Note: Redwood Compliance LLC is not affiliated with any third-party Oracle support providers.
One popular cost-saving approach we often advise clients on is switching from Oracle Support to third-party providers. Many organizations seek to reduce expenses while maintaining their Oracle license compliance. Common alternatives include Rimini Street, Spinnaker, and the newer entrant, Support Revolution. While Redwood is not affiliated with these providers, we help clients make informed decisions through Oracle license audit support.
Understanding the Separation Between Licenses and Support
Your Oracle perpetual licenses and your Oracle Support contract are two distinct entities. You may legally retain the perpetual licenses while discontinuing Oracle Support. However, this change has licensing and compliance implications. To fully understand this, review our article on Oracle license audits and risk.
Benefits of Third-Party Support
There are multiple advantages to moving away from Oracle Support:
- Cost Savings: Clients report savings between 30–75%, with 50% being typical. This can greatly reduce your Oracle total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Flexibility: Third-party support often provides broader coverage for older versions and more flexible contract terms.
- Service Quality: Many clients have found support teams at Rimini Street and Spinnaker more accessible and responsive than Oracle’s. Learn more about how to optimize your Oracle license strategy.
Considerations Before Making the Switch
Despite the advantages, there are risks to weigh carefully:
- License Status: Once Oracle Support is terminated, Oracle considers the licenses unsupported, which affects your rights to patches and updates.
- Version Freeze: You’ll be locked into the last version you had access to. This impacts your ability to upgrade without reinstating Oracle Support.
- Audit Risk: Moving to third-party support increases your audit exposure. Oracle will still enforce license terms for perpetual licenses. Read more in our Oracle license audit defense guide.
Financial Advantages
Another key benefit is escaping Oracle’s annual support uplift—often 10% or more. Over time, this compounded increase inflates Oracle’s TCO. A multi-year TCO analysis usually favors third-party support significantly. You can also explore potential savings through our Oracle ULA cost reduction strategies.
Returning to Oracle Support
You can return to Oracle Support in the future, but Oracle may charge reinstatement fees and require updated contracts. Still, Oracle is typically open to negotiation if a customer wants to rejoin. Our article on Oracle license negotiation tactics shares more about how to manage these transitions effectively.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
Third-party providers can’t offer Oracle patches or new versions. However, if you’ve archived these while still under Oracle Support, they can often help apply those later. Learn how to archive software images and patch files as part of a proactive Oracle license management strategy.
When to Consider Third-Party Support
We typically recommend third-party support for:
- Stable, non-evolving environments that won’t be upgraded.
- Organizations where the CIO accepts alternatives to Oracle Support.
- Clients willing to plan for security, version freeze, and potential audits.
Make sure to involve all stakeholders early and develop a thorough roadmap. Our guide to Oracle ULA certification and scripts covers preparation steps in detail.
Preparation Checklist
To ensure a smooth transition:
- Archive all product versions and patches before ending Oracle Support.
- Perform an internal Oracle license audit to ensure you’re compliant and ready for scrutiny.
- Evaluate your license entitlements and contracts to identify any risks.
- Engage an expert to help navigate licensing complexity.
Redwood Compliance can assist in executing each of these steps. Check out our full Oracle license management service overview.
Final Thought
Moving from Oracle Support to third-party alternatives can be a strategic cost-saving move—but it requires thorough planning, risk evaluation, and internal alignment. For a tailored consultation, contact our Oracle license experts for a free one-hour consultation.
I specialize in software licensing, IT cost management, and spend optimization. I help clients get the most value out of their IT investments while managing compliance risks. My career began at Deloitte & Touche LLP in the San Francisco/San Jose area, where I developed expertise in software license management around IBM, HP, Microsoft and other software vendors. I also assisted with SOX audits and business/IT controls. Later, I joined Oracle’s License Management Servers (LMS) group, performing license audits and contributing to the development of audit tools and methodologies.