An asset, that's what a software licence is - it is an asset with a tangible value associated to it. In the NHS, over the last few years, Trusts have benefitted from blanket software agreements which have meant that strategic Software Asset Management (SAM) programmes have not tended to be high on the agenda when it comes to allocating budgets. More recently, however, with these collective agreements expiring, Trusts have been moving to a model where they procure their own software. 

In reality, to procure effectively you need first to understand the estate that you have. In the past, SAM has always been about making sure you are compliant - now, however, with NHS finances as they are, the true value of SAM is in ensuring that Trusts are only procuring the software that is needed, when it's required. The problem of over-licensing is a very real one, in diverse Trusts with multiple procurement centres, it is all too easy for software to get ordered without understanding the need for it - this can often lead to software being purchased that is either not required, or which could have been procured more strategically.

Here at Phoenix, we have been working with a number of NHS Trusts to help them get to grips with their software assets and to introduce a SAM programme which will help them manage their estate moving forward. This approach can take a number of forms - some Trusts require a line in the sand, a clear picture of what they have, while others will purchase License Manager to manage their licensing estate from cradle to grave, some will even move to a managed service where they outsource their licence management completely. All of these options provide value and every engagement we have undertaken has resulted in savings that have significantly outweighed the initial cost of the project. In reality, we are seeing a growing shift in the NHS - it is no longer a case of can NHS Trusts afford to allocate money to a SAM programme, it's more a case of can they afford not to?

If you are interested in Software Asset Management for your Trust, call the Phoenix Public Sector Team on 0845 265 1265.

As one of Symantec's leading Platinum Partners in the UK, Phoenix Software is delighted to announce that it has now been awarded Premier Licensing Status.

Sam Mudd, Director of Phoenix Software, said:

"With more than 21 years' experience of providing Symantec solutions to our customers, our latest achievement is yet another rubber-stamp for the skills and experience we have developed with this vendor.

"In addition, Phoenix has also achieved a number of other key Symantec accolades.  We continue to hold Symantec's highest level of partner accreditation as a Platinum Partner and have attained specialisations in Archiving and eDiscovery Solutions, Endpoint and Mobile Management Solutions and Small Business Segment. 

"We are also a Symantec Authorised Technical Assistance Partner and a Symantec Software Asset Management Partner - all of which assures you of the best service from Phoenix with your next Symantec project."

For more information contact us on 0845 265 1265 or email: info@phoenixs.co.uk

Now that the Public Sector Year End is over, local authorities are under even more pressure to ensure they are making savings. Many authorities are selling buildings, looking to cut contracts and sadly even looking at redundancies. One thing that is not always immediately apparent is that a reseller such as ourselves can help councils save money in many different ways. As a leading, long-established specialist within the Local Government arena, Phoenix has all the tools to help authorities drive down their costs.

As Microsoft's leading Software Asset Management partner in the UK, Phoenix has worked with authorities to ensure they are making the best use of their software assets and only purchasing the software licences they need. Moving on to areas such as Virtualisation - Phoenix is working with a variety of authorities on virtual desktop infractructure (VDI) solutions projects which will provide a solid return on investment, and the list goes on.  Whether it's Power Management to save on electricity bills, or discussions around moving to cloud computing, Phoenix is ideally positioned to assist. As we move into Summer, why not invite us in to talk to you about how we can potentially save you money?

Contact your Phoenix Account Manager on 0845 265 1265 or email info@phoenixs.co.uk

Blenheim Group, the parent company of Phoenix Software and License Dashboard, has been named among Yorkshire's fastest growing companies.

At an award ceremony attended by over 200 Fastest 50 company representatives and Yorkshire business leaders, the achievements of organisations from across the Yorkshire region were celebrated.

Yorkshire Post Business Editor, Bernard Ginns, introduced the awards which reward profit-making privately-owned companies and organisations in the region which have shown the strongest sales growth over recent years.

