Software Asset Management Aids Licensing Strategies

While many organizations are particular about tracking hardware, they often overlook the need for similar diligence in tracking their software. The consequences include over- or underspending on required licenses, suboptimal choices in IT planning, and legal liabilities. Microsoft provides some tools for tracking installed software and the licenses that have been purchased, but many customers will want third-party software asset management (SAM) solutions that cover multiple vendors, incorporate a broad range of other licensing data such as a timeline for the software on a device, and complement their business processes.

What Is Software Asset Management?

SAM refers to a set of policies and practices, and some of the technologies that help implement them, for tracking software assets and using data about those assets for compliance, planning, and purchasing decisions. As defined by the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), SAM consists of the following major components: