What is Software Asset Management (SAM)

Organizations rely increasingly on cutting edge technology in order to operate profitably and software as such, should be treated as a valuable asset. Good Software Asset Management achieved through Best Practice enables organizations to save money through effective policies and procedures which are continuously reviewed and improved. But what exactly is SAM?

No simple definitive definition of what SAM is actually exist, however it is said that it is:

...about knowing exactly what software your business owns, owning only the software that your business needs and actively managing how and when new software purchases are made to ensure that your organization remains in this position of knowledge.

...a collection of best practices designed to help organizations fully manage their IT software assets, which in turn should lead to improvements in cost control, risk mitigation and network security.

...not just finding license shortfalls. It's the ongoing process of correctly managing the ownership of software in your organization.

So what is it?

SAM is a part of IT Service Management and is illustrated by the the ITIL Guide to Software Asset Management or the ISO 19770-1.
According to the ITIL guide to SAM "...Software Asset Management is all of the infrastructure and processes necessary for the effective management, control and protection of the software assets within an organization, throughout all stages of their lifecycle."