Archive 2009 : SAM Self-Assessment tool launched to drive so...

SAM Self-Assessment tool launched to drive software cost savings

FrontRange Solutions helps organisations check their software management against best practices

July 20th 2009 – Following several recent high profile cases involving UK organisations being caught and fined for using unlicensed software, FrontRange Solutions has launched its online ‘SAM Analyzer’ to help firms self-assess their current approach to software asset management (SAM).  The simple ten question test examines the organisation’s approach to critical software management factors such as having a complete audit, centralised procurement and how applications are deployed.  The test is available at: www.frontrange.com/analyzer.

Matt Fisher, Director of Marketing at FrontRange commented: “While incidents such as the Soho House settlement with the BSA highlight the potential risks of not managing software effectively, there are also significant cost savings to be made from better SAM practices.  For example, our own research shows that most organisations have unused software languishing on the network.  Better visibility of these assets would enable firms to harvest these and reallocate licenses, rather than purchasing new software.”

According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), in 2008 British businesses had to pay £1.6 million in compensation and to ensure compliance.  Furthermore under-licensing can cause security risks as unlicensed software is often not automatically equipped with all security relevant features and updates. 

Speaking on behalf of the Software Industry Research Board (SIRB ), Sam Bramwell from Microsoft added: “While tighter IT budgets might encourage IT professionals to retrench their efforts and postpone new initiatives, SAM is a prime example of a project that is perfectly-suited to recessionary climate.  We would typically expect a SAM project to more than pay for itself within no more than 12 months, delivering a fast and substantial ROI that the organisation can use to fund other critical projects.”

On completion of the self-assessment, the FrontRange SAM Analyzer will highlight areas of both strengths and weaknesses, advising organisations on how and where to making improvements in order to help drive a reduction in both software costs and risk of being caught in a non-compliant state.

To compare your organisation’s current approach to software management against established industry best practices, visit: www.frontrange.com/analyzer.

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About Centennial Software / FrontRange Solutions

Centennial Software was acquired by FrontRange Solutions (www.frontrange.com) in April 2008. FrontRange Solutions develops Service Management, IT Infrastructure and Customer Relationship Management solutions that scale with the needs of mid-sized and distributed enterprises. The company – through its FrontRange, HEAT, GoldMine, Enteo and Centennial brands – offers a unique portfolio that has been chosen by more than 150,000 organizations worldwide to help improve the effectiveness and reduce the cost of interacting with external and internal customers.

Part of the FrontRange Solutions Infrastructure Management Group, Centennial Software develops IT Audit & Network inventory, Software Asset Management (SAM) and Endpoint Security Tools Centennial Discovery, License Manager and DeviceWall enable more than 6,000 organizations worldwide to manage their IT assets, license compliance and network security. Learn how full network audit, complete control of software licenses and effective USB security solutions can help drive cost, risk and complexity out of IT operations.

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