BSA takes Advantage of SAM

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is hoping its new software asset management (SAM) programme will give VARs the skills to drive widespread adoption of the practice.

Pilot programmes of BSA SAM Advantage will begin soon with a full roll out taking place over the course of next year. The BSA claim Advantage is the only worldwide SAM programme built on standards issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

The BSA also claims the programme, which is customisable to cater for differing levels of comprehension, benefits from the support of the world's top software developers. The programme was developed in response to the ISO/IEC 19770-1 SAM standard published two years ago by the ISO. It will be conducted by a mixture of resellers and SAM practitioners.

BSA chief executive Robert Holleyman said: "BSA SAM Advantage is being designed to provide all parties with the knowledge and support they need to adopt world-class practices in software asset management through a flexible, step-by-step process.”

The programme contains four tiers which vary in the level of detail covered. The first tier aims to provide a basic framework for implementing SAM and covers license compliance requirements while the second covers effective management. The third looks at integrating SAM into key operational processes while the fourth tier covers complete systems integration and full compliance with ISO/IEC 19770-1. Advantage is targeted at software users and publishers, as well as IT managers and resellers.

Peter Beruk, the BSA's senior director of compliance marketing, claimed SAM adoption has been hamstrung by a lack of ubiquitous standards. "SAM practitioners have made great strides in recent years. But, until now, there has not been a consistent, authoritative approach that is easy to implement. BSA SAM Advantage fills that need,” he said.

David Bicket, convener of the ISO’s Working Group for the ISO/IEC 19770-1 SAM standard, added: “We recently undertook a worldwide survey which demonstrated that an incremental approach like BSA SAM Advantage is definitely needed. In delivering this, and in providing a clear route towards the standard, I believe BSA SAM Advantage meets real business requirements. The approach proposed by BSA is now being officially trialled as a potential future international standard itself.”