ISAM's SAM Advisory service is a comprehensive managed service designed to provide expert guidance and support for all aspects of an organization's software licensing needs. The service includes software license optimization, compliance monitoring, contract review, benchmarking, and cost reduction.  

The process begins with a thorough assessment of the organization's software license environment to identify the software applications and licenses in use and purchased. The experts then help create customized software asset management plans tailored to the organization's specific needs and goals. Additionally, ISAM provides strategic input into procurements, product alternatives, and market assessments.

The Process

Compliance management involves monitoring and managing software usage to ensure that an organization is complying with the terms of their software licensing agreements. It is essential for all infrastructure environments, including desktops, virtualized servers, standalone servers, mainframes, private and public cloud. The rise of remote work and the use of personal devices for work has made compliance management even more crucial. Compliance management helps organizations mitigate audit risks and reduce financial exposure by identifying potential compliance gaps and providing proactive guidance for audit readiness.

STAY AHEAD OF SOFTWARE AUDIT

ISAM's compliance management services provide license review, license reconciliation, audit readiness, and preparation for audit defense. We take a comprehensive approach to compliance management, including a deep dive into your software licensing environment to identify compliance gaps and provide recommendations for mitigating audit risks.  

Our expert’s knowledge and experience enable us to provide proactive guidance and support to our customers, ensuring that you can navigate the complex and confusing world of software licensing with confidence.  

COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

In the compliance process, there is an initial review to determine any compliance risk and defense issues. Then ISAM implements remediation steps to resolve the issue. Based on the initial software review and subsequent remediation steps, the consultant will develop a plan and implement, an audit readiness team.

Collect Entitlement and Deployment Data

Build Effective License Positions (ELPs)

Gap analysis and Reconciliation

Reporting and Recommendations

THE RESULTS:

Compliance Findings Reduced up to 90%

THE BENEFITS

AUDIT RISK MITIGATION

90% audit risk mitigation on average.

RISK MINIMIZATION

Minimized risk through experienced consultants who work regularly with software vendors and independent third parties.

EXPERT GUIDANCE & SUPPORT

Expert guidance and support to help you navigate the complex and confusing world of software licensing with confidence.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Adhere to all software license agreements to stay within legal compliance.

REPUTATION ENHANCEMENT

Enhance reputation by demonstrating a commitment to good business practices which can positively impact customers, partners, and investors.

COST SAVINGS

Save money by avoiding penalties and fines associated with non-compliance.

ACHIEVE COST SAVINGS & OPTIMIZE SOFTWARE USAGE

Benchmarking refers to the process of evaluating and comparing an organization’s SAM practices against industry best practices or established standards. Benchmarking is not about copying what others are doing; it is about understanding what works and adapting it to a company’s own unique needs. The benchmarking process can provide valuable insights into areas where an organization can improve its cost optimization.

BENCHMARKING PROCESS 

ISAM has created an industry-recognized benchmark utilizing its proprietary Greenbook.  ISAM’s team of industry-leading experts will compare your software licensing costs and expenses to that of other organizations of a similar size and scope. Further, ISAM will provide recommendations for how to improve costs through contract events such as true-ups, renewals, and new contracts.

BENCHMARKING STEPS

Data collection and Normalization

Benchmarking Analysis

ISAM Managed Service – SAM Advisory

Provide Recommendations

THE RESULT

An average of 95% Software Recognition

THE BENEFITS

VALUABLE INSIGHTS

Gain valuable insights into your SAM practices.

NEGOTIATING STRENGTH

Strengthen your negotiating position with vendors.

COST IMPROVEMENT IDENTIFICATION

Identify areas for cost improvement.

FAVORABLE TERMS

Achieve more favorable contract terms.

LICENSE EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT

Enhance overall business efficiency and effectiveness

In today’s business landscape, companies are facing increasing budget pressures, and software applications have become more complex and feature-rich. These factors make effective license optimization more critical than ever before. Without proper licensing optimization, organizations risk moving from compliance to non-compliance. They may also fall from optimized to inefficient due to the disconnect between SAM and Procurement. These risks can lead to costly penalties, wasted budgets, and lost productivity, ultimately harming the organization’s bottom line.

THE RESILIENCE OF THE MAINFRAME

As Mark Twain once said, “the report of my death was an exaggeration.” This is the same with mainframes for an enterprise. As far back as the early 1990s, consultants, advisors, and executives have noted that the mainframe is an outdated computer infrastructure that is both expensive and inflexible. While those descriptions may be appropriate, they miss the finer point that there is a significant percentage of commerce-based workloads that have their home on the mainframe. Applications from Federal and State governments to banks, credit processors, and insurance companies continue to survive and even thrive on the mainframe.

