Case study
University signs up for ULA after audit
The IT department of a large health-focused university had undergone a grueling Oracle audit. University staff used Oracle mainly for financials, but realized during the audit process that they did not have sufficient understanding of their Oracle license entitlements. They reached out to a firm to help them navigate Oracle compliance, but that firm was unable to provide quality assistance during the audit.
After finding that the university lacked licenses for some of its usage, the university signed a 3-year Unlimited License Agreement (ULA) with Oracle, which was more costly than the university would have liked. Oracle tried to push the university to expand its usage into Oracle Cloud, but the university declined, citing privacy concerns.
This audit was the culmination of a decades-long relationship in which the university bought Oracle licenses as needed.
Substantial unexpected growth in usage led to the licensing problems found during the audit. The audit experience left the university deeply unsatisfied with the Oracle customer experience. The university wanted to minimize its Oracle footprint in the future.
When its ULA neared renewal, the university contracted with Palisade Compliance to certify its usage.
We contribute to a satisfying resolution
The university found significant benefits in working with us. Because we are staffed by former Oracle employees, we brought immense expertise to the table. We gave the university more leverage than it had during the earlier audit. We enabled the university to gain a full understanding of its Oracle landscape, contract terms, and license entitlements, working closely with IT staff to get a complete picture of the university’s Oracle usage. This usage was then compared to contractual documentation and support renewals.
With us, the university was able to certify its usage and exit its ULA. We helped the university certify in a way that gave it room to grow while ensuring they would be remain compliant. Staff also developed rigorous processes to reduce unplanned usage, and processes to strategically minimize their Oracle footprint in the future and maintain a strong bargaining position with Oracle. The engagement left the university satisfied that they would never lose the upper hand in future negotiations.
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