Tag Archives: SAM

And they (SAP) ‘promised’ not to directly pursue ……

Promisses SAP spokes persons and account managers were very quick to mention to the world that, now they won the Diageo court case, they wouldn’t directly start harvesting the new situation on indirect access. And in effect that’s a bit true. They now seem to aim at the big treasure chests that are out there. […]

Read More

IT&SAM and GDPR

gdpr-2When you’re involved in IT&SAM in Europe you have probably heard of the new General Data Protection Regulation. In this post, I’d like to shine some light on how this new ruleset affects your job, and how you should adapt to it. When you’re in IT&SAM outside of the EC you will be affected (maybe) less. When you’re in an organization that’s acting global, and in the EC, you must navigate between various regulations that are valid in different parts of the world.

As SAM practitioners may involve internal staff, sometimes hired experts or employees of a SAM service provider, it’s of the highest priority to find out what role you have according the new GDPR. And at times there will be a combination of roles, between data processor and/or data controller.

new-jobFirst you need to know that the regulation started on May 18th of this year (2016) in Europe, and will be effective as of May 25th, 2018. In the meantime, organizations have time to adapt to the new regulation, train people, assign accountable and responsible. Last week I read that it was to be expected that between 26.00 and 74.000 new Data Protection Officers will need to be added in organizations, in the years to come.

As IT&Software Asset manager you’re using lots of data sources. Incorporated in some of these sources is personal information and other data that is subject to the new GDPR. And it doesn’t matter anymore if your part of the data controlling organization or a service provider, or any other function. If you’re handling GDPR affected data, you need to comply! (more…)

Read More

SAM processes

process_iconMany organizations struggle with software licenses and only few succeed in managing software compliance. Often the advice is to get the Software Asset Management processes properly implemented. But then many questions arise. Process models like ISO 19770 or ITIL-SAM identify processes but don’t provide support for specification and implementation. In a series of articles, I will discuss SAM processes and an approach to implement them.

Why SAM processes?

Many, even most organizations, are periodically audited by software vendors. The huge amounts that must be paid for licenses and fines – which are, by the way, in many cases compensated by investments in new, unwanted software – are triggers to reflect. Some organizations choose ‘all you can eat contracts’ (expensive, but no risk for claims afterwards) or doing nothing (accept the cost for the short term and resolve the problem later; don’t cross the bridges before you come to them). The majority select a SAM tool vendor and have them their tool implemented. The implementation approach implies processes but, in fact, limited to the ability of using the software. I know many examples of organizations that after one year are frustrated by the tool and decide to select another tool. In most cases, this decision is not justified. The differences between tools are small and the results will likely be the same the next time. Probable conclusions are that input data is not reliable or SAM operators are not capable to process the data. In both cases implementing SAM processes may be the solution.

(more…)

Read More

Don’t start with the tool as single solution for SAM

Just a little warning: In the past and present, and sadly the future, lots of organizations decide to do something on software asset management (SAM) and select and implement a SAM tool, without preparing their organization for the vast mass of information that wil come down on them as an avalanche. If you haven’t prepared your organization for this your investment (the tool) will end up in the archives as quick as you’ve decided to buy it based on the impressive and inviting demo’s and sales pitches. And then you’re missing out double, because at that point you’re adding the SAM tool to the significant savings you could have had!

The tool’s massive information stream can only be used to the maximum if your organization (more…)

Read More

How to select a trustworthy SAM solution

47aI see an increase of SAM experts stumbling over each other with messages to the market where they think a huge SAM battle needs to be fought with expertise. And it must be mind boggling to all those people looking for assistance to select the right expert to help them out. The more I look at it, the more I see three different streams in experts:

The tool driven expert
The process drive expert
The combined expert
As organizations are not aware of the real SAM issues ahead, they tend to follow the stream that’s most heavily marketed, or screams the loudest. (more…)

Read More

ISO19770- 3 and 4 and 1 and……. SAM standardized !

Although the current release of the ISO/IEC 19770-3 standard is a good step forward it is still dependent on the software licensors to adept, adapt and adopt. I do congratulate my fellow WG21 members with this published standard and hope it will become a very lively and worldwide accepted document.

At In2SAM we treasure the fact that we’re part of the Dutch N381007 “software and systems engineering” commission and also the Dutch representative in the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 21 which develops, publishes and changes the ISO 19770 standard. And for that matter we (more…)

Read More

All beginnings (with SAM) are simple! Unless you forget Common Sense

journeyAbout ten times a day someone tells me that Software Asset Management is so difficult and expensive. In my humble opinion, that’s totally wrong.

After all it is nothing more than using Common Sense, or horse sense!

When you are a company you’ll use ICT assets (I’d like to see one running its business without any!!),  and you’ll have to perform some kind of IT or Software Asset Management. Depending on the size of your company and the importance of your brand this (more…)

Read More