By Shahabuddin Amerudin
In the article “In the world of software licensing, the dongle was once the solution of choice, but no longer” by 10Duke (2017), the author discusses the historical usage of license dongles in software licensing and the drawbacks of using them. The author argues that licensing as a service is a more versatile and secure solution that can help independent software vendors (ISVs) introduce new licensing models, products, and features faster and more easily. The article also suggests that identity-based licensing is a modern licensing solution that ISVs should consider.
The article provides a brief history of license dongles and their usage in protecting high-value desktop software applications. The author explains that dongles are hardware-based protection locks that contain the license details for a particular version of an application. The dongle’s firmware is integrated with the software of the application and controls the end-user’s access to the software. The user can access the software application only if the dongle is physically present on the computer.
However, the author also points out the drawbacks of using license dongles. Dongles are prone to loss, damage, and compatibility problems with certain environments. They also incur extra costs for replacements, which can be a turn-off for customers. Moreover, some dongles can be passed on from one user to another, which compromises their security.
The article suggests that licensing as a service is a more versatile and secure solution than dongles. Licensing as a service is a cloud-based licensing solution that offers ISVs more flexibility in introducing new licensing models, products, and features. It also eliminates the need for physical dongles and prevents unauthorized usage or unwanted distribution of software.
The article also suggests that identity-based licensing is a modern licensing solution that ISVs should consider. Identity-based licensing controls access to digital products based on the authenticated identity of an individual while also retaining flexibility in terms of licensing a product to them based on a number of constraints such as company, device, location, and application type. This solution offers better security, flexibility, and control over software usage.
Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the historical usage of license dongles in software licensing and the drawbacks of using them. It also highlights the benefits of licensing as a service and identity-based licensing as modern licensing solutions that can help ISVs introduce new licensing models, products, and features faster and more easily. The article is well-researched and provides a clear and concise analysis of the topic. However, it could have provided more examples and case studies to illustrate the benefits of licensing as a service and identity-based licensing in real-world scenarios.
Reference:
10Duke (2017). In the world of software licensing, the dongle was once the solution of choice, but no longer. [Online] Available at: https://medium.com/identity-and-access-management/in-the-world-of-software-licensing-the-licensing-dongle-was-once-the-solution-of-choice-for-151d3b8e6512 (Accessed: 28 March 2023).
Suggestion for Citation: Amerudin, S. (2023). Historical Usage of License Dongles in Software Licensing: An Article Review. [Online] Available at: https://people.utm.my/shahabuddin/?p=6183 (Accessed: 29 March 2023).