Software License Audits: What They Are & How to Stay Audit-Ready (2026) – Shopify

Summary

The episode explains software license audits, detailing what they are, who initiates them, and why they’re increasingly common in hybrid, SaaS‑heavy environments. It highlights the misalignment between use rights, entitlements, and actual usage, and shows how lack of visibility leads to costly audit findings and true‑ups. Practical guidance is offered on running internal audits, managing vendor‑initiated audits, and controlling scope to reduce financial and operational risk. Data from Flexera and Deloitte underscore that many organizations lack full stack visibility, making proactive audit‑readiness essential.