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Finance has questions about your software spend. When the bill for Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud keeps growing, someone wants answers. And if you can’t show which apps your users open, license management turns into a guessing game.
The gap is real. Most organizations can’t see whether someone opens Word or leaves it running in the background. To close that gap, we built Microsoft 365 and Adobe desktop discovery alongside app usage tracking in JumpCloud AI & SaaS Management.
You get the data to optimize your highest-cost software suites based on real activity across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The Gap Between Installation and Actual Work
Leadership often assumes installed software is generating value. You might see Adobe Creative Cloud on 150 machines and keep 150 top-tier licenses active because of it. But installation data only tells half the story.
The financial stakes get high fast when you layer Adobe and M365 Business Premium or E5 plans across a large fleet:
- Some employees rely on web-based PDF editors or free viewers.
- Others live in Acrobat Pro but never open Photoshop or Premiere Pro.
Without usage data, you’re ignoring a slow leak in your budget. Left unaddressed, it will drain your IT spend.
Traditional SaaS management tools often fall short here. They treat massive suites as single, opaque bundles. That makes it impossible to see how individual apps are used. High-cost suites need more than an inventory check. You need daily engagement data to know if a premium license is earning its keep.
Before you renew a high-tier license, check two things. First, is the user active on the M365 web portal but never opening desktop apps? Second, are they paying for the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite but only using Acrobat Pro? Moving these users to web-only or single-app plans is an immediate win for your budget.
Also read: A Smarter Way to Manage Your SaaS Licenses.
A heavy app sitting on a user’s hard drive doesn’t mean it’s generating value. True optimization means seeing which specific tools your users open — Excel, Outlook, Photoshop, Illustrator.
Break Down Suites Into Individual Apps
Rather than showing a generic suite listing, the JumpCloud Agent identifies individual Microsoft 365 and Adobe applications as distinct, standalone entries.
For Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and other suite apps are each discovered and audited separately. For Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and all other installed apps are reported as separate entries.
This level of detail lets you see exactly which components of these expensive suites are on your managed devices. It’s the foundation of a better SaaS strategy. When you know what’s on each machine, you govern more effectively and troubleshoot with more precision.
Suggested reading: Shadow AI Hiding Spots and What CIOs Must Do Now.
Use Foreground Tracking to See Real Engagement
Knowing an app is running isn’t the same as knowing someone is using it. Many desktop apps launch at startup and run in the background without the user ever touching them.
JumpCloud uses foreground tracking to show you what’s in use. A session counts as active only when the app is the primary window your user is working in. This separates real adoption from background noise.
The Agent checks every 30 minutes. If the app was in the foreground at any point during that window, it counts as used. This lightweight approach means tracking never slows down devices or interrupts your users.
You also get a daily breakdown per app and per user. That’s what you need to see which tools are helping people get their work done.
Note: Usage tracking requires JumpCloud Agent version 2.120.0 or higher on managed endpoints.
Your usage data will also surface apps that run but never get foregrounded. These are often startup items that slow boot times without providing value. Disabling them improves device performance and user satisfaction at the same time.
A Workflow to Reclaim Budget
This level of visibility shifts IT from cost center to strategic partner. You stop guessing about which licenses you need. You start making decisions based on data.
Here’s how to put it to work:
- Run a report to find users with expensive Adobe or M365 apps installed but not opened in 30 or 60 days.
- Identify users who only use Outlook or only use Acrobat Pro. They’re good candidates for a lower-tier plan instead of the full suite.
- Move those users to web-only versions or single-app licenses.
- Take the reclaimed budget and put it toward security projects or infrastructure work that’s been on hold.
What Is Tracked and What Isn’t
As you roll out tracking, be clear with your team about what the data covers. The JumpCloud Agent focuses on how applications are used, not on what users do inside them.
The system identifies which sanctioned desktop app is in the foreground and how long that activity lasts. It doesn’t capture the specific accounts used in an app. It doesn’t monitor files, keystrokes, messages, or private data.
Keeping that distinction clear focuses your efforts on governance and resource management, not surveillance.
From Visibility to Better Budget Decisions
Modern device management makes your organization more resilient. With granular app discovery and foreground usage tracking for Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, you have the data to stop wasting money and justify your IT spending.
You don’t have to wonder if your licenses are worth it. The data is right there. Use it to make decisions that move your budget in the right direction.
Ready to get started? Start your free trial or open your JumpCloud console to explore AI and SaaS usage across your organization.
