SAMexpert Microsoft Licensing Experts

What is Software Assurance? Mistakes to avoid

Microsoft Software Assurance is often seen as an upgrade right only. However, it is a dangerous misconception. Let your SA lapse, and you may need to change the way you do your entire IT.

Alexander Golev

Are SAM tool ratings any good?

Speaking of choosing a SAM/ITAM tool again, do you find Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for SAM tools, or its equivalent from ITAM Review, useful in making a purchasing decision? I have been thinking about it recently, and my feelings here are a bit mixed.

Alexander Golev

Stop blaming the SAM tool. Do not repeat these six mistakes

The reason your SAM tool is not working for you is not because “there is no silver bullet”. It’s because you either didn’t do your homework at all, or you knew that there is no silver bullet, and still didn’t do your homework.

Alexander Golev

SaaS challenges: Discovery

As an old saying goes, you cannot manage what you cannot measure. So how can we discover all of the SaaS applications used by an organisation? Regardless of what all the tool vendors advertise, the answer is not that simple.

Alexander Golev

Where is SAM in 2020?

We may have reached the point where SAM, as we know it, is irrelevant. Is it dead as many hoped about ten years ago? Definitely not. But if we continue holding on to the compliance-first, licence-centric, audit-defence-only approach, we may soon become extinct.

Alexander Golev

Software Asset Management and geopolitical risks

The risks caused by geopolitics including loss of data, investment etc. are rather real even if you are a loyal customer.

Timur Sabaev

You have just bought Windows 10 E3 for your company. But have you?

A story of how I almost ruined a perfect family weekend. And a little bit about licensing Windows 10 E3.

Alexander Golev

Practical recommendations on software licensing

A pleasant trend for most CIOs is the increased attention of non-technical managers to the reliability of IT infrastructure, as well as to the management of risks associated with the use of IT. CFOs go further – they now require more transparent IT budgets, clearer ROI.

Alexander Golev