IBM Software Compliance Tools: Tools to Manage IBM Compliance
- IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT): Essential for tracking PVU sub-capacity licensing; limited scope.
- Flexera One: Comprehensive tool for managing PVU, non-PVU, and Red Hat licenses; SaaS-based.
- HCL BigFix Inventory: Alternative to ILMT with broader software asset management.
- Custom Scripts/Spreadsheets: Flexible but error-prone; high manual effort.
IBM Software Compliance Tools
Managing IBM software compliance is critical for organizations that rely on IBM products. IBM’s complex licensing models, especially the Processor Value Unit (PVU) sub-capacity licensing, require precise tracking and reporting to ensure compliance.
With the stakes high, organizations need the right tools to manage their software licenses effectively and avoid costly penalties during IBM audits.
This article overviews the key tools to help organizations manage IBM software compliance.
1. IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT)
The IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) is designed to track and report PVU sub-capacity licensing.
It is critical for organizations that want to take advantage of sub-capacity licensing, which allows them to license only their processing capacity rather than their servers’ full capacity.
Key Features of ILMT:
- PVU Sub-Capacity Tracking: ILMT primarily focuses on tracking the PVU metric, which is essential for sub-capacity licensing. This helps organizations manage their licensing costs more effectively by ensuring they only pay for the capacity they use.
- Quarterly Audit Snapshots: To remain eligible for sub-capacity pricing, organizations must install, configure, and generate quarterly audit snapshots using ILMT. These snapshots provide a software usage and capacity record, which IBM can audit.
- Limited Scope: While ILMT is essential for PVU sub-capacity reporting, it does not cover many other IBM license types. This means that organizations using various IBM products may need additional tools to manage compliance fully.
- Data Reporting: ILMT generates usage data but does not produce comprehensive compliance reports. The data provided by ILMT often requires further analysis to determine compliance status, which can add complexity to the process.
Limitations:
- Focus on PVU Only: ILMT is primarily designed for PVU tracking and cannot effectively manage non-PVU licenses.
- Manual Data Analysis: Organizations need to manually analyze the data generated by ILMT, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
2. Flexera One
Flexera One is a comprehensive software asset management (SAM) tool certified by IBM as an alternative to ILMT for sub-capacity reporting.
It offers a broader range of features and supports a wider array of IBM license types, making it an attractive option for organizations looking for a more holistic approach to software compliance management.
Key Features of Flexera One:
- Comprehensive Compliance Reporting: Unlike ILMT, Flexera One provides discovery, license management, and compliance reporting across various IBM products, including PVU, non-PVU licenses, and Red Hat. This makes it a more versatile tool for managing IBM software compliance.
- Direct Integration with IBM License Service (ILS): Flexera One integrates directly with IBM License Service, which helps optimize licensing by providing accurate and up-to-date information about software usage and entitlements.
- Support for Product Bundling: Flexera One supports IBM product bundling and Cloud Pak Virtual Processor Cores (VPCs). This feature is particularly useful for organizations that use bundled IBM products, as it helps ensure that all components are properly licensed.
- SaaS-Based Delivery: As a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, Flexera One can reduce the infrastructure and support costs associated with on-premises solutions like ILMT. This makes it easier to deploy and manage, especially for organizations with limited IT resources.
Advantages:
- Comprehensive Coverage: Flexera One covers a wide range of IBM license types, making it a one-stop solution for IBM software compliance.
- Simplified Management: The integration with IBM License Service and the ability to manage product bundles simplifies the compliance process, reducing the risk of errors and non-compliance.
3. HCL BigFix Inventory
HCL BigFix Inventory, formerly an IBM product, is another tool IBM accepts as an alternative to ILMT for sub-capacity reporting.
BigFix Inventory is part of a broader software asset management suite that offers capabilities beyond just IBM products, making it a versatile tool for organizations with diverse software environments.
Key Features of HCL BigFix Inventory:
- Sub-Capacity Reporting: Like ILMT and Flexera One, BigFix Inventory supports PVU sub-capacity reporting, helping organizations manage their IBM software licenses more effectively.
