The Greatest enemy of an Audit its not ignorance it’s the illusion of compliance

5 Assumptions leading to incompliance and unexpected COSTs

1.    Assuming what software you have and don’t have installed “We only have 5 installations of Visio/project, or we don’t have any installations of SQL in this environment”

2.    Assuming you have the licenses and that it covers the version you have installed “I thought that we had the upgrade/downgrade right, or I thought we had maintenance or Software Assurance”

3.    Assuming the Software Vendors use rights, “I thought it was licensed this way”

4.    Assuming you won’t get an audit “We haven’t had an audit in 5 years”

5.    Assuming responsibility and actions “I thought they uninstalled the SQL Enterprise server”

Assumption is the mother of all F***UPs

Software Asset Management is not a one time job or a stick test. Software Asset Management is something constant changing. Your environment is changing, you are uninstalling, installing or upgrading your software. The Software Vendors are changing the licensing rules and complexity to make sure you are incompliant. You are renewing your contract each or every third year and the vendors are changing contracts and T&C.

Here is how you prevent this from happening:

1.    Implement a SAM-tool, make sure you are being provided with quality data of, hardware, software, user and usage.

2.    Get the right people! with knowledge, hire a sam-manager or an it-asset manager. (Roles and responsibilities)

3.    Implement the processes – Life cycle management. The process and the roles. Make sure to get management buy in!

The success will be measured in the quality of the data, the knowledge and experience of the people and process to support them.