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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Software asset management (SAM) is the organizational practice of managing, controlling, and protecting software and its related assets throughout their lifecycle. It helps an organization understand what software it uses, govern how that software is used and what rights apply, and connect software decisions to day-to-day operations.
What software asset management includes
SAM is more than keeping a list of installed applications. It brings together the records and organizational processes needed to govern software across its lifecycle, from acquisition and use through ongoing management and retirement.
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Its scope can also reach beyond executable programs. The earlier ISO SAM standard cited examples of non-executable software and related assets, including fonts, graphics, audio and video recordings, templates, dictionaries, documents, and data. These examples illustrate the breadth of that edition’s framing; they are not a definitive checklist for every organization.
How SAM differs from IT asset management
Software asset management is software-focused; IT asset management (ITAM) covers the wider IT estate. The ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 overview describes ITAM as the infrastructure and processes for managing, controlling, and protecting IT assets throughout their lifecycle. It includes hardware, software, subscriptions, services, and cloud services.
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| Practice | Typical scope | Management focus |
|---|---|---|
| SAM | Software and related assets and records | Govern software use, rights, and lifecycle management |
| ITAM | Hardware, software, subscriptions, services, and cloud services | Detect, track, manage, and optimize IT assets across their lifecycle |
This makes SAM a software-focused part of the broader ITAM landscape. The distinction is about scope, not whether software is included: software is part of both.
What ISO/IEC 19770-1 says today
The current published edition is ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017, IT asset management systems — Requirements. Published in December 2017, it applies to IT asset management systems and to organizations of all types and sizes. ISO says it was reviewed and confirmed in 2024 and remains current; it also lists Amendment 1:2024, covering climate action changes.
The standard’s scope is broader than software alone. ISO also clarifies that it is not intended to manage information assets independently of hardware and software assets, and it does not set financial, accounting, or technical requirements for managing particular IT asset types. It therefore should not be treated as a complete accounting policy, a universal interpretation of software licensing terms, or a technical configuration guide.
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Why older references use a different standard title
ISO/IEC 19770-1:2012 was titled Information technology — Software asset management — Part 1: Processes and tiered assessment of conformance. That SAM-specific edition is withdrawn and superseded by the 2017 edition. Its abstract remains useful for understanding the earlier process-based approach and broad examples of software-related assets, but it is not the current standard.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the definition means in practice
An organization applying SAM needs a structured way to understand its software estate and maintain the information and processes needed to govern it. The standard provides a management-system requirements framework, but the public scope does not prescribe every operational detail for every organization. Specific licensing interpretations, accounting choices, and technical controls require the relevant terms, policies, or specialist guidance.
For the formal current requirements, consult the ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 catalog page. For context on ITAM’s wider lifecycle and asset scope, see the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 overview, dated 24 April 2019.
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