SAM Maturity is the level of maturity that an organization has reached in terms of its Software Asset Management practices and processes. Our service benchmarks an organization’s SAM program against industry best practices and frameworks, with the ultimate goal of maximizing its efficiency and effectiveness. By using a proven maturity model, our experts assess your organization’s people, processes, and technology, providing tailored recommendations and ongoing support to help you succeed on your SAM journey.

Our goal is to help the SAM program drive strategic business impact by providing valuable insights into costs, security status, and compliance. With our expert guidance, organizations can ensure firm executive commitment and necessary knowledge and interactions to succeed.

THE PROCESS OF BOOSTING ROI WITH SAM MATURITY

• Data collection

• Assessment

• Gap Analysis

• Recommendations

• Management System

THE BENEFITS

COST REDUCTION

Average cost savings of 20%

VALUE DEMONSTRATION

Long-term pricing considerations for reduced costs.

BUSINESS IMPACT

Best practice contract terms.

TANGIBLE RESULTS

Reduced time to complete the audit by 25%.

WHY DO VENDORS AUDIT YOUR LICENSES?

Software vendors have the right to review and audit the use of your software licenses to ensure that their licensing terms are being followed and to protect their intellectual property. Vendors conduct audits to check that the software is being used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement, such as the number of users, locations, or devices covered by the license. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, legal action, and reputation damage. ISAM’s audit defense services provide expert support to help organizations navigate the audit process and ensure a successful outcome.

NAVIGATING VENDOR AUDITS

Software audits can be a stressful and resource-intensive process, and non-compliance with licensing agreements can have severe consequences. ISAM’s audit defense services provide expert support to help organizations navigate audits, protect their reputation, and avoid penalties and costly fines. Our experience with major software vendors and third-party auditors ensures a successful outcome for our clients, giving them confidence and peace of mind during the audit process. With ISAM’s support, organizations can effectively respond and defend against vendor audits, minimizing negative outcomes.

THE PROCESS

• We challenge the audit process and scope

• ELP Production

• Contract review and gap analysis

• Report findings and recommendations

• Prepare settlement negotiation

• ISAM managed services

THE BENEFITS

FASTER AUDIT, BETTER CLAUSES

DELIVERED A 90% AVERAGE REDUCTION IN FINDINGS DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS.

REDUCED TIME TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT BY 25%.

ACHIEVED MORE FAVORABLE AUDIT CLAUSES IN SUBSEQUENT VENDOR CONTRACTS, PROVIDING LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

Comprehensive support to negotiate

Contract Negotiation Support refers to the assistance provided by SAM professionals during the negotiation of software license agreements with vendors. The goal is to help organizations obtain the best possible value for their software investments, while also ensuring compliance with licensing agreements and minimizing the risk of financial and legal penalties.

WHEN THERE IS TRUST, SOLUTION COMES EASILY

ISAM's Contract Negotiation Support helps organizations optimize software investments and reduce the risk of compliance issues or disputes. With GreenBook^SM database and consultant experience, the service includes current contract benchmarking, license position review, proposal and document review, and best practice recommendations. As the most important event in software licensing, the service ensures the following: 

• Best practices are followed 
• Software stack is optimized 
• Contract costs are well negotiated.

BENEFITS

COST SAVINGS

Average cost savings of 20%

OPTIMAL CONTRACT TERMS

Best practice contract terms

LONG-TERM REDUCED PRICING

Long-term pricing considerations for reduced costs

AUDIT REDUCTIONS

Reductions in software vendor audits or reviews

ISAM offers a managed service called ISAMaaS for software cost management, optimization, and reduction which is a combination of services under a single banner and contract. It includes ongoing services that can be contracted for specific vendors, leveraging our GreenBook^SM database and consulting expertise to provide a regular resource for negotiations and license management. The service manages contracts throughout their lifecycle, measures and manages compliance, prepares for negotiations and audits, and offers a bank of hours and expert services. Each engagement is unique and includes regular ELPs conducted twice per year for each contracted vendor.

Two Levels of Service Depending on Your Needs

Level One 

• SAM Advisory: Effective License Positions and consulting  
• Compliance Management: Guidance for audit readiness  
• Audit Defense: Defense of a notified audit  
• Benchmark: Regular and ongoing benchmarking   

Level Two: Advanced Service (includes level one)  

• Contract Negotiation Support for named vendors  
• License Optimization throughout contract lifecycle  
• SAM Maturity: Baseline and regular ongoing assessments   
• Mainframe: Benchmark, compliance and analysis