In the rapidly changing world of IT, efficiently managing software assets is crucial to maintaining compliance, optimizing costs, and ensuring smooth operations. ServiceNow's Software Asset Management (SAM) Content Service offers a powerful way to streamline and enhance your software asset management processes. Consider opting into this service and learning how it can benefit your organization.
For a deeper understanding of how to Implementation of Software Asset Management Content Services, be sure to watch the “Ask a Ranger: Software Asset Management” video series Implementation of Software Asset Management Content Services
What is the SAM Content Service?
The Software Asset Management Content Service is a shared IT Asset Management (ITAM) service provided by ServiceNow. It is designed to continually improve software recognition and normalization processes. By sharing unnormalized software installation data from your organization with ServiceNow, you contribute to a collective effort to enhance the accuracy of software normalization, which in turn helps you manage your software assets more effectively.
Why Opt-In? The Benefits Explained
- Improved Normalization Accuracy: By participating in the Content Service, you help refine ServiceNow’s normalization algorithms. This leads to more accurate recognition and classification of your software assets, which can significantly improve your normalization hit ratios.
- Regular Content Updates: Once you opt in, your organization benefits from automatic content updates tailored to your unique software footprint. These updates ensure that your asset management data remains current and accurately reflects your software environment.
- Data Security and Anonymity: ServiceNow prioritizes your data security. The data shared is anonymous and protected under strict privacy policies. After review, the data is properly disposed of, ensuring that your information remains confidential.
- Customizable Data Sharing: You have control over what data is shared. If there are specific software discovery models, custom products, or part numbers that you prefer not to share, you can easily exclude them using the Content Service Setup page.
What Data is Shared?
Opting into the SAM Content Service involves sharing various types of software-related data, including:
- Software Discovery Models: Classification and reduction of software installation duplication.
- Software Product Lifecycles: Details on the life cycle of software products.
- Part Numbers and Discovery Maps: Information on custom part numbers and mappings.
- Processor Names: Details about processors identified in configuration items.
- File Signatures: Attributes of software packages based on file characteristics.
- Software Spend Transactions: If Software Spend Detection is installed, transaction details related to software spending are shared.
- Unrecognized Subscription Identifiers: Subscription identifiers not yet associated with ServiceNow content.
- CPE Normalization Rules: Rules for normalizing software based on the Common Platform Enumeration (CPE).
- Product License Exception Rules: Rules for tagging certain product editions as non-licensable.
- Custom Software Products: Information on custom software products added manually.
- Extracted Entitlements from Software Contracts: Details extracted using machine learning to enhance predictions and mappings.
How to Opt-In and Manage Your Preferences
By default, organizations are not opted in to the SAM Content Service. To start benefiting from the service:
- Enable the Content Service: Follow the instructions in ServiceNow’s documentation to opt in to the service.
- Customize Data Sharing: Use the Content Service Setup page to select which types of data you want to share and exclude any specific data types if necessary.
- Manage Exclusions: You can exclude certain software discovery models, custom products, or part numbers from being shared if they don’t align with your data-sharing preferences.
Opting Out
If you choose to opt-out, your organization will no longer contribute to the normalization improvements. While you will still receive content updates, they might not be as tailored to your specific software footprint. You can opt back in at any time if you wish to resume contributing to the normalization process.
Conclusion
ServiceNow’s Software Asset Management Content Service is a valuable tool for organizations looking to enhance their software asset management practices. By opting in, you not only benefit from improved software normalization but also contribute to a collective effort that enhances the overall accuracy and efficiency of software asset management across the industry.
