Azul launches Managed Services Programme for Java insights

Azul has introduced a Managed Services Provider Programme for its Azul Intelligence Cloud, enabling managed service providers to integrate Java software asset management, vulnerability detection and code inventory capabilities into their service offerings.

The new programme allows partners to utilise sublicensing and white-label rights for Azul Intelligence Cloud's Software-as-a-Service tools - JVM Inventory, Azul Vulnerability Detection, and Code Inventory. Through these tools, MSPs can offer detailed analytics and insights on their customers' Java environments, including active Java Virtual Machines from Oracle, Azul, and any OpenJDK distribution.

Partners will be equipped to deliver reports and analyses that provide customers with greater visibility into Oracle Java license management, application security vulnerabilities and opportunities to streamline code maintenance. The solution is designed to help organisations reduce non-compliant licensing risks and improve their security posture without needing to deploy or manage new tools themselves.

Features of the programme

The Managed Services Provider Programme permits channel and services partners to deliver Java license, security and efficiency insights as part of their broader managed service packages. Under the agreement, MSPs create a secure, tenant-specific Intelligence Cloud environment for each end customer. Partners can then manage onboarding, deploy agents, oversee data collection, configure alerts and generate scheduled reports - all under their own brand, with results presented as "Powered by Azul."

Through the service, partners can bundle Java license compliance advisories, application modernisation initiatives and managed DevOps services, adapting to varying service delivery and revenue models. The aim is to provide end customers with ongoing assurance of compliance and security with minimal operational involvement on the customer's part.

Evan Boyd, Managing Director of Software Licensing Consultants, highlighted the visibility and operational benefits provided by the solution:

"Azul Intelligence Cloud lets us see every JVM our customers use and depend on - whether it's Oracle, Azul, or any other OpenJDK distribution - and immediately understand compliance or security gaps. Embedding Intelligence Cloud into our managed service portfolio, particularly the annual Java advisory services we provide, means we can deliver faster, more accurate license reconciliation and real-time compliance for our customers while removing the operational burden."

Reducing risk and false positives

Azul has outlined a range of capabilities available through the Intelligence Cloud, including continuous runtime detection of all JVMs - covering vendor, version, installation and application details - which helps pinpoint Oracle JVMs subject to commercial licensing. This data can be attributed to the responsible teams and applications to ensure license compliance.

Azul Vulnerability Detection makes use of class-level runtime data to reduce security vulnerability false positives by up to 99%, enabling MSPs to focus on actionable security risks. The Code Inventory feature helps identify unused and redundant Java code, allowing partners to offer advice on code base modernisation and maintenance.

The detection of obsolete code can result in efficiency improvements and cost savings, and according to Azul, advisory services delivered through the programme could enable developers to reallocate as much as 40% of their time to other business priorities due to reduced code maintenance burdens.

Because MSPs manage deployment, data gathering and insight delivery, clients are spared the complexity of operating additional software consoles, and are instead provided with actionable reporting about their Java estate health and risks.

Partners and benefits

The managed delivery approach is intended to simplify how customers access continuous insights into Java usage, compliance, security incidents and code efficiency - potentially supporting organisations in lowering audit exposure and licensing costs, bolstering security and reclaiming developer productivity.

Simon Taylor, Vice President of Global Channel and Alliances at Azul, described the company's intent behind the programme:

"Java estates continue to expand across a myriad of deployment environments, and the cost, time and resources required to get the right licensing and security insights for compliance-oriented decision making can be enormous. By giving partners full, managed access to Azul Intelligence Cloud, we're equipping them to deliver turnkey services where they can put clear, actionable reporting and insights into the hands of their customers' decision makers. Ultimately, this mitigates license audit risk and cost, surfaces critical vulnerabilities proactively and reclaims developer capacity for their customers."