Why Software Asset Management Is Important

Why software asset management is important is usually answered on cost. That is half the answer, and the smaller half.

The licence side is real. Paying for seats nobody uses, or being under licensed and discovering it during a vendor audit, both cost money. Under licensing is the expensive one, because it arrives as a bill you did not plan for.

The second reason is security. Applications signed up for by a team, paid on a card, holding company or customer data, and unknown to whoever is responsible for security. They are not in the register, not covered by any assessment, and not revoked when someone leaves.

A register that records what is in use, who owns it, what data it holds and when it was last reviewed addresses both problems with one piece of work.

Australian Cyber Security Centre publishes guidance for businesses. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s asset management software and cyber security training course.