  Software Asset Management, or SAM, is a best practice and process to help your organization optimize your technology investments. Knowing what you have, acquiring only what you need, and using your software assets effectively at every stage of their life cycle are strategic business practices that businesses of all sizes should employ to realize great benefits. Learn how these benefits include cost savings, enhanced security, enhanced employee productivity and satisfaction, and more.    SAM can help businesses manage risks, control costs, and gain a competitive advantage. Mergers and acquisitionsAs organizations merge, they acquire a whole new set of software assets. SAM can help reconcile what your business has, what it needs, and what it may have too much of after a merger or an acquisition. Sarbanes-Oxley complianceSAM can help customers develop Sarbanes-Oxley corporate reporting by helping build software asset inventories, and by enhancing application change management and software depreciation models. IT governanceInternal controls for software assets can provide reliability in financial reporting, effectiveness and efficiency in operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulation.  SAM Partners can help you navigate the
complexities of SAM. SAM Partners are specialized consultants who can help you manage and track your software in order to develop greater software
efficiency. If you are ready to start your SAM efforts, but you need a SAM Partner to help you get started, you can search the Microsoft SAM Partner
listings to find a SAM Partner near you. 
For more information on Software Asset Management, visit www.viewsamkit.com to view or download a copy of the SAM Optimization Kit. The kit includes a wealth of helpful information, including further insight into the benefits of SAM, software assessment tools, white papers, resources, and tips on choosing a SAM partner.
 Step 1: Perform a software inventory.
This is the first step to understanding your software assets. There are two main techniques to perform a software inventory: manual and automatic.
Step 2: Match software to licenses.
Now that you know what software is installed on your company's PCs, it is time to match the software with the licensing documentation. Use our Microsoft Volume Licensing Services (MVLS) an online reporting tool that provides a confirmation of your license purchases and gives you an accurate report of licenses purchased to date.
Step 3: Review policies and procedures.
Establishing and following good policies and procedures for software use and license acquisition is a vital part of the entire SAM process. It's critical that your company have its policies and procedure in place. If you already have this documented, now is a good time to review and update them as necessary.
Step 4: Develop a SAM plan.
The final step in the SAM process is to develop a plan of action: Create a plan, analyze software needs, set up software training, and determine an inventory schedule.
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