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Software Asset Management or SAM is software asset management. The SAM tool will help you optimize software and license costs, reduce labor costs, successfully pass audits and reduce the number of future checks.
SAM-tool is difficult to understand and implement, so even the most experienced IT-specialists face difficulties when working with it. In this article, we’ll cover 5 common mistakes companies make when implementing a SAM tool.
1. BLURRED GOALS AND TIMING OF THE PROJECT
Before starting a project, you need to clearly define what end result you want to get. It is better to split the project into several stages than to delay its implementation. Otherwise, you get a project for a project.
When choosing a IT Professional Services, start from the goals and needs of the company.
Be sure to draw up medium to long term roadmaps. The tool should clearly meet your immediate plans and easily scale for future needs. Check short term results against strategy / work plan. This is the only way you can be sure that you are moving in the right direction and achieving your goals. Goals can change as you work on a project. Adjust actions according to goal updates.
In any SAM implementation project, you will run into gray areas. Evaluate which zones are critical to work on now and which can be moved to the next stages. Don’t try to cover everything at once. Select a pilot group of devices or vendors. After successfully implementing the first part, start scaling.
At any stage of the project, from the development of the technical assignment to its implementation, new stakeholders may appear with their own goals and objectives. They need to be dealt with in the same way as for gray areas. Do not try to expand the original TOR, otherwise you will end up with an endless project.
2. THE PROJECT TEAM LACKS AUTHORITY
In the process of SAM automation, not only the IT service is involved, but also other divisions of the company. For the successful implementation of the project, you need to create the necessary conditions. Involve related departments in the process and receive the required information from them in a timely manner:
- about purchased licenses
- existing contracts, services and services
- settlements with suppliers
- accompanying documentation
You need to seamlessly and seamlessly integrate SAM into your current infrastructure and business processes.
Before starting the project, do not forget to consult with the IT security service in order to avoid surprises during the implementation process.
3. WE UNDERESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THE INVENTORY OF LICENSES
It is impossible to estimate with certainty the effort required to collect complete and reliable information about the available software products.
There will always be closed infrastructure loops or segments that cannot be automatically inventoried. Or licenses that cannot be verified. Even if you are sure that you once bought them.
Do not forget about cloud licenses, as well as services and services that you use on a leasehold basis.
The quality and reliability of reports on the company’s licensing position directly depends on the quality and completeness of the provided initial information. Determine for what period you want to create a purchase chronology.
Please be aware that contracts may contain unique terms and conditions. Therefore, study all documents related to software products.
4. TRYING TO IMMEDIATELY SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS WITH ALL VENDORS
You shouldn’t expect miracles from automated SAM tools. To automate the process, you need to process a lot of information:
- software use rights
- license agreements and metrics
- contracts with vendor
- Purchasing history or historical purchasing data
- installed software products
- IT infrastructure – server device, virtualization, connection of devices, users and servers
It is necessary to conduct an inventory of software products and synchronize the SAM tool with other systems in the company.
After the implementation of the tool, it is required to maintain the relevance of the information:
- enter data on new licenses into the system
- work with tool recommendations
Information becomes out of date 10 minutes after collection. Determine the data refresh rate that suits your needs.
The SAM tool automatically retrieves data from internal systems, but technicians can manually add information to the program. You significantly reduce data processing effort and use the SAM tool as a central repository. At any time, you can get a real picture of licensing in the company. But remember that only accurate and verified data should be loaded into the SAM tool.
5. INTERESTED ONLY IN THOSE LICENSES THAT ARE NOT ENOUGH
Companies are either looking for licenses that are in short supply or buying more than they need in advance. The first strategy is ineffective and dangerous, the second is ineffective and very expensive.