Tech Watch | InfoWorld Staff | InfoWorld | Microsoft hails software asset management | September 18, 2006 02:53 PM

MORE ENTRIES

Microsoft hails software asset management

September 18, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Microsoft hails software asset management

Microsoft on Monday touted its efforts in software asset management.

"Software Asset Management is the entire infrastructure and processes necessary for the effective management, control and protection of software assets within an organization, throughout all stages of their lifecycle. As an industry-recognized business process, Software Asset Management is a way to help organizations realize greater value from their IT infrastructure," said Juan Fernando Rivera, director of the Microsoft Worldwide Software Asset Management Program, in an interview published by Microsoft.

Software needs to be recognized as an investment, not an expense, Rivera said. Managing and controlling these assets means having good purchase records and knowing what is being used. A process is needed to cover all stages of the software lifecycle, including knowing when updates are needed, when renewals are up and when it is time to retire software, said Rivera.

Four steps are recommended for software asset management:

* Take inventory.
* Perform a license reconciliation by locating documentation.
* Review policies and procedures.
* Develop an asset management plan moving forward.

Microsoft's own investments in software asset management include educational offerings for partners and customers, tools and content, a partner ecosystem that covers software asset management and customer engagement, including asset reviews.

"Software Asset Management is here to stay. It's about the customer and it's our responsibility to make it easier for them learn about Software Asset Management, realize its importance, and adopt it as a core business practice in their organizations," Rivera said. The full interview can be found here.

Posted by Paul Krill on September 18, 2006 02:53 PM

RATE THIS ARTICLE:

COMMENTS

As a fairly long time practioner of SAM (12+ years) it's great to see Software Asset Managment gaining attention again (and by such a powerhouse). It's amazing how cyclical the interest in software license management appears to be in the business world.

The benefits of it are well documented and large enough to gain attention, the risk avoidance components are obvious and yet for some reason every couple of years it goes on the back burner.

I hope it will "stick" this time around. Several of the experts at my company host a blog focused on the topic of Software Asset Management which can be found at: http://software-license-management.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Cynthia Farren at November 3, 2006 02:21 AM

Let's be honest. Microsoft SAM is not intended to help the customer. It's there to maximize revenue for Microsoft.

There's an excellent article in Computerworld detailing this:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=112346

As well as an "Gripe" log here on Infoworld detailing the questionable tactics used by Microsoft:

http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/12/22/11346/921

I'm not happy to pay Microsoft prices for their software, but we do so because we do gain business value from their software and so it's only right to pay Microsoft for it.

But then to get hassled by Microsoft because their own records are incorrect and incomplete (which they admit openly) and they believe we're ripping them off. Then to have to add additional overhead of SAM software/consultants to Microsoft's already costly software?

If that's Microsoft's version of help and partnering with customers, give me a sharp stick in the eye instead.

Technology White Papers

InfoWorld Technology Marketplace

» Technology White Papers Library

Technology White Papers by Topic

Technology White Papers E-mail Alert