Ilya Pankratov, Softline: SAM is reasonable approach to optimization taking into account the business development strategy

Ilya Pankratov: Evolution of SAM solutions reflects those changes in approaches which happened in the field of IT in general. Earlier the accent was on a technical part — inventory, understanding of what is set to software. Today implementation of SAM — more integral project concentrated on the solution of the specific objectives of the client anyway connected with software. For example, analysis of level of cyber security or efficiency evaluation of use of cloud computing. Such projects are valuable to business of the customer including because they consider the strategy of development for the client. Advanced SAM solutions work in line with modern requirements, collecting reliable information in real time. It is already not enough to carry out inventory once a year, to understand and be sure that a situation with IT assets under control. Now the companies develop dynamically, business challenges change. IT assets should keep up with changes. Management of program assets will help with it.

Ilya Pankratov: Distribution of cloud computing changed approaches to SAM because it is required to consider many new questions. First, it is the basic questions arising very first — to use clouds why? Profitable it or not? If it is profitable, then how investments quickly pay off? What can be the scenario of transition to use of cloud solutions? If cloud solutions are already used, then there are questions of control of their use, including financial character, a problem of management of cloud assets. And need of real-time operation for SAM solutions works that is called "to the utmost" here.

Ilya Pankratov: The security issue arises, of course. Role models of users, separation of the rights, location of data — on what servers, in what country — all this aspects of modern management of program assets.

Ilya Pankratov: There are different solutions for management of program assets intended for a range of tasks about which we spoke — both classical inventory, and actually automated management. Also the new functionality taking into account use of clouds allowing to monitor use of computing resources not manually, and using specialized tools, including control of financial aspects is added.

Ilya Pankratov: According to the research Gartner, among leaders — the SAM solution of Snow Software and Flexera companies.

Ilya Pankratov: Microsoft offers free tools for inventory of Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP Toolkit) which is often used for collection of data on the installed programs. Besides, there is software for configuration management — Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager which is also helping to collect information on the working software. Both tools are suitable for the solution of basic tasks of data collection within management of program assets, but for automation of financial management by program assets, contracts, the license analysis these solutions do not approach.

Ilya Pankratov: The first aspect — controllability. We cannot manage what we do not know. It is necessary to have complete, reliable information that on its basis to do though some outputs and to take necessary actions. Following and the most important, in my opinion — asset management in connection with the business strategy of the company and possible risks for business. In the context of the strategy of SAM technology allow to weigh pluses and minuses of use of the same cloud computing, to plan acquisition of software, implementation of these or those systems. Regarding financial parameters it is possible to estimate expediency of acquisition of software, return of investments into software, a possibility of economy. In the savings plan it is important to estimate at the expense of what economy can be reached what real opportunities in what limits at the expense of what specific projects or, at the organizational level, divisions. To draw such conclusions it is necessary to have the broad picture on program assets, costs for them, regular payments. Risks need to be identified, estimated and further to be engaged in their minimization, in particular, taking into account standards and requirements of regulators.

Ilya Pankratov: SAM projects are quite popular in Russia today, and were popular yesterday. But earlier legal risks of use of the unlicensed software, today the main motivation — value for business, the solution of strategic tasks were the main motive of their implementation. Also the fact that SAM solutions even more often are considered in terms of integration with other systems, for example, with service-desky changed. Also the role of financial aspect of management of IT increased. Earlier the IT budget was selected, it was spent for purchase of software, and it was normal approach. But, in fact, it is costs for business by different divisions, and it is good when costs for IT share the financial responsibility between centers. It gives understanding for what processes and projects software is used that allows to estimate and optimize investments into software and, thus, to improve financial management of IT in general.

Ilya Pankratov: Integration — a question more difficult, it requires design. Such projects — more difficult and more rare. As a rule, it is possible to focus on management of program assets, to solve this problem as independent, and then to adjust data exchange with other systems.

Ilya Pankratov: Lately SAM solutions became popular including with representatives of a segment of SMB. It is optional to begin with implementation of heavy, multifunction solutions of technology leaders. It is possible to begin with inventory, the analysis and optimization of software, to implement basic processes of management of program assets, including — from the financial point of view.