- Comprehensive Software Asset Management: BigFix Inventory provides broader software asset management capabilities, allowing organizations to manage not only IBM products but also products from other software vendors. This can be particularly useful for organizations with complex IT environments.
- Not Accepted for All Environments: While IBM accepts BigFix Inventory for sub-capacity reporting, it is not accepted for reporting inventory and usage for software running on Red Hat OpenShift and Kubernetes environments. Organizations using these platforms may need additional tools or strategies to ensure compliance.
Advantages:
- Broad Coverage: BigFix Inventory’s ability to manage software assets beyond IBM products makes it a versatile tool for organizations with diverse IT landscapes.
- Integrated SAM Capabilities: Integrating software asset management capabilities into the BigFix Inventory helps streamline the management of software licenses across the organization.
Limitations:
- Not Suitable for All Environments: Organizations using Red Hat OpenShift or Kubernetes environments must look for additional solutions. BigFix Inventory does not fully support these platforms for sub-capacity reporting.
4. OpenPages Regulatory Compliance Management
OpenPages Regulatory Compliance Management is IBM’s governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software module.
While it is not a dedicated tool for IBM software compliance, it provides valuable visibility into regulatory compliance risks and processes, which can indirectly support software license compliance efforts.
Key Features of OpenPages:
- GRC Focus: OpenPages is designed to help organizations manage regulatory compliance risks and processes. It combines software, automation, data feeds, and workflows to view compliance risks comprehensively.
- Process Automation: The tool automates many compliance-related processes, reducing the manual effort required to track and manage compliance risks.
- Visibility into Compliance Risks: OpenPages offers visibility into various regulatory compliance risks, which can help organizations identify and address potential compliance issues early.
Limitations:
- Not IBM-Specific: While OpenPages provides valuable insights into regulatory compliance, it is not specifically designed to manage IBM software compliance. Organizations using OpenPages for IBM compliance may still need additional tools focused on IBM licensing.
5. Custom Scripts and Spreadsheets
Many organizations still use custom scripts and spreadsheets to track IBM software compliance.
These homegrown solutions typically pull data from various sources, such as discovery tools, ILMT, procurement systems, and Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs).
Key Features of Custom Scripts and Spreadsheets:
- Flexibility: Custom scripts and spreadsheets can be tailored to an organization’s specific needs, allowing for flexible data collection and analysis.
- Low Cost: Since these solutions are often developed in-house, they can be cost-effective for organizations with limited budgets.
Limitations:
- Manual Effort: Custom scripts and spreadsheets require significant manual effort to maintain and update. This increases the risk of errors and omissions, leading to non-compliance.
- Lack of Integration: These solutions often lack direct integration with IBM licensing terms and product use rights, making it difficult to ensure full compliance.
- Scalability Issues: Custom scripts and spreadsheets can become difficult to manage as organizations grow, leading to scalability issues.
Lessons Learned:
- Consider Commercial Tools: While custom solutions may work for smaller organizations, commercial tools like Flexera One or BigFix Inventory provide more robust, scalable, and accurate compliance management.
6. Key Takeaways
Effective management of IBM software compliance requires the right tools and strategies. Here are the key lessons to consider:
- ILMT is Essential but Limited: While ILMT is required for PVU sub-capacity licensing, it has limitations in scope and reporting. Organizations with diverse IBM license types should consider using a certified alternative like Flexera One or HCL BigFix Inventory for more comprehensive compliance management.
- Complement ILMT with Comprehensive Tools: Complement ILMT with tools like Flexera One that provide deeper visibility into IBM-specific licensing rules, entitlements, and compliance positions.
- Avoid Homegrown Solutions: Custom scripts and spreadsheets are prone to errors and require significant manual effort. Commercial tools reduce the manual workload and improve accuracy by mapping discovered deployments directly to licensing terms.
- Broad Coverage is Crucial: Look for solutions that cover a wide range of IBM license metrics, product bundles, and deployment options—not just PVU. Audit exposure often comes from non-PVU licenses, so comprehensive coverage is essential.
- Proactive Compliance Management: It is essential to manage compliance with a robust toolset. Reactively scrambling when an IBM audit letter arrives leads to unbudgeted costs and unplanned effort.
Read about IBM Audit Defense Service.
