Microsoft has acknowledged that even the most law-abiding users can find it difficult to keep their software compliant with licensing rules. To that end, the company has introduced a new software asset management (SAM) program that it says will help them.
Called the "Self Start SAM," the program is based around the ISO standard for software asset management that was introduced last year with considerable input from companies in the U.K.
According to Microsoft, the aim of the program is to help firms formalize their SAM processes and control their assets. Companies and organizations can use Microsoft tools to carry out their own software audits and get help from Microsoft partners.
The program is currently being piloted with Microsoft SAM partners and consultants before being rolled out to all customers in January 2007. Most of the services provided by the program will be free.
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