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

Adobe Cloud license management with OpenLM

Adobe Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of creative and document management tools, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Document Cloud. Monitoring Adobe Cloud usage is critical for organizations to prevent the accumulation of idle named-user licenses and to ensure that expensive subscriptions are actively utilized rather than just deployed.

OpenLM helps monitor these assets by providing full visibility into actual application usage. By tracking when applications are launched and stopped, OpenLM allows organizations to optimize their Adobe investment and eliminate wasted spend.

Understanding Adobe Cloud: What is Adobe Cloud licensing?

Adobe Cloud encompasses a vast array of applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat, and Illustrator, typically managed through a cloud-based subscription model. A significant challenge in managing these licenses is the disconnect between deployment and actual usage; a license may be assigned and the software installed, but if the user rarely opens the application, it becomes “shelfware.” OpenLM bridges this gap by tracking active usage rather than just assignment.

Licensing schemas of Adobe Cloud

Adobe primarily utilizes a named-user licensing model, where subscriptions are tied to specific individual IDs. Organizations often face a dilemma where they purchase individual named-user licenses without a team subscription to save initial costs, which can make reassigning idle licenses difficult. This structure necessitates precise monitoring to identify inactive users and effectively manage renewals or reallocations.

OpenLM’s solution for Adobe Cloud license optimization

OpenLM provides a robust solution for tracking Adobe licenses by leveraging a lightweight agent to monitor workstation activity. This ensures that organizations have the data needed to move from guesswork to confident license management.

OpenLM capability	Value for Adobe Cloud licenses
Reduce wastage	Identify users who rarely or never use their assigned licenses. OpenLM reports help you remove inactive users or reassign licenses to those who need them.
Eliminate guesswork	Replace memory-based tracking with concrete data on license allocation and usage patterns, enabling you to negotiate renewals with confidence.
Agent-based tracking	Utilize a lightweight agent to track exactly when Adobe applications are launched and stopped, providing precise usage duration data.
Compliance and optimization	Ensure compliance with licensing agreements while optimizing idle licenses to prevent unnecessary expenditures.

OpenLM advantages for Adobe Cloud license usage monitoring

OpenLM offers distinct advantages for Adobe Cloud by focusing on active usage rather than simple deployment. Through its agent-based tracking, OpenLM captures detailed insights into user behavior, such as session duration and frequency. This level of granularity allows IT managers to distinguish between a user who simply has Acrobat installed and one who actively relies on it for daily tasks.

By providing clear visibility into these usage patterns, OpenLM enables organizations to reclaim idle licenses and avoid the costs associated with unused subscriptions. Whether managing Creative Cloud or Document Cloud, OpenLM ensures that every license actively contributes to the organization’s productivity.

Delivering impact at every scale