SAM Advantage

 SAM Advantage

  Delivering 2010

Save money. Reduce risks. Manage your business better.

Coming soon, SAM Advantage is the new world-class approach to software asset management (SAM). SAM Advantage will be the first and only global SAM program that is:

  • Built on the basis of global standards published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), including official cooperation with the responsible ISO/IEC working group;
  • Vendor-neutral and sponsored by an independent nonprofit organization, the Business Software Alliance (BSA);
  • Recognized and developed by many of the world’s leading software companies;
  • Customizable to each organization’s specific needs and abilities; and
  • Delivered in a consistent fashion by a variety of professional partners, resellers and practitioners.

SAM Advantage will be geared to provide all parties with the knowledge and support they need to adopt world-class practices in software asset management through a flexible, step-by-step process.

Pilot programs will begin soon with wider implementation to follow in 2009.

 

What is SAM? What are the benefits?

SAM is the business practice of managing and optimizing the purchase, installation, utilization, maintenance, and replacement of all software assets within an organization. Organizations adopt SAM for several reasons, including avoiding legal problems, saving money and time, and reducing security risks. (See Figure 1.)

Find out how you can apply SAM Advantage in your organization

Figure 1. Why do organizations implement SAM?

Why do organizations implement SAM?
Source: ISO/SC7 Market Needs Study, May 2008

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How will SAM Advantage work?

Until now, the task of achieving full conformance with the ISO/IEC 19770-1 global SAM standard was daunting, requiring a large commitment of time and resources to implement a complex set of rules. There were no standardized methodologies for SAM implementations and no independent benchmarks for measuring success.

To make it easier for organizations to understand SAM and begin improving their IT operations step-by-step, BSA is developing SAM Advantage as a four-tiered framework for progress (see Figure 2). Because it is aligned with the global standard, organizations can adopt the approach with confidence that it will apply wherever they operate around the world.

Figure 2. Four Tiers of SAM Advantage

Tiers Results
Tier 1
Trustworthy Data		 Good data is a prerequisite for good SAM. Further, one cannot manage what they do not know. Tier 1 provides the basis for repeatable license compliance.
Tier 2
Practical Management		 In practice, management only starts to take ownership of issues related to SAM after the results of Tier 1 is completed and the organization recognizes the extent of the risks it faces as well as the opportunities for improvement and savings. Basic management control environment, including policies and roles and responsibilites are covered. Importantly, we also start covering 'quick wins' made obvious by the data of Tier 1.
Tier 3
Operational Integration		 Building on Tiers 1 and 2, we integrate SAM into operational processes leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness.
Tier 4
Full ISO Conformance		 Tier 4 address the more advanced and demanding aspects of SAM including full integration into the strategic planning for the organization. We also cover how effective SAM can support the organization strategically.

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How can my organization get started?

Pilot programs will begin soon with wider implementation to follow in 2010.

For now:

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