SAM Assessment
The initial challenge facing any organisation wanting to implement a SAM process is to establish the current maturity level of SAM processes within the organisation. This would expose the areas of highest risk and generate an understanding of the strategy required to implement a complete SAM solution customised to the organisation's business processes and IT infrastructure.
The following major areas would need to be considered:
- Knowledge of Assets - Addressing the current levels of completeness and accuracy of the asset registers, configuration databases and license compliance. This is typically weak in organisations that have grown through merger or acquisition or have recently undergone a rationalisation programme.
- Policies and Procedures - Determining that these are in place and conform to the various regulatory requirements indentified in the legislation above. The method by which these rules are communicated ant adherence monitored.
- Risk Management - Identification of areas of legal and operational risk and the prioritisation thereof.
- Management Processes and Accountability - Focusing on the effectiveness of the procurement processes and life cycle management process within the organisation.
- Effective Utilisation - Concentrating on the ability of the organisation to measure and monitor whether assets are deployed in areas where they are optimally utilised.
- Total Cost of Ownership and Control - Highlighting the most beneficial licensing structures. Considering whether adequate configuration information is available to ensure satisfactory support and whether sufficient and up to date software is being deployed
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