Silverstone at full speed with Softcat IT contract

Home of Formula 1 racing benefits from IT audit ahead of the final Grand Prix at the venue

On the fast track: Rationalising overspending on big events was highlighted in the IT audit.

Software asset management (SAM) VAR Softcat has implemented a Centennial Discovery IT audit solution at the home of UK Formula 1 (F1) racing, Silverstone.

When the British Racing Driving Club acquired the track, it had to perform a full IT asset audit.

Since then, FrontRange claimed that Centennial Discovery has enabled Silverstone to save up to 20 per cent of its annual software cost by preventing unnecessary purchases.

Sam Routledge, services director at Softcat, said: “With the acquisition going through, the club wanted to make its licensing decisions based on knowledge instead of taking a stab in the dark.

“This is why we suggested the Centennial Discovery. In this economic climate, SAM is on the increase because everyone wants to get more out of what they have.”

Centennial Software was acquired by IT software vendor FrontRange Solutions in April.
Matt Fisher, Centennial product manager at FrontRange, said: “After the acquisition, Silverstone became privately owned and the club needed to know what it was buying in terms of assets, software included.

“We gave the club a full IT asset inventory, equipped with an audit of the network. Its network shrinks and grows with the races that take place. The bigger the race the more broadcasters and FIA connect their computers to the network.”

He added: “In a time where the purse strings are tight the issue of overspending was highlighted. The first step was to rationalise the usage of the software across the network.”

Fisher said FrontRange was excited to aid Silverstone’s operations as it geared up to host its last ever F1 Grand Prix, before the event moves to Donington Park in 2010.