Most companies today manage their technology inventory by logging and tracking assets manually, a process that is both cumbersome and error-prone. In fact, more than 65 percent of companies have immature IT asset management strategies in place, according to Meta Group. Companies who don’t use automated tools to manage hardware and software inventory are likely to face significant challenges. For a variety of reasons, they will struggle to effectively monitor the various components within their [...]

As technology budgets continue to remain stagnant (IDC expects only a 2.6 percent increase in spending this year), companies need to find – and eliminate – the hidden software costs that can drain IT funds. What are some of the best ways to reduce hidden software costs? Eliminate Extra Licenses Gartner believes that US businesses overbuy licenses for 60 percent of their software portfolio. This creates hidden software costs in the form of excess vendor [...]

Unauthorized software utilization is at an all time high. In fact, in the Sixth Annual BSA-IDC Global Software Piracy Study, released last month, it is estimated that more than one-fifth of all software currently running on PCs has been installed illegally. These findings are likely to prompt software vendors to be more proactive – and as a result, companies of all sizes will be at an increased risk of a potential software audit. The laws [...]

The potential costs associated with IT asset theft are astonishing. For example, a 2007 report published by DataMonitor claims that the average laptop holds commercially sensitive content and intellectual property valued at approximately $972,000. Therefore, companies need to take aggressive measures to secure their technology components and proactively prevent incidents asset theft. Many experts believe that the key to securing laptops, PCs, handheld devices, and other assets is through the implementation and use of automated [...]

When it comes to virtualization, there are many things to consider before executing your plan. Sure, there are many advantages – among them reduced costs, improved flexibility and scalability, optimized performance, and minimized administrative burden – and you want to begin reaping those benefits as quickly as possible. But, without proper attention to software licensing and compliance considerations, your new virtualization strategy could actually put your company at risk. Virtualization makes it possible to run [...]

In a recent King Research survey, approximately two-thirds of the more than 340 IT professionals from mid-market companies polled claimed they were not properly addressing license compliance, with unlicensed software existing somewhere within their organization. An even higher number – more than 70 percent – state that they are unprepared for a vendor audit and the potential fines that could result from lack of license compliance. These results demonstrate the enormous risk that IT departments [...]

When it comes to software asset management, there are many aspects to be considered. But perhaps the most critical is the tracking of software inventory. In fact, Gartner believes that ensuring that inventory records are accurate, up to date, and consistent with those of the various software vendors a company works with, is an essential part of the asset management process. But what makes software inventory management so important? Some of the key factors that [...]

Software Asset Management systems combine processes and technologies to improve the way applications are utilized, tracked, and managed throughout their lifecycle. Some of the advantages that can be achieved through software asset management include enhanced software performance and utilization, accelerated return on investment, increased productivity and ensuring license compliance. But, software asset management isn’t just a solution, it’s a strategy. While a software asset management application will deliver significant benefits, there are many steps companies [...]

Achieving and maintaining software license compliance is a challenging task in today’s ever evolving business environment, yet organizations must be in a position to control the business risks associated with failing to comply with license terms and risks derived from using unauthorized software. As new computers are deployed and software gets installed, auditing changes to your assets and comparing these changes against your software license repository can be complex and cumbersome considering the variety of [...]

Quantifying the Value of Software Asset Management Today we are releasing a new white paper to help organizations quantify the value of Software Asset Management (“SAM”) solutions. The paper discuss the benefits of Software Asset Management and follows a structured process to help calculate the potential return on investment and build the business case to support a SAM investment. “Software Asset Management (“SAM”) systems combine processes and technologies to improve the way software applications are [...]