Software Asset Management (SAM)

SAM is the infrastructure and process for managing and optimising software investments across the entire lifecycle. It helps manage and evidence compliance with software vendors.

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Core concept

Centralisation of the licence inventory, monitoring of usage, and reconciliation with contractual terms. The goal is to avoid under-licensing (legal risk) and over-licensing (unnecessary costs).

Relevance

• Licence Audits: Preparation and support for vendor audits.
• Cloud Licensing: Optimisation of BYOL (bring your own licence) models in hybrid cloud environments.
• SaaS Management: Control over the proliferation of cloud subscriptions.

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Related topics

• Strategy: SAM and FinOps, the cost and licence discipline behind Software Asset Management (SAM).
• Standards, the standards section that frames Software Asset Management (SAM).