Security, Cost, and Productivity: It All Starts with the Software You Can't See

As digital transformation accelerates, the number of software assets used in businesses is growing rapidly every day.
From SaaS and on-premises applications to open-source libraries and AI-powered tools, enterprise software environments are becoming increasingly complex—and difficult to manage.

Yet many organizations still approach software management primarily from the standpoint of purchase or license agreements.
What truly matters today is understanding what software your organization is using and how it’s being used.
That’s why software management today must be approached from the perspective of IT Asset Management (ITAM).

1️⃣ “Installed, so we’re done?” — Use-Based Management Is the New Standard

Many IT managers assume that software management ends once the software is installed and the license is issued.
But the real problems begin after deployment:

• Who is actually using the software?
• How frequently is it used?
• Is it being used effectively to meet business needs?
• Do users fully understand and utilize the software’s capabilities?

Without usage-based insight, there is no way to optimize costs, enforce security, or analyze productivity.

📉 According to data analyzed by SELLEASE, more than 40% of deployed software is unused or underutilized.
In many cases, users never log in—or run the software only once before abandoning it.

2️⃣ Shadow IT and Open Source — The Hidden Security Risk

"Shadow IT" refers to software that is installed or used without the approval of the IT department.
This creates blind spots in security and exposes the organization to serious risks.

Examples include:

• Open-source libraries downloaded from external sources
• Trial or free software installed for testing
• Lightweight tools with poor security configurations

These tools are often installed outside corporate policy and can lead to data breaches, malware infections, or license violations.

📌 SELLEASE uses a PC agent to automatically collect information on installed software and cloud-based application activity.
When unauthorized software or abnormal usage is detected, administrators are instantly notified—enabling companies to proactively secure their IT environment.

3️⃣ AI Tools Are Expanding — and Becoming a New Risk Area

Generative AI tools are rapidly spreading across organizations:

• Notion AI, Microsoft Copilot, Google Duet AI
• GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT plugins
• Figma AI, Adobe Firefly

These tools offer significant productivity gains but introduce a new challenge:
Unmanaged AI usage can quickly spiral into uncontrolled costs and unpredictable security risks.

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🔎 The more powerful and flexible the tool, the more critical it becomes to monitor and manage AI software from an ITAM perspective.

4️⃣ Licensing Mismanagement — A Cost Leak That Repeats Monthly

Here are some real-world examples from SELLEASE clients:

• Notion: Most users were only viewers, yet all were assigned paid licenses → over 1 million KRW wasted monthly
• Microsoft 365 + Google Workspace: Dual subscriptions led to redundant spending in the tens of millions KRW annually
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Full suite subscriptions were provided when only Photoshop was needed → at least 50% overspending
• JetBrains: Paid licenses were maintained post-tool migration, even though actual usage dropped by half

📌 Without visibility into actual software usage, cost optimization is impossible.

SELLEASE helps visualize software usage through data such as:

• Per-user usage time and execution frequency
• Inactive accounts and former employee access
• ROI per license
• Duplicate software alerts

With these insights, managers gain clear justification to reduce or reallocate licenses.

5️⃣ SELLEASE’s Strategic Approach to Software ITAM

SELLEASE is more than a license tracking tool.
It is a hybrid ITAM platform that manages all enterprise devices, installed software, SaaS, and AI tools in one place.

🔧 Key Strategic Features

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✅ These strategies help companies maximize software asset efficiency while also supporting
budget forecasting, security policy enforcement, and ESG reporting.

🔚 Final Thoughts — “If You Can’t See It, You Can’t Reduce It”

Today’s software assets often create invisible costs.
Without data on actual usage, it’s impossible to adjust licenses, reduce spending, or improve productivity.

SELLEASE helps companies gain full visibility into their software assets through an ITAM lens—
empowering teams to cut costs, reduce risks, and make strategic, data-informed decisions.

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📌 What software is your company using right now—and who’s using it, and how?
**Redefine your software asset management strategy with SELLEASE.

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