Software Asset Management

What is Software Asset Management (SAM)?SAM is a vital set of continuous business processes that provides a system for the effective management and protection of software assets within your organization throughout all stages of their life cycle.

Why is SAM important for your business?SAM is important because it can help you:

1. Control costs, risks, and complexity.

2. Optimize the use of your software assets.

3. Grow your infrastructure to meet your business needs.

The business case for SAM

Stronger IT management enables more business insight and responsiveness, which can help your business grow more quickly.

Control costs and risks

• Save money by using what you already have.

• Eliminate excess spending by determining your organization’s true software needs.

• Negotiate the best licensing options with complete confidence.

• Help ensure compliance with your government’s regulations and internal corporate regulations—as well as license compliance.

• Gain peace of mind about viruses and other threats.

Optimize resources

Reduce redundancy while being sure all employees have the tools they need.

Simplify deployment, purchasing, and support through desktop standardization.

Implement policies that drive more automation and improve productivity.

Reduce support needs through policies and standardization.

Empower your IT teams to focus on upgrades and business goals instead of unnecessary IT complications.

Grow with technology

Align your IT with your business goals.

Get better information for decision-making.

Plan effectively for your short-term and long-term technology needs.

Enable more agility and responsiveness through IT infrastructure.

The operational case for SAM

Proactively managing software assets can result in up to a 50% reduction in IT labor costs* from simplified deployment, purchasing, and support.

*“Software Asset Management: A Key to Infrastructure Optimization,” KPMG International, 2008

Control costs and risks

• Know what licenses you have, and determine what software

you really need.

• Minimize security threats and prevent unauthorized software downloads.

• Reduce technology conflicts and increase stability.

• Centralize control and policies and automate manual processes.

Optimize resources

Implement infrastructure optimization and standardization.

Reduce costs with centralized purchasing.

Improve system, user, and help desk performance.

Be ready with backup and recovery plans.

Adapt more quickly to market opportunities with simplified IT management.

Monitor and provide assets effectively.

Plan ahead for technology needs.

Align your IT with your business goals

to create more operational excellence.

Grow stronger

SAM and Infrastructure Optimization

• Infrastructure Optimization (IO) is a four-step process that can take your IT infrastructure from a non-managed, reactive state to a proactive, optimized, and dynamic state

• Based on the IO framework and the SAMprocesses standard, ISO/IEC 19770-1,Microsoft has developed theSAM Optimization Model.

• This model provides a set of criteria to make consistent SAM assessments and recommendations, and can help your organization become more agile throughbetter use of resources, even in times of changing business conditions.

SAM Optimization Model

Dynamic SAM

Standardized SAM

Tracking Assets

SAM processes exist, as well as tool/data

repository.

Information may not be complete and

accurate and typically not used for decision-

making.

Rationalized SAM

Active Management

Vision, policies, procedures,

and tools are used to manage IT software

asset life cycle.

Reliable information used to manage

the assets to business targets.

Optimized

Near real-time alignment with

changing business needs.

SAM is a strategic asset to overall

business objectives.

BasicSAM

Ad Hoc

Little control over what IT assets are

being used and where.

A lack of policies, procedures, resources,and tools.

BasicBasic StandardizStandardized ed

RationalizRationalized ed

DynamiDynamic c

SAM helps your entire organization

An effective SAM program can increase efficiency throughout

your business, improving productivity, visibility, andprofitability.

Everyone benefits from SAM

• IT staff—Simplify by knowing what you have, so you can streamline procedures and efficiently plan upgrades and deployments.

• Department heads/business unit managers—Increase the visibility of current IT spending to ensure better budget planning of projected spends and acquisitions.

• Legal—Be ready with complete documentation of compliance.

• Purchasing/procurement—Gain improved efficiencies with effective centralized control, implement procurement procedures, and greatly simplify reporting, budgeting, and acquisition of IT assets.

• Human resources—Ensure employee compliance by enforcing policies that minimize legal and security threats.

SAM makes good business sense

An effective SAM program can increase efficiency throughout your business—improving productivity, visibility, and profitability.

SAM helps you:

Control costs and business risks.

Gain visibility into your technology and insight into your business, so you can optimize your resources.

Align your technology infrastructure with your business goals, making

IT a strategic asset that can help your business grow more quickly.

How do you implement a SAM plan?

There are four main steps…

18

SAM Steps

1. Initial Software Inventory

Find out exactly what software you have installed by conducting a software inventory.

• Network – software inventory tools

• Standalone – manual inventory

For information on Microsoft SAM Tools, visit www.microsoft.com/sam

2. Get Organized, Matching Licenses

Once you have an inventory, you’ll need to match up the licenses to the software.

Types of licenses

• OEM Software (pre-installed)

• FPP Software (retail product)

• Microsoft Volume Licensing Programs

3. Review Policies and Procedures

• Centralize your procurement process

• Post software use policies

• Establish a software check-in process

• Write a disaster recovery plan for software

4. Develop a SAM Plan

• Analyze software needs

• Provide software training

• Reduce support costs

• Keep software safe

• Create a software map

• Schedule regular inventories

To find out more:www.microsoft.com/sam.

© 20011 Microsoft Corporation.