Software Asset Management (SAM) Discussion

Microsoft has created and announced the SAM Optimization Model to help organisations assess
their current SAM programs and to set goals for future program improvements. This model is
based on the ISO/IEC 19770-1:2006 standard and is a stepping stone to conformance with that
standard. The details of the program will be presented in more detail at the Microsoft Worldwide
Partner Conference the week of July 7, 2008.

For more information on the SAM Optimization Model, please see Michael Beare’s web cast at the
Microsoft Momentum site:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/ (http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032369765 EventCategory=5 culture=en-US CountryCode=US)
EventID: 1032369765

New research has revealed that nearly two-thirds of IT executives and managers have admitted that they do not have adequate systems in place to ensure software compliance. Over half of the 350 respondents said they had to track software assets manually, which left them way behind on license management and 60 percent admitted to having unlicensed software on the network.

The figures confirm a common perception that managing software assets is a complex and manual task - but in reality solutions do exist which can dramatically reduce the workload associated with getting a grip on software licensing. A new breed of solutions, such as Centennial’s SAM Essentials are designed to complement automated license management tools with effective guidance on how to adopt software management best practices and how to gain buy-in and support from the wider organization.

A new research study has indicated that the vast majority of IT and Business managers now see Software Asset Management (SAM) as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their overall business operations. Eighty percent expressed that software license costs were a major concern to the wider organization and that they were actively looking for ways to manage the cost of acquiring and supporting software licenses.

A separate study from SAM and licensing specialists, EasySAM, has revealed that 76 percent of UK businesses have been contacted by one or more software vendor in the last 12 months to assess their level of licensing compliance.

Working Group 21

LATEST NEWS: 19770-2 Software Asset Management Tag

The third Working Draft of ‘ISO/IEC 19770-2 SAM Tag’ was released by the 19770-2 Other Working Group on 14 April 2008. This is available for public review until 11 May 2008. The full draft, together with the commenting template and instructions, in available for open distribution so long as it is without modification and without commercial charge. A copy is included in the ‘Downloads’ section of this website. A copy is also available from http://www.agnitioadvisors.com/19770-2-WD3/19770-2-WD3.zip

WORKING GROUP 21 INTRODUCTION

Working Group 21 (WG21) is the working group responsible for Software Asset Management at the ISO/IEC level. It is located within Sub-Committee 7 (SC7) of ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1( ISO/IEC JTC1).

David Bicket (of Deloitte, and also a director of Investors in Software - dbicket@deloitte.com.) is the acting convener of WG21. The British Standards Institution (BSI) provides administrative support for WG21. All members of WG21 are appointed by their respective national standards bodies, with Sweden and the United Kingdom having the most representatives. WG21 actively encourages people to take whatever steps are necessary to become formally involved. The precise way that this needs to happen varies by country, because each national standards body establishes its own policies and procedures for such selections. In the future, it is hoped to provide information on this web site about joining instructions for a number of countries so as to facilitate such participation. It is also possible to become a member of WG21 through a Category A Liaison (at the SC7 level, such as the itSMF) or through Category C Liaisons (at the WG21 level), and such Liaison relationships are currently being discussed with several international organizations.

WG21 normally conducts a physical meeting twice per year. One is in May, and is co-located with the plenary session of ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7. All working groups and special working groups have co-located meetings at this time, and the plenary session at the end - where the heads of national delegations each have one vote - decide on the progress or otherwise of various standards proposals. The second physical meeting each year is normally in October. Most of the working groups meet in a common location, but for cost and other reasons they may not all do so.

The ISO/IEC standard number which has been assigned to WG21 for SAM standards is 19770, with the opportunity to have different parts for the standard.