License optimization conversations usually start at the tenant level (how many SKUs exist, how many are assigned, and what that costs). But in practice, some of the biggest waste sits one layer down: apps that cost money per assigned user and remain assigned long after usage drops.
Syba Identity includes app license cost analysis views for Okta and Entra data sources so teams can see where cost exposure concentrates, where inactivity is highest, and which apps should be prioritized for review. This supports the broader “optimize” theme on Syba’s site (Syba Identity).
Why app-level cost analysis matters
App-level waste accumulates quickly because it’s often invisible:
- Access is granted broadly for convenience.
- Owners change and no one re-validates entitlements.
- Usage is sporadic, so inactive access persists.
- Removals are hard, so teams avoid them.
Over time, the organization ends up paying for a long tail of “just in case” access.
What Syba models (high-level)
Syba’s app cost analysis is intentionally straightforward:
- identify apps with a configured per-user license cost (where applicable)
- count assigned users for each app
- estimate “active users” and “inactive users” under a selected activity window (e.g., 30/60/90 days)
- compute estimated monthly cost and a “potential savings” indicator tied to inactive assignments
This creates a high-signal shortlist for review, not a promise of guaranteed savings.
Okta app cost analysis
On the Okta side, Syba supports reporting that can analyze application usage and cost exposure for apps represented in Okta.
The operational outputs teams care about are:
- which apps drive the most monthly cost
- which apps have the highest inactive assignment ratio
- where a review could remove meaningful spend with minimal business impact
Syba also supports filters that help narrow to the apps you care about (for example, excluding certain app types, focusing on cost thresholds, or highlighting apps with particular features).
Entra app cost analysis
On the Entra side, Syba supports app license cost analysis for enterprise applications (service principals) with usage/activity indicators and assignment counts.
Syba can also incorporate provisioning configuration visibility for enterprise apps. Operationally, this matters because many teams want to focus on apps that are “integrated” (provisioning enabled) vs apps that are loosely managed.
The result is a better prioritization queue:
- high-cost apps with large assignment populations
- apps where assignments remain but usage has dropped
- apps where provisioning exists and mis-scoped access creates operational risk
Interpreting “potential savings” responsibly
To keep app cost analysis accurate and usable:
- Treat the output as a review queue, not an automatic remediation plan.
- Keep thresholds explicit (e.g., 90-day inactivity window) so results are consistent.
- Expect exceptions. Some roles need rarely-used access.
- Track decisions and outcomes so the analysis improves over time.
Syba is designed to support this “investigate → decide → document” workflow without exposing proprietary detection logic publicly.
How teams operationalize app-level cost reduction
The most successful programs follow a predictable cadence:
- Review the top cost apps monthly or quarterly
- Identify a narrow scope for action (one app, one business unit, one license tier)
- Run a governed review (campaigns, approvals, or documented exceptions)
- Apply changes in controlled batches
- Measure impact and tune thresholds
Syba’s app cost reporting gives teams the evidence to start that cycle and keep it repeatable.
Why this helps security and compliance too
App-level optimization isn’t just a cost story:
- broad access is a risk story
- lingering access is an audit story
- inconsistent entitlement management is an operations story
When teams can show that high-cost apps are reviewed and scoped intentionally, both cost and risk posture improve.
Closing thought: the goal is fewer “default entitlements”
Most app waste exists because access becomes the default. App cost analysis is a practical way to challenge that default, using evidence that business owners can understand and auditors can accept.
Syba’s app license cost analysis helps teams prioritize the right reviews and reduce long-tail waste across the identity stack (Syba Identity).
CTA: Want to see app cost analytics across Okta and Entra data in practice? Request a demo and we’ll walk through how teams use the shortlist to drive governed cleanup.