Ilya Pankratov: Traditionally high interest in SAM is shown by banks, they use solutions for analytics, control, assessment of financial side of operation of program assets. Retail cost optimization and issues of interaction with remote shops interest, first of all. It is a lot of requests and from the industrial companies. One of interesting questions — how much are program company assets? Investments into software and the share of costs for software in the IT budget grows, and software can make a noticeable part of cost of the company. It is not so simple to answer this question. It is necessary to carry out the SAM project, to analyze the used software, to estimate conditions of contracts.

Ilya Pankratov: It is important to begin to do though something in this direction, though independently. At some stage understanding of a perspective of management of program assets — as where it is established that is used actively that is not used as configuration management is exercised, budgeting and so on will come. It is important to put in order and to systematize contracts, to estimate their cost, to analyze. For the customer nobody will make this work. It will allow to collect data which can be provided further to the specialized company for thinner management of program assets — for the license analysis, business process reengineering. At a stage of the choice of the partner it is important to be convinced that the specialized company has necessary experience. For example, the Softline company carries out more than 200 projects a year worldwide. Respectively, we understand the important points which are beyond experience of one company — the general trends, approaches, possibilities of optimization taking into account specific industry or country specifics. New opportunities can appear also due to interaction with the leading vendors. In these aspects at the specialized company advantage even before the experienced specialist hired for solving of tasks on asset management of software.

Ilya Pankratov: On initial stage problem definition when we try to understand where "hurts" the customer what to treat is performed. Options can be different — cost optimization on maintenance, preparation of the company for the transaction on merge, expected expansion of retail network and so on. At the second stage data collection, inventory of software, here at the exit — a full range of technical data is performed. The third important part — collection of data on purchases, necessary legal information. At this stage the analysis of contracts becomes, licenses, any additional sources of information, for example, information from personal accounts of the company on the websites of vendors where too there can be information on licenses is analyzed. These two data arrays — technical and financial and legal — can significantly not match. Respectively, their comparison and the analysis for the purpose of the subsequent optimization — both a technical part, and contract is required. Here surely there is a stage of discussion of the received results, perhaps additional calculations, studying of different solution scenarios of the tasks connected with specific objectives of business. Let's separately note need of the analysis and business process optimization of management of program assets and importance of automation of this management.

Ilya Pankratov: Simple SAM solutions which there is a lot of help with a technical part of the project, generally it is inventory. More advanced means placed in a magic quadrant of Gartner are able to automate the analysis, can consider rules of licensing of vendors, conditions of contracts and many other things.

Ilya Pankratov: The partner needs to be selected on the basis of studying and the analysis of its experience, the statuses, opportunities and to consider its reputation in the market is as usual.

Ilya Pankratov: Project cost will depend on its scale, for example, from the number of computers, servers, geographical distribution and from tasks which are set. For example, the project on inventory and optimization and the project on implementation of the automated management tool program assets — different both on financial, and on labor costs, naturally, as in the second case it is necessary to buy special software, to implement it and so on.

Ilya Pankratov: One — two months if it is about the analysis and optimization in medium-sized company. Implementation of the automated means begins of half a year.

Ilya Pankratov: Implementation of the SAM project, and is even better — outsourcing of management of program assets, gives, first of all, a clear understanding of connection of assets of software with business of the company. Ways of optimization of software become clear, there is a possibility of flexible reaction to business needs of the company, risks decrease. More understanding appears also in questions of use of new technologies, including cloud, their practical benefits for business, need, payback.

Ilya Pankratov: Successful and large-scale projects on implementation of the automated software were implemented by us in ALROSA, PhosAgro, Yunipro.

Ilya Pankratov: Softline is the first Russian company which obtained accreditation of Microsoft for partnership within the SAM Managed Service Program (MSP) program. The customers working with the accredited partners of the program, such as Softline can get unique advantages and services from Microsoft corporation. It is important for us as we move from project model of business to service. In the same bed also outsourcing of management of program assets, use of cloud computing lies. Now Softline offers the maximum set of services in the field of SAM that allows to solve effectively the problems of our customers connected with program assets.