SAM (Software Asset Management) is the process and procedures backed by industry standards to manage software as you would any other valuable company asset to provides economic, security and performance benefits. Poor software management robs companies of the full value of the productivity and efficiency of software. Good software management matches the organization with the needs of the company and individuals. Poor software management can also easily mask software piracy, which is the installation or use of unauthorized copies of software.
Benefits
- Reduce software costs through:
- Matching license purchases with actual utilization.
- Purchase of upgrades only where required.
- Obtain the best software to match business requirements.
- Access to out-of-date and current software for archival or disaster recovery purposes.
- Avoidance of costly litigation, settlements or fines from the use of unlicensed software.
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Risks
- Over paying for software licenses due to:
- Purchasing more than required.
- Paying for support when the underlying product has been uninstalled.
- Upgrading software that is not utilized.
- Security and data vulnerability from the installation of unknown and unauthorized software.
- Costly litigation, settlements and fines from the use of unlicensed software.
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after BSA 2014
Security Threats Rank as Top Reason Not to Use Unlicensed Software
Computer users around the world cite the risk of security threats from malware as the top reason not to use unlicensed software.
Users' specific concerns include intrusions by hackers and loss of data. Yet a striking 43 percent of the software installed on personal computers globally in 2013 was not properly licensed — a finding that underscores the need for enterprises to adopt effective software management practices.
Key Findings:
- Rate: The global rate at which PC software was installed without proper licensing rose from 42 percent in 2011 to 43 percent in 2013 as emerging economies where unlicensed software use is most prevalent continued to account for a growing majority of all PCs in service.
- Value: The commercial value of unlicensed PC software installations totaled $62.7 billion globally in 2013.
- Security Risks: The chief reason computer users around the world cite for not using unlicensed software is avoiding security threats from malware. Among the risks associated with unlicensed software, 64 percent of users cited unauthorized access by hackers as a top concern and 59 percent cited loss of data.
- Software Policy Awareness: There is an awareness gap between workers and IT managers when it comes to software policies in enterprises: workers are less likely to say there is a formal policy in place than IT managers.
Source: The BSA Global Software Survey