Accelerating Your Software Asset Management Journey with the SAM Maturity Assessment
Many organizations initiate their Software Asset Management (SAM) programs with enthusiasm but may struggle to advance effectively. To help these organizations move forward and realize the full potential of their SAM programs, the SAM Maturity Assessment offers a comprehensive adoption accelerator. This tool provides a structured roadmap to guide customers through their SAM journey, ensuring a methodical and successful implementation.
For a deeper understanding of how to leverage the Success Portal, be sure to watch the “Ask a Ranger: Software Asset Management” video series Success Portal Part 3 of 5 - SAM Maturity
Introducing the SAM Maturity Assessment
The SAM Maturity Assessment is designed to support organizations at various stages of their SAM program development. It delivers a pre-defined roadmap that outlines essential steps and maturity items, serving as a checklist for achieving success goals. This structured approach facilitates a smoother transition from initial setup to advanced management of SAM processes.
Key Benefits:
- Roadmap for Success: The assessment offers a clear path for customers to follow, helping them systematically advance their SAM programs.
- Checklist for Goals: Maturity items act as a practical checklist, enabling organizations to track progress and ensure all critical aspects are covered.
Starting Your SAM Journey
In the initial phase, organizations focus on setting a strong foundation for their SAM program. Key activities in this stage include:
- Establishing a Healthy Configuration Management Database (CMDB): A robust CMDB is crucial for accurate tracking and management of software assets.
- Identifying Data Discovery Tools: Selecting the right tools to gather and analyze data ensures comprehensive visibility into software usage and compliance.
- Setting Up Processes and Roles: Defining clear processes and roles lays the groundwork for effective SAM management.
- Focusing on End-User Computing and Simple SaaS Integrations: Begin with less complex licensing scenarios to streamline early implementation efforts.
Even if your organization is more mature, it is beneficial to review these foundational elements to identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
Advancing to the Next Phase
As you progress, the focus shifts to refining and expanding your SAM practices. This phase involves:
- Automating Manual Processes: Transition from manual to automated processes and procedures established during the initial phase.
- Managing Complex Licensing Models: Address more intricate licensing scenarios in data centers, Bring Your Own License (BYOL) use cases, and additional SaaS publishers.
- Implementing Governance and Cost Control: Enhance governance through software metering, reclamation, and identifying overlapping software to optimize your software estate and reduce costs.
Achieving Maturity
In the final phase, organizations should aim to establish and leverage mature, standardized, and automated processes for centralized software asset tracking and system management. Key activities include:
- Utilizing Standard Catalogs and Onboarding Processes: Implement standardized procedures for adding new catalog items and managing the purchasing process.
- Providing Automated Software Access: Offer software to end users through automated, on-demand mechanisms to streamline distribution and control spending.
- Regular Evaluation and Goal Setting: Continuously assess processes and set new SAM goals to ensure ongoing improvement and alignment with organizational objectives.
Flexible Progression
It’s important to recognize that completing every item in each phase before advancing is not always necessary. Many organizations opt to move specific goals or features from the initial phase to the later stages as needed, allowing for a more flexible and tailored approach to SAM development.
In Summary
The SAM Maturity Assessment provides a structured and flexible framework for advancing your Software Asset Management program. By following the pre-defined roadmap and focusing on key milestones, organizations can effectively develop and optimize their SAM practices. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine an existing program, the SAM Maturity Assessment offers valuable guidance to ensure a successful and sustainable SAM journey.
For a more comprehensive understanding of this topic, please refer to the video linked below.
