In today’s digital age, software is essential for businesses of all sizes. However, managing software can be a complex and time-consuming task. This is where software asset management (SAM) comes in.

SAM is the process of tracking, managing, and optimising the software assets used by an organisation. This includes software licences, software usage, and software security.

There are many benefits to SAM, including:

• Cost savings: SAM can help organisations to reduce their software costs by ensuring that they are only paying for the software they need.
• Improved compliance: SAM can help organisations to comply with software licensing regulations.
• Increased security: SAM can help organisations to identify and mitigate software security risks.
• Improved efficiency: SAM can help organisations to improve the efficiency of their IT operations by ensuring that software is used effectively.

If you are looking for ways to improve your IT management, SAM is a great place to start. By implementing SAM, you can save money, improve compliance, increase security, and improve efficiency.

Here are some of the key elements of SAM:

• Software inventory: The first step in SAM is to create an inventory of all of the software assets used by an organisation. This includes the software licences, software versions, and software usage.
• Software usage: Once you have an inventory of your software assets, you need to track software usage. This will help you to determine which software is being used and how often it is being used.
• Software licensing: SAM also includes the management of software licences. This includes ensuring that the organisation has the correct number of licences for the software it is using.
• Software security: SAM also includes the management of software security. This includes ensuring that the organisation’s software is up to date with the latest security patches.

Here are some tips for implementing SAM:

• Get buy-in from senior management: SAM is a strategic initiative that requires the support of senior management, it is not a 1-hit activity
• Start small: Don’t try to implement SAM all at once. Start with a small pilot project and then scale it up as you go – maybe target 1 vendor or even 1 software title
• Use a SAM tool: There are a number of SAM tools available on the market. These tools can help you to automate many of the tasks involved in SAM.
• Get help from a SAM expert: If you are not sure how to implement SAM, you can get help from a SAM expert. 

Harrison are experienced in helping businesses implement SAM. To find out if Harrison is the right match for your company, get in touch with us today on 020 3667 3666 or email info@harrisonjamesit.com