IBSMA launched to aid in SAM best practices
Organisation set up to drive software asset management take-up
An organisation that aims to drive the development and adoption of software asset management (SAM) best practice has been launched.
Started by independent software publisher and conference producer ECPweb.com, the International Business Software Managers Assoc-iation (IBSMA) can list the likes of Centennial Software, Hewlett-Packard, McAfee and Microsoft, among others, as founding members.
The IBSMA’s agenda includes establishing set standards for software audits; developing a comprehensive book of SAM best practices and processes; creating a forum; and reducing the cost of compliance and the cost of procuring and managing business software.
Matt Fisher, vice-president of Centennial Software, told CRN: “The IBSMA is aimed at software asset managers or IT directors and network managers. Basically we’re trying to recruit, as association members, the people that have responsibility for making sure the correct software is being used in the most cost effective and efficient way.
“We have got around 1,000 members worldwide to date, but IBSMA has estimated that there are 10,000 dedicated software asset managers worldwide.”
However, Investors in Software (IiS), an independent body set up in 2004 to push the benefits of SAM (CRN, 7 November), felt that IBSMA was offering what it had been doing for some time.
“IiS is a not-for profit organisation, unlike the IBSMA, and we have already managed to single-handedly create a global ISO standard in SAM which is due to be ratified in May,” said Shaun Fröhlich, chairman of VAR Teksys and co-founder of IiS.
“I’m sure the IBSMA will deliver some benefit – it is not just there to make a buck. However, if resellers want to gain the leading information about SAM then they can get it from us at no cost,” he added.