Adobe Creative Cloud: Managing Seats and Reclaiming Licenses
How to manage Adobe Creative Cloud licenses: choose all-apps or single-app plans per user, reclaim idle seats through the Admin Console and prepare renewals.
By the MI Solutions SAM team9 min read2 exhibits
Creative Cloud licenses are some of the most expensive per-user subscriptions in a typical portfolio, and some of the easiest to over-buy. Teams request the full suite when they need one or two applications. Seats stay assigned after projects end. And because Adobe licenses are managed in the Admin Console rather than in your identity provider, inactive seats often go unnoticed.
Where Creative Cloud cost leaks
Exhibit 1
Creative work is project-based, so usage is lumpy: a designer may use five applications intensively for a campaign, then only one for months. That makes a 60–90 day view more reliable than a 30-day one, and it makes the single-app question worth asking for every user.
The Admin Console provides user and license information, and exports can be imported into a SAM system for analysis.
Can we move users between plans mid-term?
It depends on your agreement. Many changes take effect at the anniversary or renewal.
What about freelancers and agencies?
Assign licenses with an end date, or ask agencies to bring their own licenses as part of the contract.
See where your software budget goes
Bring your five largest vendors to a 30-minute call. Our SAM experts will show you where the savings usually hide, and how fast MI One can surface them.
