Ohjelmistonhallinta

Ohjelmistonhallinta, known in English as Software Asset Management (SAM), is a business practice that involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization. The primary goal of SAM is to ensure that software is used legally and effectively, reducing costs and mitigating risks associated with software licensing and compliance.

Effective software asset management involves establishing processes and policies for acquiring software, tracking its installation and usage across all devices, and ensuring that the organization holds the correct licenses for all software in use. This includes understanding the terms and conditions of software licenses, which can be complex and vary significantly between vendors and products. SAM professionals work to identify underutilized or redundant software, which can then be retired or reallocated to reduce unnecessary expenses.

Key activities within software asset management include license reconciliation, where the number of installed software instances is compared against purchased licenses to identify compliance gaps. This also involves managing software renewals and ensuring that the organization is not paying for software it no longer needs. Furthermore, SAM plays a crucial role in security by identifying unauthorized software or outdated versions that could pose security risks. By implementing robust software asset management practices, organizations can achieve significant cost savings, improve operational efficiency, and maintain a strong compliance posture.