Please find below some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) of SAM Assured and the SAM practise in general:
What is Software Asset Management (SAM)?
Software Asset Management (SAM) is the art of effectively managing and optimizing an organization's software assets throughout their lifecycle. The primary objectives of SAM are to ensure that an organization's software usage aligns with its business goals, complies with legal and contractual requirements, minimizes software-related risks, and maximizes the value of software investments.
What does SAM Assured stand for as a company?
SAM Assured is a global team of like-minded professionals committed to simplifying the complexity around software asset management, working with organisations to unlock the full potential of SAM swiftly, yielding faster results, all bolstering confidence. We consider ourselves independent, not influenced by software sales targets or any weighted partnership with a particular tool provider. We are 100% dedicated to providing the best service advice and knowledge transfer that is best for your organisation. With SAM Assured, you will find that we are personalised and agile in a way that larger consortiums cannot be. We also hold high corporate morals and values that aren't seen very often nowadays. SAM Assured offer a plethora of SAM-related services. Whilst you will find some standard offerings on our website, please remember that we can accommodate outside of these options; even the options can always be customised. You can reach out for something as small as interpreting your license entitlement report from a software manufacturer to something more complex like software audit support. We also offer support around things like policy creation and tool selection, all while providing free resources to help you along the way.
What is the difference between SAM and plain old License Management?
License management is a vital component of SAM but primarily focuses on the tracking and compliance of software licenses. SAM considers the entire software ecosystem, ensuring it aligns with business policy, is cost-effective, and operates efficiently, thus delivering a more holistic approach to managing software within an organisation.
Where does one start with SAM?
The best place to start is to understand what your software asset environment looks like and, from this, what your primary goals are. After this, the next step is to obtain executive buy-in. This is imperative to ensure that your SAM program is not only well-supported, but that the benefits are both clearly defined and understood.
Which are the best SAM Tools?
There, unfortunately, is not one-size-fits-all when it comes to an inventory/SAM tool. There are many factors to consider; budget, organization-size, platforms, virtualization, hosted offerings, application streaming. The good news is that there will be a close-fit for you and SAM Assured are here to help. With years of experience with a variety of industry tools, get in touch to see how we can help.
If I outsource my SAM, are they liable for compliance?
A big, fat, no here we are afraid. No matter how you choose to outsource your SAM requirement (if you do), you should always have a SAM champion in-house to keep an eye on things. Responsibility both financially and legally always belongs to the company by default.
What is the worst that can happen?
Theoretically, the worst thing that could happen is jail-time. Past literature on the subject suggests that this would be served by the CEO of the company, but to be fair this is highly unlikely; and there are no documented examples of this ever happening. The far more real thread is bankruptcy. An ill-managed server estate for example, can cost millions to rectify/bring into compliance and can be the end of your organization as you know it. Damage to your reputation is also something to be considered, publicized legal action can also cripple companies.
Why are there so many acronyms?!
Jargon unfortunately is something that comes with every industry and can take years to get a handle on. The good news is that, SAM Assured, do have have a bit of a dictionary when it comes to SAM acronyms and terms, why don't you check it out?
What is Second Hand Licensing?
This refers to the practice of buying and selling software that has originally been owned by someone else. Previously not allowed, a 2012 judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed that software is an asset and like any other asset, this can be resold. Provided that it is a perpetual license that is fully owned by the seller and was purchased within the European Union.