Certified Implementation Specialist - Software Asset Management

An effective Software Asset Management (SAM) practice in ServiceNow relies on several key data elements. Software allocations are necessary as they track which users or devices are assigned specific software licenses. Software models provide crucial information about the software products, publishers, and versions being managed. Foundation data, such as details about users, departments, and locations, is essential to accurately allocate and manage software assets. Software entitlements are also critical as they define the rights to use specific software, ensuring compliance and optimizing license usage. While software contracts can be important in broader IT asset management, they are not specifically key to SAM within ServiceNow.

For matching the best practice method by the amount of data, consider the following: For large amounts of data, 'Import data' is typically used as it allows for automated and efficient handling of extensive datasets. For medium amounts of data, 'Manual' can be appropriate if the data is still manageable by human input, though 'Discovery' tools could also be utilized if applicable to ensure accuracy. For small amounts of data, 'Manual' processing is usually straightforward and practical. Therefore, the best practice method is as follows: Large amount of data – Import data; Medium amount of data – Discovery; Small amount of data – Manual.

Normalization in Software Asset Management refers to the process of standardizing discovered software installations to defined norms. This involves ensuring that the identification of software products is consistent and accurate, which is fundamental for effective management and compliance tracking.

ServiceNow Discovery and Microsoft SCCM are recommended by ServiceNow to populate the software installation table. ServiceNow Discovery is used for data center software, and Microsoft SCCM is commonly used for desktop software. These tools are efficient and widely recognized for their capabilities in software asset management.

Creating a template can indeed help facilitate future data imports and be reused to import and transform data. By defining the data structure and format in a template, you set a consistent framework that can be used repeatedly, ensuring that data imports are structured and accurate. This can streamline the import process and reduce the likelihood of errors.