--- sourceDocument: Zurich IT Asset Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/it-asset-management Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich IT Asset Management ft:clusterId : - itam bundleId : - itam workflow : - Technology --- # Software models and Software entitlements # Software models and Software entitlements {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Software models and Software entitlements Software models and software entitlements in ServiceNow Zurich enable you to effectively manage and track your software purchases and licenses. A software model profiles purchased software by capturing details such as publisher, version, and discovery maps. Software entitlements link these models to the actual license rights you own, allowing for comprehensive license compliance and optimization. Show full answer Show less ## Software models Software models serve as detailed profiles containing publisher information and other software attributes. You can associate multiple software entitlements with a single software model. Deleting a software model automatically removes related downgrade rights records, helping maintain data integrity. Models can be created manually or automatically based on discovered software installations, ensuring your software inventory stays current. ## Software entitlements Software entitlements represent the license terms and rights tied to your software models. They allow you to: * Quickly identify and remediate license overuse by removing unauthorized installations or purchasing additional licenses. * Adjust future license purchases based on actual usage to avoid overspending. For example, if you have 100 licenses but discover 200 installations, the software asset manager can pinpoint unlicensed usage and take corrective actions. ## Importing software entitlements You can import bulk software entitlements using spreadsheets. When importing, specifying a Publisher Part Number (PPN) helps the system match entitlements to existing software models via the Content Service Library. If errors occur, such as a missing PPN, you can manually correct them or create discovery maps to associate with the PPN. Special considerations include: * For Microsoft entitlements with a "Contractual" license duration, start and end dates are required. * The "step-up" license type is exclusive to Microsoft publishers; attempting to assign it elsewhere results in errors. ## Automatic creation and management Software models are automatically generated for newly discovered software installations if no existing model is found. To maintain consistency and leverage official data, you can replace custom PPNs and discovery maps with those from the Software Asset Management Content Service, which propagates updates to entitlements and models. A software model is a profile of the software that you've purchased, including information about the publisher, version, and discovery map. Software entitlements are used to relate the software model to the rights that you've purchased. ## Software models {#software-models-and-entitlements__section_xcy_24q_l3b} Software models are used to record publisher information and create a profile. You can link multiple entitlements to one software model. If you delete a software model, all records related to the software model, in the Downgrade Rights \[samp_sw_downgrade_model and samp_downgrade_model\] tables, are automatically deleted. For detailed information on downgrade rights, see [Downgrade Rights](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/P7fKRzzn4U0PcP3Y~ZmRpA "The concept of downgrading licenses is built into the Software Asset Management plugin feature. Downgrading rights is the process of having acquired the rights to the latest version of software but using the rights to license earlier versions of the same software."). For details on manually creating software models, see [Create a software model in the Software Asset Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/C1xaXbRwur0SwPL24bkxFw "Create a software model in the Software Asset Workspace. Add product details that are used to connect software rights that you purchased with software installations that are discovered on your system."). For details on automatic creation of software models, see [Automatic creation of software models](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/MSnT0dOVigmgWZ5BcO_GiA "Software models are automatically created for software installations if one doesn't already exist."). ## Software entitlements {#software-models-and-entitlements__section_qdq_q4q_l3b} To track the software rights for your software, create a software entitlement that can be linked back to the publisher information. A software entitlement records the terms of your software license. By using software entitlements, you can: * Rapidly address if license allotment has been exceeded and return to compliant status by removing unauthorized software or ordering more licenses. * If the license allotment is not being used completely, lower the number of future licenses purchased. {#software-models-and-entitlements__ul_gwx_j5r_hhb} For example, a company purchases a software entitlement for 100 rights. From the software entitlement, 100 employee or machine allocations are created that are rightfully assigned a license. If Discovery finds the software installed on 200 machines, the software asset manager must identify the employees or machines that have the software installed without a license, and remediate the situation. For details on creating software entitlements, see [Create entitlements in workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/O~JVsyQdaW99Fe~XMND4nA "Create entitlements in the Software Asset Workspace to enter your license details and allocate purchased software rights to users or devices."). ## Import software entitlements {#software-models-and-entitlements__section_lnp_jgg_nhb} You can import bulk software entitlements at one go. If a Publisher Part Number (PPN) is specified for the entitlements that you import, the PPN is matched to the PPN in the Content Service Library and the system finds the existing software model linked to it. Note: If a Publisher Part Number not found error occurs during import of the software entitlement (product, publisher, version, edition, platform, and language) but a discovery map is found, then a [custom publisher part number](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/S8VznmuH_IjirCEqZbGeFw "You can add a custom part number to resolve an entitlement import error that occurs when a part number does not exist in the Software Library.") is created after you manually open the record and fix the import error. If a discovery map is not found, you can create a discovery map to be associated with the publisher part number. If the import spreadsheet contains a conflicting (or missing) PPN, the PPN value is set to the value in the existing product definition, when available. Note: If you import a batch of Microsoft entitlements and the License Duration field is set to Contractual, you must specify both a start and end date. The step-up license type is only available if the publisher is Microsoft. If you try to specify another publisher, an error message is displayed. * **[Automatic creation of software models](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/MSnT0dOVigmgWZ5BcO_GiA)** Software models are automatically created for software installations if one doesn't already exist. * **[Custom publisher part numbers (PPN)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/n_yD5V0Igj3QlsGC7eMxcg)** Propagate changes to entitlements and software models by replacing your custom PPNs and custom discovery maps (DMAPs) with the Software Asset Management Content Service PPNs and DMAPs.