Saving money on software vendor maintenance contracts: A CIO series

This series of articles looks at the issue of saving money on software maintenance from several angles. Articles examine how CIOs at midsized businesses are deciding whether to cancel or change providers of their software maintenance contracts, and how to trim costs without foregoing maintenance entirely. For those who decide to go ahead and cut the cord, we offer advice on how to lock down those applications first.

Some CIOs are even taking the step of changing technology vendors to save money, opting for technology that is "good enough" rather than state of the art. Of course, that comes with a cost and risk, too -- so we show you how some CIOs have weighed those factors.

Here, then, is our series on cost-saving techniques for vendor software maintenance contracts.

 CIOs taking risk of cutting vendor maintenance contracts to save money
As CIOs continue to face budget pressures, they are increasingly dropping vendor maintenance. Here's how to weigh the risk vs. rewards of that move.

 How to cut application maintenance fees without undue risk or hardship
It's tough out there, and maintenance is expensive. These strategies will help you find ways to cut your application maintenance costs with upgrades and service in mind.

 Seven tips for cutting vendor maintenance on business applications
CIOs are cutting vendor maintenance contracts in the face of tight budgets. Locking down your apps before going off maintenance is key. Here are seven steps to take.

 How to decide if changing technology vendors is worth the time, risk
The cost savings offered by a second-tier vendor may or may not be worth the risk and expense of migration. Here's how to decide when to make a switch.