How does SAM relate to IT asset management (ITAM)?

Software Asset Management (SAM) is indeed a subset of IT Asset Management (ITAM) with a particular focus on software assets. The primary objective of SAM is to optimize the purchase, deployment, maintenance, and disposal of software within an organization. This involves managing licenses, ensuring compliance with software licensing agreements, and tracking software usage to prevent over-deployment or under-deployment of software licenses.

By concentrating specifically on software, SAM helps organizations mitigate risks associated with software misuse, such as legal penalties from unlicensed usage or financial loss from over-purchasing licenses. Additionally, effective SAM practices can lead to cost savings by allowing organizations to retire unused software and ensuring that they are only paying for what they actually need. This clear distinction within ITAM greatly enhances an organization’s overall asset management strategy, as software represents a critical component of IT infrastructure.

While ITAM encompasses both hardware and software assets, SAM’s dedicated focus on the software aspect allows for targeted strategies and measures that improve software lifecycle management and compliance.