Yes. The disorder in this matter made the industry push for some normalization on this field. A group of experts have started development of the ISO/IEC 19770 series. Two first parts 19770-1 and  19770-2 are  already published. 19770-3 and 19770-4 are being developed. This week there is a meeting of SAM Standards Working Group (ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7 WG21) in Niigata in Japan. The group is responsible for the 19770 series development. 

Tags: SAM | Software Asset Management

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Actually it is a part of it. Software has specific requirements in context of Asset Management. The most difficult parts are software identification and software licensing. They are not similar to anything else. Every software vendor may define their own rules to indicate whether the software is installed or not. Usually we can say that existence of specific files indicates existence of the application, but very often it is not so easy. Software licensing is yet more difficult problem as the terms are understood in many different ways. Even the software usage term is not clear and common. Also many different types of licensing, like per user, per processor, per site, etc. make it difficult to control the licensed software in the organization.

Software Asset Management is the practice that requires specialized knowledge in this field. Being able to control the software installed in the organization allows avoiding risk of failed audits and costs of overlicensing. It also helps in many other matters related to the Software usage.

Tags: SAM | Software Asset Management

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IT Asset Management (ITAM) has become very important aspect of each company. It is inevitable especially for large organizations which have to deal with the enormous IT infrastructure. However, IT Asset Management is not only the issue of the big IT environments. Every company that uses computers should know what value they bring. After all, the ultimate goal of every business is to increase company value.

IT Asset Management name explains what it is if one analyses the words in it. The key is the word Asset. It is something that we own and that brings value. In such context in IT Asset Management we manage value of what we own in IT context. It is common mistake to reduce the scope of IT Asset Management to Inventory management. Though Inventory activities underpin ITAM, it has much broader scope including vendors management, disposal, value quantification and education.

Tags: ITAM

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Despite the long-term effects of the economic crisis the perspectives for ITAM industry are good and the market is expected to grow. I have profound belief that the best is yet to come. What is my optimism based on? More and more people realize the significance of managing IT budget in a more efficient way. The amount of waste in IT is staggering. Gaining mastery over IT assets is a big challenge and, in my opinion, the proper IT Asset Management tool is the only right solution to control assets. Corporate Management Boards have to understand that there is no escape from ITAM solution. Every dollar wasted on IT is taken out of corporate profits.

Tags: ITAM

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IAITAM has released its new product called ITAM 360. This is an interactive version of IBPL that was published a few years ago. The first look at it could have been taken on the last IAITAM conference in Las Vegas.

Tags: Knowledge Management | ITAM 360 | IBPL | ITAM | IAITAM

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I thought that requesting the software audit just to be done happens only in Dilbert’s life:

http://itmwisdombase.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:dilbert-i-want-you-to-audit-the-software&catid=36:it-management&Itemid=56

I was so surprised when I recently received very similar request.I had a conversation with very good licensing expert during the audit:

Tags: Software Asset Management | SAM | ITAM | audit

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Business Software Alliance has become more effective in its fight against software piracy. Thanks to its investigation more and more companies got caught and are to pay huge fines.  No matter whether they are running unlicensed software knowingly or not, law is law and the explanation that it is unintentional will not help.  Incompliance is very often the result of the licensing mess.  No established processes and no right tools to gain mastery over huge amount of licenses led the companies to the high cost of ignorance.

Tags: SAM | Software Asset Management

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There is a constant confusion in the licensing world about which licensing model means what. If we have a per-processor license, we do not know if a dual core processor is counted as one or two processors. If we have a user license we do not know from the name if the users can be changed. Many vendors interpret the same license model name differently. Many vendors use different names for the same license model.

Tags: software tags | ISO | SAM | ITAM | Software Asset Management | standards | 19770

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 Software Asset Management is usually seen  as limited to the software license compliance. This perspective put on SAM boundaries that reduce much of its value. SAM can provide many benefits if it is broad enough.

Tags: SAM | Software Asset Management | ITAM

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          The Knowledge Management GigaCon took place in Warsaw on 27 September. It came to me in very good moment as I really needed to get some knowledge about how to cope with the amount of information I try to control and use.

Tags: Knowledge Management

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The ISO/IEC 19770-2 standard reached the final phase of ISO/IEC approving process. There is a high chance it will be published even this year.

Tags: SAM | ISO | Software Asset Management | standards | 19770 | software tags | ITAM

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           Software Asset Management (SAM) is an element of the comprehensive management of the organization. It is becoming as important as reducing risk (risk management) or increasing accountability. Nowadays SAM practices and programs are more common. IT Managers and CEO's have finally understood the importance of SAM for the whole organization.  It is not eventuality any longer, it has become a requirement.

Tags: SAM

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IT Asset Management on place can help companies focusing on many IT savings.Possible savings are as follows:

Uncovering invoice error 20%

Cancellation of Maintenance Reneval for un-deployed products 18%

Identification of under-utilized assets 12%

Hardware Lease Management 10%

Avoid Compliance penalties/ overbuying 10%

Tax Savings 5%

CPU upgrade fee protection 5%

Budget process streamlining 5%

Productivity savings 5%

Better Vendor negotiations 4%

Avoid redundant or unnecessary purchases 3%

Avoid redundant product evaluations 3%

 source: IAITAM 2008 conference materials

Tags: ITAM

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This is the topic where I am to place everything I will find considering ITAM. I will try to answer why IT Asset Management should be part of each company.  First reason is obvious. ITAM can generate huge IT savings.

Below, basing on few sources I copy what I found considering this topic:

•  "IT asset acquisition and support can account for as much as 20% to 30% of total IT spending. This presents significant cost-savings opportunities, based on the investment size. Small IT asset management cost improvements can yield large savings."

• "Customers that commit a minimum of 3% of their annual operating budgets to IT Asset Management programs and tools can expect a 25% reduction in TCO."

source: Gartner

Tags: ITAM

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