About this ExamThis exam validates the skills necessary for IT professionals to design, implement and optimize a Software Asset Management (SAM) program. Candidates use the SAM Optimization Model to accurately evaluate SAM processes, policies, and tools. Candidates use the model to design solutions that are necessary to implement and improve the management of software assets.

Audience ProfileCandidates for this exam should have three years of on-the-job experience in an IT environment. They are familiar with business processes and audit procedures, for example, ITIL SAM-related standards and ISO/IEC 19770 standards that support the SAM life cycle, for example, acquisition, inventory, discovery, deployment, reconciliation, maintenance, and retirement).

Credit Toward CertificationWhen you pass Exam 70-673: TS: Designing, Assessing, and Optimizing Software Asset Management (SAM), you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Designing, Assessing, and Optimizing Software Asset Management (SAM)

Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.

Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.

Assessing SAM Programs by Using the SAM Optimization Model (18 percent) Define the scope of a SAM program assessment. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying infrastructure groups and locations, estimated quantity of hardware and software assets, functional descriptions for each group, and key points of contact Assess SAM processes throughout an organization. This objective may include but is not limited to: assessing infrastructure groups for the existence of documented SAM procedures, roles, and responsibilities Assign maturity levels according to the 10 components of the SAM Optimization Model. This objective may include but is not limited to: assigning one of four maturity levels to each component Perform a gap analysis between the current maturity level and the desired maturity level. This objective may include but is not limited to: reviewing assigned maturity levels, comparing assigned maturity levels with desired maturity levels Performing Software License Reviews (21 percent) Collect and manage complete hardware and software inventories. This objective may include but is not limited to: reviewing an organization’s hardware and software inventory collection processes and data to ensure completeness Validate inventory accuracy. This objective may include but is not limited to: normalizing software inventories and reconciling them against other data sources to verify the accuracy of specified license metrics, such as user counts based on HR employee records Collect, validate, and manage license entitlement records. This objective may include but is not limited to: gathering, storing, normalizing, and validating license entitlement records; providing reports as needed Perform a periodic reconciliation of software inventories and license entitlements. This objective may include but is not limited to: reconciling software inventory data against software license entitlements data to determine and report license compliance status Coordinating Data Collection Technologies (21 percent) Manage data collection. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying machine type, agent installation requirements, collection schedules, and discrepancies between inventories; defining data schemas; identifying data storage locations; normalizing the collected data Coordinate data collection between operations groups. This objective may include but is not limited to: facilitating data transfer and synchronization between various IT groups, validating data between these groups, and ensuring that overall SAM processes are being followed Manage data interfaces between disparate data sources. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying the process of matching common fields, cross-referencing, determining whether an individual record in one data source requires the updating of other data sources by using manual or automated techniques; managing the data transfer process Manage reporting This objective may include but is not limited to: gathering requirements for general user and executive reports, generating and maintaining periodic reports, maintaining the infrastructure necessary for ad hoc reporting requests Designing and Managing a SAM Program (19 percent) Secure executive sponsorship. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying stakeholders, creating proposal materials, and obtaining explicit executive authorization Secure funding. This objective may include but is not limited to: estimating operational costs in both consulting hours and employee time, creating a project plan and budget, and obtaining from each infrastructure group funding for each task that is associated with managing a SAM program Design a SAM program. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying resources and objectives for a SAM program, aligning resources with customer requirements and schedules, and coordinating acquisition strategies that may include optimization methods such as software as a service (SaaS) and application virtualization Implement a SAM program. This objective may include but is not limited to: creating a SAM stakeholder group to oversee the project; assessing and benchmarking the current state of SAM; implementing technologies to support asset discovery; enhancing purchasing processes to include storage and retrieval of license entitlement information; performing an initial license reconciliation; creating policies, processes, and procedures to support SAM efforts; securing support from all associated departments; educating employees Maintain a SAM program. This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring adherence to the policies, processes, and procedures of an organization’s SAM life cycle; standardizing SAM processes across all domains and organizational units; performing periodic license reconciliation; and providing ongoing SAM awareness training Create and manage a SAM program improvement plan. This objective may include but is not limited to: incorporating SAM analytical data into strategic IT and business unit planning; creating detailed metrics and reports to measure SAM adoption, maturity, and adherence to plan; reporting of return of investment (ROI), cost avoidance, and end-user satisfaction to all stakeholders; evangelizing SAM maturity benefits Managing the Software Asset Life Cycle (21 percent) Manage the acquisition process. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying and managing approved and unapproved purchasing processes within an organization, identifying suppliers, and managing software approval and receiving processes Manage the deployment process. This objective may include but is not limited to: validating the availability of software and licenses, selecting the correct media, specifying the software identification characteristics, and tracking the deployment of software Maintain assets. This objective may include but is not limited to: managing software and hardware during the install, move, add, change (IMAC) processes throughout the software asset life cycle Manage the retirement process. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying hardware for retirement, retiring software, harvesting software licenses, decommissioning or destruction of storage media

Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.

Classroom Training There is no classroom training currently available.

Microsoft E-Learning There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.

Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.

Practice Tests There are no practice tests currently available.

Microsoft Online Resources Online Tutorials Partner Learning Center: Volume Licensing Essentials Partner Learning Center: Software Asset Management Essentials   Microsoft Partner Network Resources Preparation Guide for Microsoft Exam 70-673 Study Guide for Microsoft Exam 70-673 Evaluation, analysis, and presentation tools to help you gain skills and deliver successful SAM engagements: Microsoft SAM Resources. The SAM Optimization Model, developed by Microsoft, is a powerful combination of best practices in SAM, the Infrastructure Optimization (IO) model, and the key criteria as defined in the ISO/IEC 19770-1:2006 SAM processes standard:  SAM Optimization Model Resources. Increase your understanding of the license types that Microsoft offers: Learn About License Types. Learn about the different ways to establish proof of license: Proof of License Guide.