Description
You’ve established foundational SAM lifecycle control, but as your estate grows, complexity and scrutiny increase. New software titles are introduced regularly, licensing metrics are harder to interpret, and vendor engagement requires deeper analysis and stronger governance. Audits now demand not just compliance positions, but evidence of controlled decision‑making, defined roles, continual improvement, and management oversight. Without advanced lifecycle and governance processes, SAM maturity stalls, audit risk remains high, and certification against ISO/IEC 19770‑1 stays out of reach.
The ITAM Accelerate SAM Advanced Process Kit builds on the foundations of SAM by delivering advanced lifecycle and governance processes aligned to the full requirements of ISO/IEC 19770‑1. Covering activities such as onboarding and governing new software titles, licence model management, risk assessment, performance measurement, management review, and continual improvement, the kit enables SAM to operate as a controlled management system rather than a reactive function. These processes provide the structure needed for sustainable compliance, defensible audit outcomes, and formal certification readiness, while enabling SAM to support strategic cost control and informed technology decision‑making across the organisation.
What's Inside
01 | GETTING STARTED & STRATEGIC FOUNDATIONS
| Topic |
Page |
| About the Authors |
4 |
| Acknowledgements |
5 |
| What’s New? |
6 |
| Introduction |
8 |
| Introducing ARIS |
9 |
| Make the Process Maps Your Own |
9 |
| ARIS Process Map Glossary |
10 |
| SAM as a Management System |
12 |
| Defining a SAM Strategy & Roadmap |
13 |
| Robotic Process Automation |
25 |
| SAM and the Untapped Path of Business Intelligence |
25 |
| SAM and Data Management |
26 |
| ISO 19770-1 – More Advanced Considerations |
27 |
| The Future of SAM? |
28 |
02 | ADVANCED SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROCESSES
16 advanced Software Asset Management processes covering strategic governance, vendor and contract management, licence compliance, risk management, financial oversight and continuous improvement.
For a full list and description of each process, please see the Process Summaries tab.
03 | PERFORMANCE & REFERENCE
| Topic |
Page |
| Suggested Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) |
148 |
| Conclusion |
154 |
| Glossary & Definitions |
155 |
Process Summaries
The SAM Advanced Process Kit provides 16 structured processes designed to strengthen software asset management through strategic governance, licence compliance, vendor management, risk control and continuous improvement. Each process supports greater operational maturity, financial efficiency and effective management of software assets.
1. Vendor Onboarding
Establishes procedures for integrating approved software vendors, defining service management arrangements and ensuring effective licence tracking, purchasing and optimisation.
2. Software Approval
Ensures new software aligns with organisational technology standards, integrates with existing systems and meets cybersecurity and operational requirements.
3. Invitation to Tender
Provides a structured approach to competitive software procurement, ensuring purchasing decisions support ITAM objectives, governance requirements and organisational strategy.
4. Contract Review
Establishes consistent procedures for reviewing software contracts, subscriptions and maintenance agreements, supporting effective oversight and informed renewal decisions.
5. Software Rationalisation
Reduces unnecessary software titles, versions and editions, simplifying management, improving security and lowering licensing and support costs.
6. Contract Termination
Ensures software contracts are terminated in a controlled manner, identifying potential risks, managing obligations and capturing opportunities for cost savings.
7. Licence Compliance – Audit & Validation
Establishes formal licence compliance assessments, including Effective Licence Positions (ELPs), to validate licensing accuracy, support vendor audits and identify compliance risks.
8. ITAM Competence & Training
Defines the skills, responsibilities and training requirements needed to ensure ITAM teams and relevant stakeholders can fulfil their roles effectively.
9. ITAM Tooling & Requirements Verification
Identifies the functional requirements of ITAM tools and evaluates existing solutions against operational needs, ensuring technology supports the objectives of the SAM management system.
10. ITAM Supplier Management
Evaluates opportunities to engage specialist ITAM partners, identifying capability gaps and developing business cases for external support.
11. ITAM Awareness & Communications
Develops structured communication and awareness activities to ensure stakeholders understand their responsibilities and actively support ITAM objectives.
12. Risk Management
Establishes procedures for identifying, recording, assessing and escalating software asset management risks, ensuring appropriate accountability and oversight.
13. ITAM Quality Assurance (QA)
Provides a framework for regularly reviewing and improving ITAM processes, ensuring effective implementation of the ITAM Plan and supporting continuous improvement.
14. Document Management Plan
Establishes controls for creating, managing, securing and retaining ITAM documentation, ensuring information remains accessible, accurate and appropriately protected.
15. Information Management Plan
Defines procedures for handling sensitive software asset information, supporting information security, data protection and alignment with organisational policies.
16. Financial Management
Provides a structured approach to overseeing software expenditure, categorising vendors and allocating financial resources according to cost, complexity and management priorities.
