Microsoft SCCM software usage

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Microsoft SCCM software usage

    ServiceNow customers can integrate Microsoft SCCM software usage data into Software Asset Management by activating the Microsoft SCCM software usage plugin. This integration imports software usage data from SCCM into ServiceNow, enabling better tracking and management of software usage within the environment.

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    Two plugins support this integration: one for SCCM 2012 v2 and another for SCCM 2016 (compatible with SCCM versions 1606, 1906, 1910, and 2002). However, both plugins will be deprecated in the Tokyo release. New users should instead install the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM from the ServiceNow Store. Existing users can use the Migration Readiness Tool to transition to this connector.

    Key Features

    • Monthly scheduled import of SCCM software usage data into ServiceNow, with an option to run imports on demand.
    • Two types of usage data can be imported:
      • Last used data: shows the last time software was used during the previous month.
      • Total usage data: provides detailed usage down to the second for the previous month, which may involve large data volumes.
    • Usage data is mapped to the Software Usage table and tracked monthly for assessment and reclamation purposes.
    • Only products associated with a reclamation rule and matching the scheduled import type will have their usage data imported.
    • User data from SCCM can also be imported, provided the usernames match the sysuser records in ServiceNow.
    • Duplicate usage records for the same configuration item (CI), user, product, and publisher within the same month are prevented.
    • The integration installs various components upon plugin activation to support data import and processing.

    Practical Application

    To import SCCM software usage data, customers need to create reclamation rules targeting the products for which usage data is required. The reclamation rule’s type must align with the scheduled import to ensure data is pulled correctly.

    Usage data is imported via scheduled jobs that execute SQL queries dynamically; direct execution of the SCCM data source is not possible. For manual imports, the scheduled import job’s conditional setting can be adjusted, but data will reflect usage from the prior month only.

    Customers can leverage the import sets feature to bring in usage information if needed.

    Next Steps

    • Activate the appropriate Microsoft SCCM plugin or install the Service Graph connector if starting fresh.
    • Create reclamation rules for software products to specify which usage data to import.
    • Monitor the scheduled imports to ensure data is being updated monthly.
    • Use the Migration Readiness Tool if migrating from the SCCM plugin to the Service Graph connector.

    Activate the Microsoft SCCM software usage plugin to integrate your software usage data with the ServiceNow AI Platform.

    One of the following Microsoft SCCM Software Usage plugins must be installed to import software usage data from Microsoft SCCM to Software Asset Management.
    • Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 Software Usage (com.snc.samp_usage_sccm) plugin
    • Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2016 Software Usage (com.snc.samp.usage_sccm_2016) plugin

    The Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2016 plugin is compatible with SCCM version 1606, 1906, 1910, and 2002.

    Important:
    Both Microsoft SCCM plugins will be deprecated in the Tokyo release. If you are integrating with SCCM for the first time, request and install the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM application from theServiceNow Store instead. If you have already activated one of the Microsoft SCCM plugins on your ServiceNow instance, use the Migration Readiness Tool for Service Graph Connector for SCCM store application to prepare your instance for migration from the Microsoft SCCM plugin to the Service Graph connector. See Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM for more information on the Service Graph connector.

    The SCCM integration plugin installs several components.

    After the SCCM usage plugin is activated and configured, a scheduled import runs monthly to bring SCCM software usage data into your instance. The usage data is then mapped to Software Usage table. During the scheduled job, a SQL query is executed.

    The scheduled import runs once a month, but you can run the import on demand by clearing the Conditional option on the Scheduled Data Import form. However, the data is always pulled from the previous month, so there won't be a change in the data until the following scheduled import.

    Note:
    The SCCM software usage data source can't be executed directly because the SQL statement doesn't actually pull in the data, so the records aren't retrieved. A valid SQL statement on the data source is updated dynamically though a scheduled import. So, if you need to pull the data into your ServiceNow instance, use the scheduled import.

    There are two types of data (total usage and last used) that you can extract from SCCM and import into your instance. Last used data will only show the last time the software was used during the previous month.

    Total usage data will show down to the second when the software was used in the previous month, which can be a large amount of data imported into your instance. A usage record tracks the sum of usage on a monthly basis so that you can assess the software usage in your environment.

    Depending on what you've specified in the reclamation rule for the product, one of the following scheduled imports will run to pull in the data.
    • SAMP Usage Import
    • SAMP Usage 2016 Import
    • SCCM 2012 v2 Software Last Used
    • SCCM 2016 Software Last Used
    Note:
    Only usage data for products associated with a reclamation rule is imported. The Reclamation type field on the Reclamation Rule form must match the scheduled import that you are running, otherwise the data is not pulled into your instance. For more information, see Create a reclamation rule to import Microsoft SCCM usage data.

    You can also pull in user data from SCCM. User data is compared to the user_name field of the sys_user record. If the names don't match, the user data isn't imported.

    Note:
    Configuration item (CI), user, product, and publisher values are used to identify a matching software installation.

    Duplicate usage information cannot be created for the same CI, user, product, or publisher values in the same month and year.

    You can also import usage information using ServiceNow import sets feature.