Name: Shadow Licensing Uncovered: Smart Control for Unmanaged Software
Start: 2026-02-04T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-04T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

Bentley license management with OpenLM

Monitoring Bentley software usage is critical because of its unique and often complex licensing models. Without strict oversight, organizations risk incurring significant “over-usage” penalties or triggering expensive term licenses unintentionally.

OpenLM provides a specialized solution to monitor Bentley licensing (both legacy SELECTserver and the newer Subscription Entitlement Service – SES), helping organizations control costs by preventing accidental overages and optimizing license pools.

What is Bentley Systems?

Bentley Systems is a global leader in software solutions for engineers, architects, geospatial professionals, and constructors, providing comprehensive software for advancing infrastructure (e.g., MicroStation, STAAD.Pro, OpenRoads).

Licensing schemas of Bentley: Understanding the "Trust" Model and Buckets

Unlike many other vendors that strictly deny access when license pools are full, Bentley often operates on a “Trust Licensing” model. This ensures engineers are never denied access to critical tools, but it shifts the responsibility of compliance and cost control entirely to the customer.

10-minute “buckets”: Bentley usage is typically calculated in 10-minute intervals. If a user opens an application, a “bucket” is filled.
Peak usage calculation: Bentley calculates the peak number of concurrent users within these intervals.
The over-usage trap: If your peak usage exceeds your perpetual license count, Bentley does not stop the software from running. Instead, it automatically triggers a “Term License” or charges an overage fee for that excess usage. These charges can be substantially higher than the pro-rated cost of a perpetual license, often increasing expenses by 20-50%.

OpenLM’s solution for Bentley license optimization

OpenLM addresses the specific challenges of Bentley’s open-access model by adding a layer of control that the native tools lack. By interfacing with Bentley’s licensing systems (including SES and CONNECT Licensing), OpenLM allows IT managers to enforce limits and “harvest” idle licenses before they cost money.

OpenLM capability	Value for Bentley licenses
Over-usage prevention	Unlike Bentley’s native behavior, OpenLM can actively restrict license checkouts beyond your purchased limit. This prevents users from accidentally triggering expensive term licenses or overage fees.
Idle license harvesting	OpenLM detects when a workstation is idle or hibernating and can release the license. This prevents a “bucket” from being filled unnecessarily while an engineer is away from their desk, saving that license for someone else.
Precise usage reporting	While Bentley reports in 10-minute intervals, OpenLM offers second-by-second tracking precision. This granular data allows you to dispute discrepancies and understand true concurrent usage versus “bucketed” usage.
Feature-level monitoring	Monitor usage not just by application (e.g., MicroStation) but by specific features or add-ons, ensuring you aren’t paying for expensive tiers of software that aren’t being utilized.

OpenLM advantages for Bentley license usage monitoring

The primary advantage of using OpenLM for Bentley is the shift from passive observation to active control.

Stop the “surprise bill”: Bentley’s quarterly invoices can be a shock if a few users accidentally exceeded the pool limits. OpenLM’s alerting and blocking capabilities serve as a safety net, ensuring you stay within your contracted quantities.
Unified engineering dashboard: Most firms using Bentley also use Autodesk, ESRI, or Hexagon software. OpenLM consolidates all these engineering licenses into a single dashboard, allowing for cross-vendor asset management that Bentley’s own portals cannot provide.
SES / CONNECT support: OpenLM supports the modern Bentley Subscription Entitlement Service (SES), giving you visibility into the “User Sign In” activity and ensuring compliance even as Bentley shifts away from legacy keys.