Importance of being earnest about SAM
BSA talks up software asset management
It is more critical than ever that companies implement software asset management (SAM) processes and infrastructures to avoid copyright infringements, according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The organisation made the comment after recently agreeing to an out-of-court settlement with London-based London Bridge Software, a developer of debt recovery software, after it was found to be using unlicensed software, including Macromedia products.
As well as managing risks, the BSA claimed SAM allows for cost savings as it prevents over-licensing and reduces IT administration, and puts companies in a stronger position when negotiating with software manufacturers.
Last year the BSA said it made on average one settlement per week for illegal software use. This is backed up by a recent study from YouGov, which claimed that despite the legal risks, 17 per cent of SMEs would consider buying illegal software.
"SAM is about knowing what software is being used within your organisation, as well as being able to account for it. Complying with software licensing laws is the most important reason for businesses to understand employee software use," said Siobhan Carroll, regional manager at BSA Europe.
Carroll also said SAM enables companies to minimise the risks associated with viruses, and said that counterfeit, corrupt or substandard software is often susceptible to infection and is more likely to cause system downtime.
Ross Miller, managing director of VAR Trustmarque Solutions, said SAM is one of the primary concerns for his customers.
"SAM is crucial for all companies. If you're not compliant then you're stealing," he said.
Miller added that SMEs are often the biggest offenders. "SMEs are often the worst offenders because they don't think they will get caught," he said.