Commenting on the Blenheim Group success, Sam Mudd, Director of Phoenix Software, said:  "We are delighted to be part of the Yorkshire's Fastest 50 and it's super news that, in what are still challenging times for the economy, businesses in Yorkshire continue to go from strength to strength.  Our continued success is down to the commitment of our staff and the loyalty of our ever-growing customer base which recognises the high levels of service provided by the Blenheim Group as a whole."

Click here to read the whole article

Find out more about Phoenix Software (Software Licensing, Software Asset Management, IT Services): License Dashboard (Software Asset Management simplified)

Thursday 26 April - Manchester / Thursday 24 May - London

Phoenix Software, in partnership with License Dashboard, would like to invite you to a half-day seminar looking at Software Asset Management (SAM) in the real world.

Click here for a full agenda and to book your place

Alternatively, contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232 or email: Joanne-halley@phoenixs.co.uk

Did you know you could be eligible for a free of charge Software Asset Management Service from Phoenix Software?

If you have a current Microsoft volume licensing agreement, you could choose from any one of the following offerings:

• Baseline - this will provide you with your current Microsoft licence position
• Assessment - a review of your current Software Asset Management processes with recommendations of how these can be improved
• Deployment Planning - we can install a Microsoft discovery tool such as SCCM or MAP Toolkit as a proof of concept

Top four reasons to take us up on this offer:

• SQL 2012 is due for release soon and customers with active Software Assurance will be eligible for the new version. Licence grants to the new version, however, will be based on what you currently own and use - so it is important you know your current SQL estate! A Baseline will give you this information
• Microsoft is aligning all pricing with the Euro on 1 July 2012 which could mean a price increase* of as much 30% (excluding Academic customers). By understanding your current licence position, you can help to prevent this impacting your business by purchasing any required licences prior to the price change. A Baseline will give you this information
• We can install SCCM 2012 as a proof of concept, as part of a Deployment Planning service
• You can take out an agreement purely for SQL (SA) that will bring your old versions up to date and keep you current for the term of the agreement

ACT NOW - This limited time offer is only available on a first-come-first-served basis until 30 June 2012.

Talk to your Phoenix Account Manager today and arrange a no-obligation consultation with one of our highly-experienced Licensing Advisors. Together we can review your individual requirements in complete confidence, helping you to get the service you need.

t: 0845 265 1265       e: info@phoenixs.co.uk         w: www.phoenixs.co.uk

*Microsoft pricing increase does not apply to academic customers

As a leading reseller with a proven track record of supplying to Local Government Authorities for over twenty years, it is no surprise that Phoenix has been working extensively with its client base during these uncertain times.

Over recent months Phoenix has met with many of its clients offering procurement reviews, software asset management services and looking at new technologies that may be of relevance. What is interesting is that the IT press is currently littered with articles where resellers have saved clients money on existing contracts - however our recent meetings have not necessary reflected this at all.

What we have found is that our established clients have been making these saving year on year. Phoenix has been their reseller of choice, they have worked with us to negotiate pricing with vendors on their behalf, they have often utilised our software asset management services and they have continually worked with us around their projects. For these clients, much as they cannot report back any huge savings to their IT budget today, they can show and have peace of mind that the relationship that they have with us has provided them with the best value that they are striving for.

If you would like to arrange a meeting to hear more on how Phoenix could work with your Authority please call 0845 265 1265 and ask to be put through to the Local Government Team.

When they place their Microsoft compliance order with Phoenix Software (valued at £11,000*)

As Microsoft's number one Public Sector Large Account Reseller, Phoenix has a team of licensing specialists with indepth knowledge of all the licensing agreements available to the NHS. They are on-hand to help you take control of your software.

WHY PHOENIX?
NHS trusts/FTs, PCTs, SHAs, Arm's Length Bodies and Hospices throughout the UK look to us for help and support - and being a Government Procurement Service (formerly Buying Solutions) approved supplier, you are assured of best value at all times.

