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When you manage software assets proactively, you can simplify deployment, purchasing, and support. SAM has proven to reduce labor costs up to 50 percent.2 |
What is Software Asset Management?
Software Asset Management (SAM) is a set of business processes for managing and protecting software assets. Based on standards set by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization),1 SAM brings people, processes, and technology together to help control and optimize software use in your organization. Implementing a SAM program can give you insight into what software licenses you own, what devices have deployed software on them, and what upgrades you have available.
Why do I need SAM?
SAM helps you take charge of your business and prepare for long-term success. This set of proven best practices can give you visibility into your technology and insight into your business, helping you control costs and risks, optimize available resources, and grow with your technology. SAM gives you the opportunity to save money while aligning your technology infrastructure with your business goals.
How can I implement SAM?
These five steps form the fundamentals of a SAM plan.
What is Software Asset Management?
Find a SAM partner.
Microsoft has partnered with local and regional companies who have developed tools and best practices to help with SAM implementations. Find a partner in your area.
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- Desktop Deployment Planning Services (DDPS):
The first critical step of any SAM plan is to do an inventory of the software you are currently using. This inventory will tell you where your company stands, where it needs to be, and what the scope is of the job ahead. When you’re done, you’ll know not only exactly what applications you’re running on what computers, but also where those applications can best be used and where you may be able to save money.
Start by taking a survey of all the software installed on your company’s computers, workstations, servers, and other devices. If you’re running only a few machines, you may want to do your inventory manually. Do this by simply going through the Add or Remove Programs screen on each computer and recording all the programs you find. If you have more than a few machines, you may want to try using an automated discovery tool, such as the Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer. With this or another SAM tool, you can scan the computers on your network and generate the inventory results automatically.
- Analyze results. Once you’ve identified which software titles you’re using, the next step is to match your license documentation to the software itself. This analysis gives you insight into whether you are over- or underlicensed for certain software titles.
If you find you have more licenses than software, you can take those unused licenses and install them—perhaps on different machines, in different departments of your company. Be sure to check your license agreement to see if it includes limits on the transfer of software. If you find you have fewer licenses than you have software applications installed, then your company is underlicensed. You can remedy this situation by contacting your software reseller and investigating the different licensing options available to you.
Get organized. Once you’ve completed your inventory and analysis, you should catalog, inventory, organize, and store your software, licenses, and all associated media. Setting up these libraries, inventories, databases, and safe houses is easy and gives you ready access to all your software, installation media, proof of ownership, and backup copies. Being organized in this way will prove invaluable to your organization in the event of an audit, system crash, fire, or any other unforeseen emergency.
Review policies and procedures. To make sure your organization continues to manage software effectively, you should continue your SAM implementation by reviewing or creating policies and procedures for your purchasing and IT departments, and for all employees. Make sure you have clear standards in place for all stages of the software life cycle, including acquisition, installation, cataloging, storage, and retirement. Make provisions for worst-case scenarios.
Provide ongoing SAM training. By now employees should have a general knowledge of SAM and licensing requirements. But once your SAM plan is fully realized, you’ll need to keep the momentum going with ongoing training and awareness policies. Keep existing employees abreast of any changes to SAM policies, and remind them of how SAM helps them with their everyday routines and keeps things running smoothly. SAM awareness is especially important for new hires. Consider devising a “starter package” outlining your SAM plan, and make sure all new employees receive a copy.
Get more details on the SAM implementation steps, SAM tools, and Microsoft SAM partners.
SAM assistance when you need it.
Microsoft offers assistance to qualified customers in the form of a SAM Engagement. Combining proven methodologies with highly trained consultants, we can help you achieve deep understanding and sustainable management of your software investments. - Increase control of your IT assets and infrastructure.
- Reduce total cost of ownership by eliminating waste, redundancy, and support costs while ensuring you receive proper volume discounts for all your software.
- Improve negotiating positions with vendors when you understand better how you’re using your current software assets.
- Strengthen security when you know how and by whom software is being used.
- Reduce risk by creating clear visibility into your software licenses, especially during mergers and acquisitions.
- Gain more value from your relationship with Microsoft, which funds enterprise SAM engagements with its SAM partners.
- Move toward a dynamic IT infrastructure using the Microsoft SAM Optimization Model. Move beyond asset tracking to active management and, ultimately, to dynamic management.
Contact your Microsoft account manager for assistance. You can also order a SAM Optimization Kit at www.SAM-optimize.com. |
Software Assurance Benefit Highlight
HUP: Now in a faster, greener version.
Now your employees can take advantage of the HUP benefit immediately by simply downloading the software they need. At only $9.95,4 the HUP download option offers additional cost savings and a streamlined purchasing experience. It is also a more environmentally sustainable delivery option. |
The Home Use Program (HUP) is a Software Assurance benefit available through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs. Through this offering, eligible employees can obtain licensed copies of most 2007 Microsoft Office system desktop programs to install and use on their home computers.3
Increase employee efficiency. Using the same Microsoft Office system software at home and at work helps employees develop familiarity with the programs.
Reduce your IT burden. Home Use Program customers find that they get fewer help desk calls and see lower deployment costs when employees have the opportunity to improve their software skills at home.
Enhance employee job satisfaction. The Home Use Program supports flexible work and commute options while also offering employees significant savings on software.
Offering the Home Use Program to your employees is easy. Go to the HUP benefit page, click the Activate tab, and follow the instructions. Then provide your program code to eligible employees so they can order directly from the Home Use Program Web site.
1 More information on the SAM process standard (ISO/IEC 19770-1) can be found at www.iso19770.com.
2 KPMG International, Software Asset Management: A Key to Infrastructure Optimization, 2008.
3 One corresponding product per licensed user.
4 Backup media available for $12.00.
