GigaOm Radar for Software Asset Management (SAM)v1.0

1. Executive Summary

Software asset management (SAM) is an enterprise-class solution for managing software assets throughout their lifecycle. Its functionality includes planning for acquisition, requests for licenses, distribution, business visibility, and optimization of enterprise software investments. Software assets under management may be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, from vendor-hosted SaaS environments, or using a hybrid approach.

Functionally, SAM solutions provide lifecycle management, cost visibility, compliance, financial management, risk control, and vendor management for software assets and their corporate software licensing contract provisions. SAM is considered a subset of information technology asset management (ITAM) and yet operates independently, focusing specifically on the nuances of software assets to minimize costs and optimize license distribution.

SAM provides discovery and an inventory of all software that is deployed, its usage, preparation for compliance audits, and risk mitigation. A key function of SAM is optimization, as it identifies licenses that users request but may not utilize, representing dormant yet costly assets. Often, those resources can be allocated to another user with greater need. SAM solutions that can track actual activity and reallocate software licenses provide immediate cost avoidance and reduction in budgetary requirements today and during future budget cycles.

Like ITAM, SAM is closely aligned with FinOps, as software is one of the largest IT expenses and an area where significant cost savings can be realized. As such, vendor management, integration with ERP solutions, and the ability to model and project future costs while avoiding fines due to noncompliance make SAM an area of high IT investment and one that gets the attention of executive leadership.

SAM is also aligned with information technology service management (ITSM), especially for organizations that have adopted the latest version of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL4) and its IT asset management (IAM) discipline. Services are supported by all types of assets, and service mapping leverages software assets to illustrate how assets are connected to deliver services to the end user. Visual status can then be used by ITSM technicians to monitor and troubleshoot service degradation and the effect of software on performance.

This is our first year evaluating the SAM space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports.

This GigaOm Radar report examines fourteen of the top SAM solutions and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading SAM offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.