Wisdom Online North America: SaaS, SAM, and Audits
With Wisdom Online North America fast approaching on September 29 – October 1, (register here if you haven’t already!), I wanted to take a look at a few of our awesome end user sessions to give you a taste of what’s in store.
Image by TheDigitalWay from Pixabay
James Moy, Senior Director Global Technology Asset Management, ViacomCBS
ITAM in a post pandemic world
Day 1, September 29th, 09:20 EST
This session covers key topics that are particularly relevant right now including:
- Managing hardware during a pandemic
- More reliance on tools for software deployment
- SaaS management explosion – meaning heavy reliance on SaaS software & how to manage
Top predictions for the future
My top prediction is SaaS tools consolidation. Right now, too many tools are vying for the same spot and in the future, there will probably be 3 or 4 top tools.
Favourite quote
Frodo: ‘It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill Gollum when he had the chance.’
Gandalf: ‘Pity? It’s a pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it, for good or evil, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.’
Frodo: ‘I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.’
Gandalf: ‘So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.
Aamer Trambu, Senior IT Asset Analyst, Rogers Communications
What is a SAM maturity assessment and how do you conduct one?
Day 1, September 29th, 12:35 EST
Attending this session will help you understand how you can elevate your SAM function as you will:
- Learn how a Fortune 200 company reduced the time taken to deploy new software by 40%
- Learn about the tools needed to conduct a SAM Maturity assessment
- Learn how to measure the progress your ITAM program has made over the past few years
And, after all that, Aamer will talk about what is next after your SAM program achieves stability.
Top predictions for the future
- Rise in cloud-based server workloads
- Licensing will be simplified to drive cloud adoption
- Audits will be replaced by periodic, pro-active reporting from customers
- Spend, and focus, on SaaS products will continue to increase
Favourite quote
“So, surely with hardship comes ease.” (Quran 94:5)
Pamela Fulmer, Partner, Tactical Law Group
Being smart when negotiating with software vendors
Day 3, October 1st, 11:30 EST
Pam, and her co-presenter and fellow Tactical Law partner Anne-Marie, will look at how you can use your contractual rights to defend against onerous audit requests, how you can anticipate a vendor’s next audit move, and how to avoid being rushed into decisions.
Top predictions for the future
- Audits will continue – and perhaps become more aggressive
- Private equity firms more likely to litigate – and for longer
- More licensees will bring declaratory judgment actions against litigious software vendors
Favorite recent reads
“A Gentlemen in Moscow” and “Where the Crawdads Sing”
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About Rich Gibbons
A Northerner renowned for his shirts, Rich is a big Hip-Hop head, and loves travel, football in general (specifically MUFC), baseball, Marvel, and reading as many books as possible. Finding ways to combine all of these with ITAM & software licensing is always fun!
Connect with Rich on Twitter or LinkedIn.