In the previous article, we examined the real costs behind Oracle ULAs and why support fees and long-term rigidity often outweigh the headline simplicity.

This article moves the focus to what determines whether a ULA delivers value in practice: how it is managed during the term and how audit risk is controlled.

Because for most organisations, ULA failure is not caused by the contract itself, but by what happens after it is signed.

Why ULA Management Matters?

An Oracle ULA provides unlimited deployment rights for a defined set of products, for a fixed period, at a fixed upfront cost.

What it does not provide is automatic cost efficiency, audit protection, or a clean certification outcome.

Those depend entirely on proactive management across three areas:

1. Cost control and financial planning

Although license spend is fixed during the ULA term, support costs continue to grow year on year. Without accurate usage tracking and forecasting, organisations reach certification without clarity on whether the ULA has paid off or what the support baseline will look like post-certification.

Effective management allows finance and IT to plan withdrawal, renewal, or transition options based on evidence rather than assumptions.

2. Compliance and audit exposure

Oracle audits frequently occur close to, or immediately after, the end of a ULA term. Weak documentation, unclear scope interpretation, or unmanaged deployments can quickly turn certification into a compliance dispute.

Regular internal audits reduce the risk of claims, protect negotiation leverage, and prevent last-minute remediation under pressure.

3. Maximising ULA value

A ULA only delivers value if it aligns with real deployment plans. Virtualisation changes, cloud migration, restructuring, or AI-driven platform expansion all influence whether unlimited rights are being used effectively or simply paid for.

Strong management supports informed decisions on whether to renew, exit, or shift to a different licensing model.

Core Strategies for Successful ULA Management

Organizations that retain control throughout a ULA term typically apply a consistent set of disciplines.

Understand the contract

Know exactly which products, entities, and deployment scenarios are covered. Certification language, exclusions, and edge cases matter more at the end of the term than at the start.

Track deployments continuously

A structured asset management approach ensures installations, environments, and usage are documented in real time. This removes reliance on Oracle tooling alone and supports defensible certification data.

Run regular internal audits

Internal audits identify compliance issues early, allowing correction long before Oracle becomes involved. They also build organisational confidence ahead of certification.

Plan for the end from the start

Exit, renewal, or transition should be modelled well before the final year. Waiting until Oracle initiates the conversation removes leverage and limits options.

Monitor support costs

Support fees do not decrease when usage drops. Understanding how support baselines are set and how they can be influenced post-certification is critical.

Engage independent licensing expertise

Independent advisors help interpret Oracle contract language objectively, validate deployment data, and support negotiation without vendor bias.

Practical Day-to-Day ULA Management

Successful ULA governance is operational, not theoretical.

Key practices include:

• Assigning a dedicated ULA management team with regular review cadence
• Automating deployment tracking where possible
• Maintaining accurate, current documentation
• Scheduling internal audits at defined intervals
• Actively tracking usage against support costs
• Keeping teams informed on Oracle policy changes
• Preparing certification data well in advance

This level of discipline turns certification into a controlled process rather than a reactive exercise.

Cancelling an Oracle ULA: When and Why It Happens

Although less common, some organisations consider cancelling a ULA due to:

• Business change such as mergers or divestments
• Financial pressure or restructuring
• Contractual disputes or performance issues
• A desire to move away from Oracle-centric models

Cancellation carries significant consequences, including termination fees, loss of unlimited rights, operational disruption, and increased audit scrutiny.

Because support clauses and adjustment mechanisms are often ambiguous, organisations should always seek impartial advice before initiating cancellation discussions.

Can Support Costs Be Reduced If Usage Declines?

In practice, no.

Oracle support fees are not usage-based. They are value-based and increase annually, typically between 3 and 5 percent, with higher uplifts increasingly common.

The only realistic opportunity to influence support costs comes after certification, through informed negotiation and structural re-pricing strategies.

Q&A

Final Thoughts

An Oracle ULA is not a set-and-forget agreement.

Its success depends on disciplined management, accurate data, and early planning for certification and beyond. Organizations that treat management as a continuous process retain control. Those that do not often discover the real cost only when options are limited.

Want to access the full guide on Oracle ULAs? Download it here

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Next in the series

In the next article, we will explore how to plan, execute, and certify an Oracle ULA exit, and the critical steps that determine whether certification delivers true ownership or continued reliance on Oracle.

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Oracle ULA Guide

1. Oracle ULA Fundamentals: How they work and who they are for
2. Oracle ULA Terms & Metrics: What You Need to Know
3. Oracle ULA Pitfalls: Challenges and Common Mistakes
4. Oracle ULA Costs and Benefits: What You’re Really Paying For
5. Oracle ULA Management Essentials: Cost, Audit and Control
6. Oracle ULA Management & Audit: Staying in control

Martijn Smit, Chief Revenue Officer CRO & Software Licensing Leader

Martijn has a proven track record in software licensing, with deep expertise in Oracle and Java. He helps organizations reduce compliance risks, optimize licensing costs, and turn complexity into strategic opportunity. Known for his clear communication and pragmatic approach, Martijn is a trusted advisor to CIOs and IT leaders navigating high-stakes licensing decisions. His collaborative style ensures tailored solutions that drive measurable business outcomes across diverse enterprise environments.