Sponsor: SoftChoice

Is a Cisco Enterprise Agreement right for you? Take this 5-minute quiz to find out if this is an avenue worth further exploration.

Cisco is changing the way organizations procure and manage Cisco software through a new licensing model: the Cisco Enterprise Agreement (Cisco EA).

Choosing a Cisco EA provides simplicity, flexibility and cost savings. That's because it consolidates all your maintenance contracts and licenses in a single contract and offers license portability, upfront savings, on-demand deployment capabilities and more. You can also receive vouchers for services to optimize deployments and drive end-user adoption.

There are many benefits, so we've boiled it all down to give you the most important highlights.

What difference could a Cisco EA make to your business?

You maybe aware that Cisco has introduced a new solution to manage license agreements: the Cisco Enterprise Agreement (Cisco EA).

This simple agreement model offers a number of benefits for procuring and managing your Cisco software suite (network,collaboration and security):

• Get upfront savings and protected pricing for 3 to 5 years;
• Consolidate all your maintenance contracts and licenses in a single contract;
• Easily manage and deploy licenses through one simple portal;
• Access free services to optimize deployments and enable adoption through Softchoice's Cisco Lifecycle Advisor program.

We have created a comprehensive a Buyer's Guide to provide more details on the advantages of a Cisco Enterprise Agreement.

Learn how the program works in 6 easy steps and get ready for the next level of Cisco licensing.

Cisco licensing has earned a reputation for being complex and time consuming to manage.

As an IT professional, you need a predictable, straightforward and flexible way to procure and deploy the Cisco software that powers your business.

The new Cisco Enterprise Agreement (Cisco EA) promises to do just this. It provides a powerful way to simplify license management, save time and reduce costs. Plus, with access to value added benefits like vouchers for services and adoption support, you can increase the impact of your Cisco investments.

Learn about the difference a Cisco Enterprise Agreement can make through our new infographic.

One of the biggest challenges organizations face when moving to the cloud is the skills gap. In a recent study, 96% of IT decision makers acknowledge a skills gap in their organization. However, it’s difficult to get the right training for your team or hire the right skills required to manage every element of your cloud strategy. Moreover, if you hire an outside organization to do the migration for you, you miss out on an opportunity to upskill your team. This is why we created The Azure Accelerator Program, it’s the only service where we not only complete the migration itself, we also provide the training and mentorship necessary to grow your competency around the cloud.

When you invest in the cloud, it opens the door to significant change and transformation. However, if you aren't prepared to undertake all the elements required to managed the cloud, you will face a lot of hurdles. Learn how you can tackle the 3 key areas often overlooked when transitioning to the cloud: the cloud skills gap, operational readiness and cost management. More importantly, see what qualities you should look for in a managed services partner.

Did you know 57 percent of organizations have exceeded their cloud budget at some point? Two-thirds of those by more than 20 percent? Multiple factors like skills gaps and poor strategic planning are key contributing factors. Our latest survey of more than 200 IT leaders provides insights into the issues hindering cloud adoption as well as solutions you can implement to drive your own success.

When deployed effectively, the public cloud is a powerful and disruptive model. It brings positive operational transformation and greater competitiveness. But poor implementation is equally disruptive. Gartner predicts that by 2020, 60% of IT infrastructure and 70% of software and IT services spending will be in the cloud. Yet 96% of IT decision makers acknowledged a skills gap in their organizations with regards to cloud. With over 500 successful cloud migrations we created this guide to outline, in detail, best practices around moving from CapEx to OpEx, considerations for your first workload, securing your cloud and more.

Work is no longer somewhere you go, it’s something you do. Today, workers demand more freedom to choose where, when and how they do their jobs. They expect the same when it comes to the devices they use.

In the past, selecting work computers was a straightforward process. Now workers rely on a wide array of devices to get their work done.

Last year, Dell studied North American office workers and pinpointed 7 archetypal “work styles” and tailored its suite of computing devices and accessories.

This guide will help you identify the users in your organization and match them with Dell PCs and accessories optimized for their specific needs.

Softchoice developed this Toolkit to help organizations better prepare for their Client Hardware Refresh . In most organizations, this is a major undertaking, and the task becomes even more complex if your offices are spread out across multiple regions .

Technology users’ work behaviors have changed considerably. Our research study revealed that 72% of employees now work remotely at least once per month . 62% of employees think they’re more productive working outside the office . And 70% of employees would quit their job for more flexible working arrangements somewhere else, including the chance to work from home more often . How people engage with work has changed over the years - employees need different devices, accessories, etc . to stay productive .

Dell has found a third of employees feel they have better technology at home than they have at work.

What does all of this mean for IT? First, you need to re-evaluate your client hardware decisions to better reflect the needs of your workforce . Do your current devices support future transformation?

This Toolkit will help you take the first steps in re-evaluating your end-users’ requirements . We also share how Softchoice’s IT Department approaches a major client hardware refresh for our 1,300 employees . You’ll also learn how to gauge the pulse of your organization, and make your investment decisions pop!

The way we work has reached the next stage of evolution. Mobility and the cloud make it possible to bring the job anywhere. Modern technology lets workers select the computer or mobile device that makes them most productive. Collaboration tools allow colleagues to connect and create from any location. The youngest generation of the workforce has a whole new perspective on the connected workplace. Organizations need to adapt, or risk becoming relics.

Dell found 82% of workers believe a device tailored to their job would make them more productive. Meanwhile, over 80% of workers are dissatisfied with the technology they have.

Here’s what we found about how today’s workers feel about the new workplace ecosystem.

Learn more about VMware Enterprise License Agreements and how to manage them through this Softchoice webinar. Take a dive with us into what ELA is and how it works while you discover how you can leverage the value of the Softchoice platform.

Even the most advanced IT department has difficulty procuring, deploying and managing thousands of assets in an enterprise environment.

The average enterprise overspends on software by 25%. Meanwhile, 39% of installed software lacks proper licensing, creating audit risk. With VMware in particular, enterprise licensing is even more difficult to navigate. According to Gartner, finding useful advice on VMware enterprise licensing is next to impossible, thanks to a lack of public information and highly-customized terms and conditions.

This guide is your starting point to VMware Enterprise Licensing Agreements (ELA). The 3-year contract simplifies your licensing while unlocking up to 40% in savings on new licenses and support. Use this resource to uncover the key actions you must take to unlock the most value in negotiating, optimizing and renewing your VMware ELA.

Interested in the advantages that a VMware ELA (Enterprise License Agreement) can bring to your organization?

See for yourself