Microsoft on Monday touted its efforts in software asset management.“Software Asset Management is the entire infrastructure and processes necessary for the effective management, control and protection of software assets within an organization, throughout all stages of their lifecycle. As an industry-recognized business process, Software Asset Management is a way to help organizations realize greater value from their IT infrastructure,” said Juan Fernando Rivera, director of the Microsoft Worldwide Software Asset Management Program, in an interview published by Microsoft.Software needs to be recognized as an investment, not an expense, Rivera said. Managing and controlling these assets means having good purchase records and knowing what is being used. A process is needed to cover all stages of the software lifecycle, including knowing when updates are needed, when renewals are up and when it is time to retire software, said Rivera. Four steps are recommended for software asset management: * Take inventory.* Perform a license reconciliation by locating documentation. * Review policies and procedures. * Develop an asset management plan moving forward. Microsoft’s own investments in software asset management include educational offerings for partners and customers, tools and content, a partner ecosystem that covers software asset management and customer engagement, including asset reviews. “Software Asset Management is here to stay. It’s about the customer and it’s our responsibility to make it easier for them learn about Software Asset Management, realize its importance, and adopt it as a core business practice in their organizations,” Rivera said. The full interview can be found here. Software Development