How SAM Managed Services Help You Stay Ahead of Software License Changes  

Are you new to Software Asset Management (SAM), or does your team have limited in-house expertise? 

Whether you’re just beginning your SAM journey or seeking to fine-tune and continuously optimize your software spending, SAM Managed Services offers tailored solutions to meet your needs, helping you to say ahead of any publisher license changes. Managed services are designed to support organizations at every stage, with flexible options ranging from Basic to Standard to Enhanced levels of service. 

With SAM Managed Services, you can effectively manage and control your entire software ecosystem — including on-premises software, Software as a Service (SaaS), and cloud-based assets. No matter your organization’s size or complexity, Anglepoint’s comprehensive service offering ensures compliance, maximizes value, and reduces unnecessary costs. 

SAM Managed Services encompass external expert-delivered services and support for collaborating with your internal teams to achieve SAM goals. 

What are SAM Managed Services? 

A SAM Managed Service covers a multitude of activities, proactively focusing on software license changes as well as contractual terms and conditions, in the ever-changing software publisher landscape. These services enable organizations to work within budget, limit spending, optimize contracts, manage software license compliance positions, and understand consumption and usage trends.  

Ultimately, it allows internal software teams and other key stakeholders to work with experts to achieve the highest level of software asset management maturity.  

Why are SAM Managed Services Important? 

Understanding your software position at any point in time is critical for maintaining control over your IT environment and staying ahead of compliance risks. A robust SAM Managed Service helps you establish a continuous software license compliance framework, ensuring you meet both internal governance policies and external contractual obligations to software publishers. 

With the rapid evolution of software licensing models — including subscription-based SaaS, bring-your-own-license (BYOL) in cloud environments, and hybrid licensing agreements — organizations face an increasingly complex landscape. License entitlement management and Effective License Position (ELP) assessments become essential tools for tracking usage, identifying gaps, and optimizing software investments. 

Moreover, software publishers frequently modify licensing terms and metrics, introduce new audit processes, and adjust product offerings. These publisher-driven changes can be subtle yet impactful, making it challenging to stay compliant and cost-efficient without a dedicated SAM strategy. Even minor shifts in licensing structures or usage metrics can accumulate quickly, resulting in unexpected costs or audit penalties if not proactively managed. 

A comprehensive SAM Managed Service complements the skills – and enhances the capabilities – of internal SAM teams by providing the expertise and tools to navigate these complexities.  

Key service elements may include: 

• Proactive Compliance Monitoring: Regular reviews and updates to ensure your IT estate aligns with evolving licensing models and contractual terms. 

• Spend Optimization: Identifying opportunities to reduce costs through software license re-harvesting, contract renegotiations, and best-practice vendor management. 

• Governance Alignment: Ensuring your software asset management practices align with broader IT governance and risk management frameworks deployed within your organization. 

• Audit Readiness: Maintaining an accurate, real-time view of your software assets to respond swiftly to vendor audits and minimize disruptions. 

• Green IT Transformation: Minimizing and reporting on your environmental footprint to achieve cost savings, boost your reputation, comply with regulatory requirements, and drive innovation.  

• ITAM Program Transformation: Providing advisory management consulting services to help you develop and enhance your IT Asset Management (ITAM) strategy, operating models, processes, and change management initiatives.
  

• ITAM Program Operations : Operational services that handle business-as-usual (BAU) ITAM tasks for you.  

• Data Intelligence: Aggregating comprehensive, data-driven insights from inventory and publisher information to resolve common data transformation challenges faced by your organization,
  

• ITAM Technology Deployment and management: Helping you extract value from your tools, such as Flexera and ServiceNow, by integrating multiple layers to ensure successful outcomes.  

By leveraging a trusted SAM Managed Service, your organization can confidently manage software assets, reduce financial risks, and maximize the value of your IT investments in an ever-changing digital landscape.