Business software protection

They use StarForce Corporative:

On recommendation of a business associate, I contacted StarForce to request an evaluation of SF Corporative. I found the product to be exactly what I was looking for in terms of software protection. However, my interaction with the StarForce team went way beyond the purchase of their excellent product.

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Download StarForce Corporative description

Professional business software protection suite for applications with centralized management running on corporate networks.

Applications protected with StarForce Corporative can be distributed on any physical media or online.

With StarForce Corporative protected applications are controlled by a local network server.

Copies of the client application are installed on client network computers. The server application is installed on a network server and activated with the included License Server tool installed on the same server. The online activation process utilizes a serial number specifying licensing options for the protected application. This license defines the number of client application copies running simultaneously on the network, their total run time and other parameters. On startup each client application connects to the server requesting a permission to run.

License activation on the server is a one-off process performed by the network administrator, thus saving the precious time of other users.

StarForce Corporative is easy to install online using the free Protection Studio tool.

For an overview of StarForce Corporative software, its uses and benefits, please see the presentation below or download in PDF format.

StarForce Corporative supports the following software protection modes:

Physical media + Activation
Software is distributed using any physical media but will not run unless it is activated on an enterprise network server. In this mode a physical medium also functions as a secondary distribution tool when it is passed to new users who must activate the software for themselves or run it in trial mode prior to activation.
Download + Activation
Suitable for online software distribution. The software must be downloaded from the Internet.

StarForce Corporative offers the following licensing modes:

TrialTrial
Protected software can be used without activation for a certain period of time. After the trial period expires the protected software will run only if activated. / Buy onlyBuy only
Protected software must be activated to run. / SubscriptionSubscription
Protected software will run under a subscription license for the duration of the subscription term. After the subscription expires the protected software will run no longer and will request for subscription renewal. / LeaseLease
Protected software will run under a leased license for the duration of the lease term. After the lease term expires the protected software will run no longer and will request for license lease renewal.

StarForce Corporative features and benefits:

Hack-proof software protection and use control
The software protection system is bound to the network server running the protected application with an appropriate license. The license defines the way the application runs on the network. Client applications connect to the server on a regular basis to obtain permissions to run.
DRM features

Serial number management, usage statistics and reports
Software use and distribution control
Software feature customization based on a license mode

Personal “web office” for serial number management and sales statistics tracking
Change distribution policy after software release
Customize protection settings for specific customers, change binding options from single-user to corporate and vice versa, etc.
Specify software run time and the maximum number of simultaneously running client application copies (defined by customer)
Integrated security solution including single-use and corporate modes
When used by a single customer, the security system binds a protected application to computer hardware running that application. When used in a corporate environment, the security system binds the protected application to a network server.
Centralized protected application management on corporate networks

Install several protected application copies on one server
No additional hardware or software required to run a protected application (such as eToken)

One-off installation and activation by network administrator saves users’ time
Server application deactivation
24/7 technical support

StarForce Corporative comes in two flavors:

Pro
Fully customizable protection for all types of software
Elite
Maximum protection for all types of software

StarForce Corporative editions side by side

	Pro	Elite
Protection options
Protection level	customizable	maximum
Code obfuscation
Function protection (export/import)	+	+
Extra protection with hidden classes	+	+
Protection of unlimited number of files	+	+
Data files protection	+	+
Beta version and promotional copy protection	+	+
Patch and add-on protection	+	+
Activation of different application features according to serial number	+	+
GUI customization	+	+
StarForce SDK included	+	+
Silent activation	+	+
Network server binding customization	+	+

DRM options
Available distribution modes
Trial	+	+
Try & Die	+	+
Buy Only	+	+
Subscription	+	+
Lease	+	+
Maximum number of applications simultaneously running on a corporate LAN setting	+	+
Licensing options
Serial number expiration date	+	+
License start date	+	+
License expiration date	+	+
License duration	+	+
Serial number regional settings	+	+
Serial number blacklisting	+	+
Serial number activation/generation statistics
By date	+	+
By title	+	+
By distribution channel	+	+
By serial number or batch	+	+
Overall statistics	+	+

Additional options
Binding to computer hardware (offline mode)	+*	+
Application deactivation	+*	+
Serial numbers editing	+*	+

Services
Protection integration by StarForce engineers
With code modification by StarForce engineers	+*	+*
With code modification by customer	+*	+
Without code modification	+*	-
24/7 technical support	+	+
Time Limited Protection Warranty	-	+