What gets compared during the normalization process?

The normalization process in software asset management involves standardizing and aligning various software attributes to ensure consistency and accuracy in software inventory. During this process, multiple elements of the software's data are compared to eliminate duplication and ensure a uniform representation across different datasets.

When it comes to the specific elements involved in normalization, the discovered publisher, discovered product, and discovered version are all critical components.

By comparing the discovered publisher, the normalization process ensures that software from the same publisher is recognized as such, even if there are variations in naming conventions or terminology used across different inventory sources.

Similarly, the discovered product comparison allows for the identification of the same software product that might have been recorded under different names or identifiers. This is essential in tracking software usage and entitlements accurately.

Lastly, the discovered version is compared to capture all variations of a product, allowing for effective management of various releases or updates that may be present in an organization's software inventory.

Therefore, all these factors—publisher, product, and version—need to be examined and standardized during normalization to maintain an accurate and reliable software inventory, making "all of the above" the appropriate response.