SAM tool implementation
Company-wide implementation of a SAM tool at a trading company operating internationally
Abstract
The introduction of the SAM tool allows the company to efficiently create compliance reporting and improve the license management department’s ability to obtain and provide information.
Initial situation and problem definition
International trading company: > 40,000 employees and approx. 25,000 devices (server and client)
No transparency over commercial stocks of software
Existing central license management, but historically decentralized IT responsibilities and procurement units
Significant manual effort required for compliance reporting (Excel-based)
Objectives, project scope and benefits
Creation of a central repository and transparency of license inventories
Efficient creation of compliance reports
Commercial scope: five largest software vendors
Technical scope: highest possible coverage rate of automated systems and software inventories
Procedure
Creation of concept incl. scope, definition of organizational structure and responsibilities, detailed concept for the connection of data sources, authorization concept
Collecting, processing, and importing commercial data
Configuring, testing and distributing the inventory agents
Conducting plausibility checks through the connection of additional technical sources
Functional tool configuration (license assignments, up-/ downgrade rights, etc.)
Preparation of initial license report for defined software manufacturers
Results achieved and outlook
Software contracts stored centrally
Initial license report created for all software products in scope
Introduction of company-wide SAM tool with automated inventory solution completed
Adaptation of existing processes carried out
Outlook: Expansion of License Management to further products and vendors