Executive Summary
A manufacturer supporting pharmaceutical and consumer products faced a potential $14 million compliance exposure due to widespread Oracle Java installations and unlicensed use of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Diagnostics Pack. The issue stemmed from legacy contracts, infrastructure misalignment, and Oracle’s shift to employee-based Java pricing, which requires licenses for all 14,000 employees—even if they don’t actively use Java. Referred by a trusted partner, the Manager of IS Enterprise Architecture engaged LicenseFortress for a $30,000 Compliance & Optimization Review. Through a combination of legal contract analysis, technical discovery, and Oracle license risk remediation, the company reduced its Oracle exposure to under $1.7 million—without purchasing a single additional license. Instead, they used isolation, configuration changes, and policy enforcement to align with entitlements.
$30K
Project Cost
$12.3M
Savings
46,900%
ROI
At a Glance
Challenges
Legacy Contracts, Java Licensing Shifts, and Virtualized Infrastructure Exposed the Company to Unexpected Fees
The manufacturer’s Oracle footprint included over 50 database instances deployed across global sites using VMware vSphere 7. Although the company wasn’t actively developing with Oracle Java, they had deployed it widely across desktops and laptops, triggering exposure under Oracle’s employee-based subscription pricing. Meanwhile, infrastructure misalignment and software installed beyond entitlement added to their compliance risk.
Contractual ambiguity made it unclear whether site restrictions applied, and internal tools like Lansweeper —while useful—couldn’t fully quantify license exposure. The organization needed expert help to clarify their compliance position, realign infrastructure, and avoid costly licensing missteps.
Solution
Strategic Oracle License Risk Remediation—Without Buying More Licenses
LicenseFortress conducted a standalone Compliance & Optimization Review (COR), auditing the company’s Oracle Database and Java environments. The analysis revealed $12.78 million in unlicensed database usage and $1.37 million in Java exposure, driven by vague contract terms and unintended use of licensable features.
Rather than recommending additional Oracle purchases, LicenseFortress delivered a targeted remediation roadmap:
- Re-architected VMware clusters to isolate Oracle workloads
- Downgraded deployments to align with Standard Edition entitlements
- Removed Oracle Java and enforced strict internal policies
- Validated third-party Java use and confirmed pass-through rights
- Engaged legal experts to challenge Oracle’s broader interpretations
- Implemented technical controls to ensure defensibility
These strategies dramatically lowered risk while keeping the organization within its current licensing footprint.
So Why Didn’t They Buy Oracle Licenses?
Because the remaining risk didn’t require it.
After remediation, $1.68 million in database exposure remained—but it was no longer an unavoidable cost. With clear documentation, legal backing, and technical safeguards, the company had:
- A defensible position for any future Oracle inquiry
- Controls to prevent re-exposure
- Confidence that their risk was contained, not billable
Instead of overpaying to eliminate hypothetical liability, they chose to manage and monitor it strategically.
Results
$14M Oracle Risk Reduced to $1.7M Without a Single License Purchase
The $30,000 engagement transformed a looming $14.15 million liability into a defensible $1.68 million position—with zero spend on new Oracle licenses. The company eliminated all Java exposure and reduced database risk by realigning infrastructure and enforcing contract-based usage limits.
| Category | Risk Before Remediation | Risk After Remediation |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle Database | $12.78M | $1.68M |
| Oracle Java | $1.37M | $0 (with controls in place) |
| Total | $14.15M | $1.68M or less |
To maintain long-term control and ensure audit readiness, the company joined the ArxPlatform, gaining access to real-time license tracking, legal experts, and proactive compliance monitoring.
Don’t Buy More Oracle Licenses Until You See the Full Picture
Are outdated contracts, Java sprawl, or virtual environments exposing your business to costly Oracle fees? LicenseFortress can help you identify risk, reduce spend, and build a defensible compliance strategy. Learn more about our Oracle services or contact us to get started.