FrontRange Solutions Makes Software Asset Management More Achievable Than Ever With SAM Essentials Optimization Edition

Expert Advice on Managing Software in Line With Microsoft’s New SAM Optimization Model Now Available in a Simple-to-Use Solution

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FrontRange Solutions, which acquired SAM solutions developer Centennial Software in April 2008, has launched FrontRange™ SAM Essentials Optimization Edition, a unique best-practice solution designed to guide organizations through the process of creating and managing a successful Software Asset Management initiative.

“Microsoft encourages the broad adoption of SAM by customers as a way to make the best software investment decisions and gain control over their software assets. The release of SAM Essentials Optimization Edition, supporting the new Microsoft model, gives customers a straight forward framework for driving targeted SAM practice enhancements.”

SAM Essentials Optimization Edition supports the recently-announced Microsoft® SAM Optimization Model, which helps IT and business managers understand why they are not in control of their software assets and where they should focus to improve SAM processes, and has been developed with the approval of Microsoft.

Andy Burton, Vice President Infrastructure Group at FrontRange Solutions, commented: “With the current economic pressures, more and more organizations are looking to find substantial savings in their IT budgets. As such, SAM has grown in prominence but a lot of people don’t know where to start. SAM Essentials Optimization Edition gives users solid guidance throughout a SAM initiative, from preparation right through to implementation of effective processes.”

Nick Sparks, Commercial Manager for Software Compliance and Optimization at EDF Energy believes no organization should start a SAM initiative without first understanding how to best manage the project: “SAM is just as much about people and processes as it is about having the right technology in place. At EDF Energy, we’re using SAM Essentials Optimization Edition to both reduce the amount of time it will take to see a real return on our investment as well as to ensure that we work in line with recognized best practices.”

SAM Essentials Optimization Edition has been specifically developed to reflect the key stages and requirements of SAM maturity outlined by Microsoft in its new SAM Optimization Model, which details how organizations can progress from a basic understanding of SAM through to a dynamic approach to managing software assets.

Michael Beare, Director at Microsoft Corp., commented: “Microsoft encourages the broad adoption of SAM by customers as a way to make the best software investment decisions and gain control over their software assets. The release of SAM Essentials Optimization Edition, supporting the new Microsoft model, gives customers a straight forward framework for driving targeted SAM practice enhancements.”

SAM Essentials Optimization Edition uses technology developed by Mindjet Corporation to provide users with a comprehensive project management plan for a SAM initiative, with documented workflows and templates for each of the component parts of the overall project (see attached screenshot).

Burton continued: “SAM can be somewhat daunting, with many different processes and stages involved. SAM Essentials Optimization Edition breaks the SAM initiative down into manageable chunks, removing many of the objections and making it much easier to realize significant savings through improved management practices. The solution also facilitates closer relationships between customers and their software resellers, enabling the channel to better react to organizations’ business needs.”

As well as being assured that their efforts will meet Microsoft’s requirements for SAM Optimization, users of the new SAM Essentials solution will also be working towards ISO 19770-1 best practices. For SAM providers, SAM Essentials Optimization Model can be customized and extended to fit their own service offerings.

SAM Essentials Optimization Model is available with immediate effect and more information can be found at: www.frontrange.com.

About FrontRange Solutions

FrontRange Solutions develops software and services that growing mid-size firms and distributed enterprises rely on every day to build great customer relationships and deliver high-quality customer service. The company applies a unique combination of innovation and automation with a standards-based approach to simplify core business processes, including: IT service management; customer relationship and sales force management; and PC lifecycle management. More than 150,000 of the world’s best-known brands use FrontRange offerings to quickly improve their interactions with external and internal clients and achieve better business results. For more information, call 800.776.7889 or visit www.frontrange.com.

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