unified service portal ;
• Provide regular expert advice to reduce the risk of software compliance, usage and vulnerabilities, optimize software investments and achieve desired business goals.

NTT and Cisco are global strategic partners, and the two teams in mainland China have maintained close business cooperation for many years. As the demand for software solutions from customers in the industry grows, NTT, based on its deep understanding of Cisco's software business and the software agreement framework business model of Cisco Enterprise Agreement, has implemented SDIS (Software Defined Infrastructure Service) services to provide customers with a comprehensive software lifecycle management solution.

In the business communication with the customer, NTT combined the customer's collaborative system management and usage needs to comprehensively plan the software procurement and usage plan combined with Cisco Collaboration Enterprise Agreement for the customer, achieving the following business outputs:

1. It meets the customer's current system upgrade needs and is upgraded to the most comprehensive collaborative system version.
2. Flexible capacity expansion within the validity period of EA is achieved based on Cisco Enterprise Agreement;
3. Based on Cisco Enterprise Agreement and NTT's platform services, a flexible annual payment model from Capex to Opex was realized;
4. NTT-based SDIS implements software lifecycle monitoring and management services;
5. Overall procurement costs were 10% lower than expected.

About NTT

NTT is a leading global technology services company. We work with organizations around the world to achieve business outcomes through smart technology solutions. To us, smart means data-driven, connected, digital and secure. As a global ICT provider, we have more than 40,000 employees and a relaxed and inclusive work atmosphere. With offices in 57 countries, business in 73 countries, and services in more than 200 countries and regions, we are creating a connected future together .

For more information about NTT, please visit services.global.ntt

Scan the QR code below to follow our official WeChat account for more information. For other questions, please send an email to [email protected] .

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is a global technology leader. Cisco inspires unlimited innovation by innovating applications, protecting data security, promoting infrastructure transformation, and empowering your team to achieve a global and inclusive future. You can get more information at cisco.com.cn and follow our WeChat public account "Cisco Connects the World" .