In addition to offering you the best price** - 10% discount off Microsoft Select Band D pricing from now until 30 March 2012 - we also want to ensure you maximise your software investment. To achieve this we are offering NHS organisations the following:

• License Manager 5*** - the leading software asset management tool, where we will load-up your Microsoft Effective Licence Position (ELP).
  Register now for one of our free seminars and see for yourself how License Manager 5 makes it easier than ever, both to get your software working harder for you and to avoid the risks associated with it
• Licence Procurement Review - with one of our experienced licensing specialists, at a time to suit you
• Professional Services Days - with our experienced security consultants, at highly-discounted rates

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Phoenix Software encourages you to ask us for a software quotation on your Microsoft licence requirement before you place an order anywhere else - we'll prove we can offer you the best discount and best value with the addition of License Manager 5.

You have until 30 March 2012 to take advantage of Microsoft's special offer - so don't delay, talk to Phoenix today.

0845 265 1265 / nhs@phoenixs.co.uk / www.phoenixs.co.uk/ms-nhs

*Typically valued at £11,000 for a 10,000 seat Public Sector organisation
**Finance is available from Phoenix at competitive rates. Please enquire for full details
***Free one-year subscription

Phoenix Software is delighted to confirm that it can offer NHS organisations significant savings on Microsoft licences.  This special discount - only available in December - is equivalent to one free licence for every five purchased.

"Following on from the fact that the Department of Health did not renew the Enterprise-wide Agreement it had with Microsoft last year, and the fact Phoenix were selected as one of the three Large Account Resellers to have supplied those licences and Software Asset Management services, we feel the time is now right for Trusts to address their shortfall with this highly discounted offer," said Sam Mudd, Director at Phoenix Software Ltd.

"Our NHS team of licensing specialists is on standby to offer advice and guidance on all of the actions required to transact and purchase the licences in the timeframe allowed. It is vital that all Trusts go to market and asses the best price they can obtain - Phoenix is looking to lead the way in offering the very best value here."

The offer window is quite narrow, so it is extremely important that NHS organisations place their orders as soon as possible, if they want to take advantage of the full discount available.

To avoid 'Select Level A' rates 58% higher than December pricing, all NHS organisations must buy the correct licences to cover their usage by March 2012. This latest Cabinet Office agreement with Microsoft lifts its June 2011 restriction on placing orders - NHS organisations no longer need to seek approval from Cabinet Office or NHS Connecting for Health before taking advantage of the December discount.

DON'T DELAY, ACT TODAY
You have until 23 December 2011 to take advantage of Microsoft's December discount - contact your Phoenix Account Manager today on 0845 265 1265, email nhs@phoenixs.co.uk or visit www.phoenixs.co.uk/ms-nhs

Phoenix Software is delighted to confirm that it can offer NHS organisations significant savings on Microsoft licences.  This special discount - only available in December - is equivalent to one free licence for every five purchased.

"Following on from the fact that the Department of Health did not renew the Enterprise-wide Agreement it had with Microsoft last year, and the fact Phoenix were selected as one of the three Large Account Resellers to have supplied those licences and Software Asset Management services, we feel the time is now right for Trusts to address their shortfall with this highly discounted offer," said Sam Mudd, Director at Phoenix Software Ltd.

"Our NHS team of licensing specialists is on standby to offer advice and guidance on all of the actions required to transact and purchase the licences in the timeframe allowed. It is vital that all Trusts go to market and asses the best price they can obtain - Phoenix is looking to lead the way in offering the very best value here."

The offer window is quite narrow, so it is extremely important that NHS organisations place their orders as soon as possible, if they want to take advantage of the full discount available.

To avoid 'Select Level A' rates 58% higher than December pricing, all NHS organisations must buy the correct licences to cover their usage by March 2012. This latest Cabinet Office agreement with Microsoft lifts its June 2011 restriction on placing orders - NHS organisations no longer need to seek approval from Cabinet Office or NHS Connecting for Health before taking advantage of the December discount.

DON'T DELAY, ACT TODAY
You have until 23 December 2011 to take advantage of Microsoft's December discount - contact your Phoenix Account Manager today on 0845 265 1265, email nhs@phoenixs.co.uk  or visit www.phoenixs.co.uk/ms-nhs