What’s the difference between ITAM, SAM and HAM?
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This week, What’s the difference between ITAM, SAM and HAM?
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What’s the difference between ITAM, SAM and HAM? Transcript
Abbreviated transcript:
This week, three acronyms. ITAM, SAM and HAM. What do they mean? How do they all hang together?
Both HAM and SAM are disciplines of IT Asset Management. SAM and ITAM are used interchangeably. But basically, SAM is management of software throughout its lifecycle and HAM is management of hardware throughout its lifecycle.
Within ITAM, HAM is overlapping with SAM. You typically can’t do SAM properly unless you’re also doing HAM. For example, the software publishers, Oracle, and IBM amongst many other publishers, sometimes charge for their software, not based on the number of users you have, or the number of devices but the power of those devices. So the amount of oomph that server might have. So it stands to reason that in order to manage IBM and Oracle in those instances, you also have to be able to track the hardware properly. So this is how ITAM, SAM and HAM hang together.
About Martin Thompson
Martin is also the founder of ITAM Forum, a not-for-profit trade body for the ITAM industry created to raise the profile of the profession and bring an organisational certification to market. On a voluntary basis Martin is a contributor to ISO WG21 which develops the ITAM International Standard ISO/IEC 19770.
He is also the author of the book "Practical ITAM - The essential guide for IT Asset Managers", a book that describes how to get started and make a difference in the field of IT Asset Management. In addition, Martin developed the PITAM training course and certification.
Prior to founding the ITAM Review in 2008 Martin worked for Centennial Software (Ivanti), Silicon Graphics, CA Technologies and Computer 2000 (Tech Data).
When not working, Martin likes to Ski, Hike, Motorbike and spend time with his young family.
Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.