Software Asset Management with SAM Live!
Optimize software licenses and minimize risks with Managed Services
(firmenpresse) - IT-professionals must not underestimate License Management: It is complex and extensive, and in case of under licensing there are heavy penalties. The wind power provider SOWITEC trusts the managed service SAM Live!, being provided by Asset Consult GmbH.
With the increasing number of software licenses, the requirements on license management increase as well. Companies with multiple branches and subsidiaries in particular, must not underestimate Software Asset Management (SAM). The SOWITEC Group, one of the leading wind power developers worldwide, also had this experience. The SOWITEC Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries and is divided into several business units, which together cover all areas of wind power development: planning, designing, construction supervision, sales and financing, and the technical and commercial management of wind parks, including the marketing of CO2 certificates and electricity contracts. The central IT team oversees more than 250 users across all subsidiaries and have to keep track of all licenses. The challenge of SAM was clear to those responsible when Microsoft asked for a licensing assessment at one of its subsidiaries: "There were no complaints and we were able to successfully complete the assessment, but the time needed was substantial," recalls Daniel Köck, Director of IT-Services at SOWITEC Group.
License management costs and risks
In the event of an audit at short notice documents and reports that date back a long time need to be searched for from archives – if no dedicated SAM is in place. The correct completion and preparation of the extensive and complicated audit documents takes indefinable amount of time as well. In the case of audits all this adds pressure to resources and costs, which were originally not planned for at all and cannot be forecasted. Therefore, if the compliance check is carried out during times in which all employees are already fully involved and invested in projects, considerable overload occurs. Another issue SOWITEC’s IT team became aware of was the high risks involved. It is almost impossible to keep track of existing and used licenses, and to organize their optimal usage across all offices without adequate licensing.
Over-licensing is unprofitable: unused purchased licenses are unnecessary expenses.
Under-licensing is even more dangerous: if more than existing licenses are used heavy penalties are the result, that is, "unexpected and significant costs in case of an audit for the company and, in the worst case, even bankruptcy", Köck reckons.
As a result, the IT department of SOWITEC decided to implement a sustainable SAM and license management solution. Before they started looking for an external solution provider, all licenses had been inventoried internally. The suitable partner was found in Asset Consult GmbH, based in Germany. Asset Consult, with Microsoft Gold competency in SAM, have impressed with many years of expertise whilst offering a comprehensive range of services. Since 2013 Asset Consult GmbH have supported SOWITEC in the management of Microsoft licenses and since 2015 SOWITEC has also been using the SAM Live! managed service platform. Among other things, SAM Live! automatically captures ongoing changes of the Microsoft licensing use rights and matches those with the rights already purchased.
Annual SAM certifications provide security and reduce costs
SOWITEC does its licensing certification voluntarily. This certification takes place regularly once a year at a fixed date. The necessary supporting documents are checked in an optimized process and the optimal license needs are calculated. After verification and cleanup, all documents are sent to Microsoft. Through the proper maintenance and management of the software titles in the context of the IT infrastructure, the acceptance of the license by Microsoft is very straightforward and successful. SOWITEC''s IT Department is very satisfied with the SAM Live! solution: "The certification processes run smoothly, thanks to the planned project organization, we save time and are certain in the use of our licenses," says Daniel Köck.
This is even more important due to the probability of a license check by Microsoft has risen in recent years. Microsoft is pursuing license violations a lot more than before, as Köck knows.
The process itself is even more demanding and the implementation more time-consuming compared to before, too. "The continuous care and the annual audits with SAM Live! cause much less effort than possible unscheduled tests. This allows us to optimize our licensing utilization on an ongoing basis ", Köck summarizes. Consequently, SOWITEC can foresee an expansion in the partnership with SAM Live! regarding the management of third-party licenses and other managed services.
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Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
SAM Live! GmbH
Landsbergerstr.404
81241 Munich
Tel:. +49 89 411118 111
eMail: backoffice(at)sam-live.com
SAM Live! GmbH
Landsbergerstr.404
81241 Munich
Tel:. +49 89 411118 111
eMail: backoffice(at)sam-live.com
Datum: 09.02.2017 - 04:06 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 1485497
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Typ of Press Release: Erfolgsprojekt
type of sending: Veröffentlichung
Date of sending: 09.02.2017
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