You manage software licences and SaaS subscriptions by keeping a clear record of what you have, who uses it and what it costs, removing unused seats, and securing access with single sign-on and MFA. Tech teams accumulate a lot of tools, and without management that means wasted spend and security gaps from forgotten accounts. A bit of order saves money and closes risks at the same time.
SaaS sprawl is real, and it grows quietly. Here’s how to keep it under control.
1. Know what you have
A clear, current record of your software and subscriptions, who uses each one and when it renews, is the foundation. You cannot manage or secure tools you have lost track of, so visibility comes first.
2. Remove unused seats
Licences for people who have left, or seats nobody uses, are pure waste. Reviewing usage and trimming what is not needed often saves real money, especially across many tools.
3. Secure access with SSO and MFA
Bringing your SaaS apps under single sign-on with MFA means access is consistent and secure, and removing someone’s access in one place removes it everywhere. That closes the gap left by forgotten standalone accounts.
4. Tidy up joiners and leavers
A clear process to grant tools when people join and remove them when they leave keeps both your spend and your security tidy. Old SaaS accounts left active are a common, avoidable risk.
A real example: SaaS access managed centrally
We supported a software company serving financial trading firms that used a range of SaaS tools for engineering, support and collaboration. We handled access and single sign-on across them, so people got the tools they needed and access was cleanly removed when roles changed.
For most technology and trading firms, this sits within fully managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month, billed per user, with the security and resilience these businesses rely on built in.
Why technology and trading firms choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including software and technology companies and firms that serve financial markets. We know the systems these teams depend on: secure VPN and remote access, source control and build pipelines, virtual dev and test environments, Microsoft 365 and Teams, and the security that banks and regulators expect, from multi-factor authentication and endpoint protection to application allowlisting and email security. We work with technology and trading firms in London and across Essex and Hertfordshire. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Not sure what you’re paying for or who has access? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll bring it under control.