Choose these features when creating a supplier shortlist

"What we need is a simple to buy and simply to deploy system that doesn’t cost the earth. One that doesn’t need lots of maintenance and capital cost would be great too."

Reliability
Buy a reliable SDK-based solution that will not fail when the end user upgrades the PC or uses Norton Ghost and Utilities. Make sure it survives Windows updates, reformats and registry changes.

End-user experience
Internet activation should be complemented by web-based forms for use behind firewalls. Phone and email license key generation tools should also be provided. Make it easy and simple for end users to self manage their licenses, including allowing them to login to the license servers and see their own usage.

Ease of deployment
Your copy protection software should be fast to implement (it should take no more than a few hours), and should offer easy outsourced 'service' based activation and/or your own in-house server options. No extra programming or setting up complex scripts on ISPs or painful coding to make API calls to components.

Portability
It should be easy for the end user to move between PCs using USB drives or web-based license storage with one click. It should be a simple one click process to move licenses between PCs.

Controllable
Easy for you to control end user installations and to offer refunds using 'Proof of Removal' tools. You should be able to quickly 'switch-off' licenses when you see abuse or modify their rules.

Concurrency
The product should make it easy for corporations to use software with floating network licenses, and it should facilitate work on PCs that have been locked down by the administrator.

Granularity
Feature controls should allow you to manipulate individual code modules, allowing you to switch features on and off (feature clipping). You also need to be able to easily mnage an individual license code and all it's features and business rules quickly and simply.

Comprehensive platform support
Copy protection software should be platform agnostic, supporting as many platforms as possible but at least your core customer requirements. This is mainly Windows and Mac.

Flexible licensing
The copy protection software should be licensable to you in a way that suits your business goals. SaaS based licensing allows you to get on with the business while Nalpeiron manages the rest, all at one simple low cost. It should also support many ways to offer both trials and paid-for licences enabling you to sell your software how your customers want to buy it.

Money-back guarantee
Don't be caught out by software that doesn't deliver on its promises. Get a money-back guarantee to show you how confident your vendor is in its software, and to reduce your financial risk.