What is SAM?Because quality software is so vital to an organization, it's surprising how little attention is often given to its management. Software asset management (SAM) protects your company's software. It helps you recognize what you've got, where it's running, and any licensing overlap. Because of these benefits and the information technology (IT) staff constraints placed on many midsize businesses, SAM helps you get the maximum benefits from your technology investment. Implementing SAM in your organization is easy. We’re here to help. Often SAM can be accomplished by following these four steps:  | Begin by taking a survey of all the software installed on your company’s computers, workstations, servers, and other devices. Collect the information in a report. You can choose to do this manually, or you can use a software inventory tool to perform your inventory automatically. |
 | Identify the software titles you use. Then match your license documentation to the software itself. It will be easy to see if you're over-licensed or under-licensed for certain software titles. |
 | You’ve identified the software you have and where it is located. The next step is to review and write policies and procedures. Using these documents, your employees can help ensure proper software asset management. Sample topics might include software acquisition, deployment, use, and recovery. |
 | The final step is to establish an ongoing plan, construct a library for your media licenses, and keep your company’s documentation up-to-date. |
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