Abstract: A method (300) and system for controlling use of software programs on a client workstation; the programs (such as an operating system or a network stack) are started before completion of a bootstrap process. Each program requests (311) an execution authorisation to a system agent of a licensing management system, which grants (318-324) the authorisation according to a verification of a (simplified) local license certificate for the program stored on the client workstation before completion of the bootstrap. A full-function agent of the licensing management system revises (342-351) the granted authorisation according to a verification of a license certificate stored on a server workstation after completion of the bootstrap. Preferably, an execution environment of the programs (such as a power of the CPU on the client workstation) is monitored (333) in order to revise (336,360-384) compliance of the conditions of use of the programs with the respective license certificates dynamically.