Software Asset Management might sound simple but the reality is far from simple.

For SAM success to be realised, you first need to define what SAM success looks like for your organisation. You then need to break this down into smaller, specific chunks that can be reported against.

Click here to see License Dashboard's suggestions for how to tackle SAM in the right order

Introducing License Manager's new notifications dashboard - your instant view of all the critical information you need to know about your licence compliance position, software usage, system health and much more!

Click here to access License Dashboard's video page where you'll find short and insightful overviews of our solutions and how they address your software licensing and SAM challanges.

License Dashboard, the leading developer of advanced license management solutions, have announced the launch of License Manager 5.5 - its flagship software asset management (SAM) tool.

Available immediately, License Manager 5.5 adds unrivalled support for the management of Microsoft Enterprise Agreements (EAs) and other volume licensing agreements, enhanced financial modelling to evaluate the cost and value of software installed on the network, and a flexible new management reporting engine.

Read the full press release here

Find out what's new here

Watch the 'Why Choose License Manager' video here

For more information contact us on 0845 265 1265 or email: enquiries@phoenixs.co.uk

Phoenix Software has successfully achieved Gold Competencies for Volume Licensing and Software Asset Management in the Microsoft Partner Network.  In fact, we are one of only five Microsoft partners in the UK to have attained the SAM Competency thus far.

To earn a Microsoft Gold Competency, organisations must complete a rigorous set of tests to prove their level of expertise, have the right number of Microsoft Certified Professionals, submit customer references and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction by participating in an annual survey.

Sam Mudd, Director of Phoenix Software, said: "This certification showcases our expertise in the fields of Volume Licensing and Software Asset Management.  It assures our customers of the highest levels of knowledge and customer service - something they have rightly come to expect of Phoenix." 

Jon Roskill, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corporation, concluded: "The Microsoft Partner Network is designed to empower solution providers to succeed in today's business environment. By achieving the prestigious Gold competency, participating companies are provided with a rich set of benefits, including increased customer visibility through branding and accessibility, training and support."

The Microsoft Gold Competency signifies to the market that a company has demonstrated the highest level of skill and achievement within a given technology specialisation. All 28 Microsoft competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's specific technology capabilities, helping customers find solution providers quickly and easily. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the industry. 

The Microsoft Partner Network is designed to equip organisations that deliver products and services based on the Microsoft platform with the training, resources and support needed to provide customers with a superior experience and outcomes.

SAM Portal is the first comprehensive end-to-end solution for managing software assets. Powered by the world-leading software licence management system, Licence Dashboard™, this easy-to-use interface enables organisations to take full control of the Software Asset Management (SAM) lifecycle.

With software taking up an ever-increasing share of an organisation's IT budget, it has become even more important to manage, control and protect your software assets. Having greater control of the software lifecycle process and understanding your licence position can definitely help your organisation avoid unnecessary expenditure and illegal exposure.

With its built-in workflow and easy to use Web-enabled interface, organisations can quickly implement an effective Software Asset Management programme without having to re-engineer existing systems or business processes.

For further details visit http://www.phoenixs.co.uk/software-products-and-services/sam-portal.aspx

Neil Frodsham, Sales Manager for Licence Dashboard and Software Asset Management (SAM) specialist, will be presenting at the Intellect Innovation Den held at the Intellect Conference Suite, 10-12 Russell Square, WC1B 5EE on Friday 26 November.

The theme of the event is “Sweating the Assets” - with budgets right across the public sector under the microscope, it’s become increasingly important to do more with less.  ‘Sweating the assets’ may only be a short-term solution, but it is a useful first step to more efficient service utilisation and broader business transformation over the long term. 

At this den, Neil will offer his innovative propositions for how effective software licence management could help the public sector make considerable financial savings. Neil will discuss the challenges, areas of risk, benefits and financial savings that simple processes and good use of the right tools can bring – tools like the Licence Dashboard™ which simplifies licence ownership and procurement, as well as data cleansing the output of most audit tools.

Intellect is the leading trade association which serves to represent its members in the UK technology industry by using their expertise and knowledge to provide the highest quality of service and intelligence.

For more information on Licence Dashboard, the leading software licence management tool, please go to www.licencedashboard.co.uk

Phoenix Software have lots of exciting news to impart over the coming months.  Our most recent event schedule includes software asset management advice to NHS organisations, Microsoft’s Online Services and VMware’s desktop virtualisation technology.

A little later in the year we will have more detailed information about the FAST Annual Conference in Surrey (November) where delegates will be actively looking to improve and enhance SAM and Governance policies in IT, and the IT in Housing Event in London (23-24 November) offering delegates and visitors an excellent one-stop opportunity to explore the latest innovations, products and services from 80 leading ICT suppliers to the housing sector.

Software Asset Management for NHS Organisations
With the recent end to the NHS Connecting for Health's (CfH) software licensing agreement with Microsoft, we expect software licences owned by Connecting for Health to be transferred to individual NHS organisations by 30 September 2010 or soon after.

As a result of this, all Trusts/FTs, PCTs, SHAs, Arms Length Bodies, Hospices etc will be solely responsible for all aspects of funding, purchasing and managing Microsoft licences. This means that it will then be up to each individual NHS organisation to be correctly licensed for Microsoft software.
Phoenix Software are holding events in York and London designed to give you a clear strategy for dealing with the management of your software assets. By attending you will learn how licence optimisation could potentially save your organisation money. Plus, you will be entitled to a free copy of Licence Dashboard™ - a software licence management tool fully approved by Microsoft.

Event dates: Friday 10th September, 2010 – York and Friday 15th October – London

For further information on either of these event dates, or the Webinar dates throughout August and September, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.

Microsoft Online Services
Phoenix Software and Core Technology are delighted to offer you the opportunity to learn more about the new Microsoft Online Services
Designed to meet the unique needs of your organisation, Microsoft's software-plus-services vision brings together the best of rich on-premise applications and flexible online services to give you ready access to the latest messaging and collaboration tools - without costly deployment and time-consuming maintenance.

Microsoft Online Services gives your organisation the powerful productivity capabilities of Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, Microsoft Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Live Meeting - all hosted online and all up and running quickly and easily without the upfront costs of an on-premise deployment. Microsoft Online Services reliably deliver 99.9% scheduled uptime and carries a financially-backed service level agreement.

During the course of our Breakfast Briefing you will learn about the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), including a demo of the system and details of the funding available for a limited number of pilots for those who attend this event.

Event date: Friday 8th October, 2010 – London

For further information on this event, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.

VMware your World: Servers, Desktops & the Cloud
In partnership, Phoenix and VMware are pleased to invite you to an event showcasing the latest versions of VMware server and desktop virtualisation technology - vSphere 4 and View 4.5.

BEGIN THE JOURNEY TO A PRIVATE CLOUD
Get the highest levels of availability and responsiveness for all applications and services with VMware vSphere - the most complete and robust platform for virtualisation in the world.

Increase IT control through service level automation, dramatically reducing capital and operating costs and maximising IT efficiency. Virtualise your business-critical applications for unprecedented flexibility and reliability with the lowest total cost per application workload.

VIRTUALISE, SIMPLIFY & CONTROL YOUR DESKTOPS
Increase efficiency, reliability and availability by delivering desktops from the data centre as a managed service. Create a more flexible business infrastructure so you can quickly respond to changing end user needs. Deploy applications and desktops faster and with fewer help desk calls for improved business continuity.

Event dates: Thursday 16th September – Leeds, Wednesday 29th October – Frimley

For further information on this event, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.