Your company’s software is an indispensable asset and should be protected as such. Imagine knowing that your software and licenses will remain completely intact, even in a fire, flood, or other disaster. As part of your SAM implementation, a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) ensures your business can continue to run smoothly in the event of an emergency.

To be completely effective, your plan should include information about protecting and restoring both your systems and software.

Updated inventory lets you know what you have

A SAM plan can help you recover more quickly from any type of loss, including loss of inventory data, installation media, and proof of ownership. With a good SAM plan in place, you will have a thoroughly updated, centralized inventory of all software titles and licenses your company has—complete with offsite backups of all your important records and materials.

Offsite backup ensures fast system restoration

SAM helps you determine the steps you’ll take to quickly restore onsite media and information to its previous state in the event of a disaster. An effective SAM plan should always include offsite storage of original installation media (including CDs, users’ manuals, and so on) for all software. Having quick and easy access to these materials after an emergency can help your business quickly regain its footing.

Proof of ownership ensures continued compliance

Protecting your proof of ownership documentation (software license terms, purchase invoices, and so on) is one of the most important parts of your company’s DRP. With a good plan in place, you will have originals of all such documentation in an offsite repository, with extra copies onsite in the event of a software license audit.