Final answer:
SAM, or Software Asset Management, uses the inventory from discovery to optimize software utilization and ensure license compliance. It helps businesses manage their software inventory efficiently, save costs, and avoid legal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
SAM, or Software Asset Management, utilizes the inventory compiled from the discovery process to optimize software utilization and ensure license compliance. Discovery tools assist in creating an inventory of software assets, which SAM uses to track usage patterns and match them against the number of licenses purchased. This helps a company make sure that they are not over or under licensed, which could lead to unnecessary expenditure or legal issues regarding software licensing.
Compliance with software licenses is critical for businesses not only to follow legal guidelines but also to maintain good relationships with software providers. By using SAM, organizations are better equipped to manage their software inventory efficiently and mitigate the risks associated with license non-compliance. Proper management of licenses often results in significant cost savings by eliminating excess or aligning licenses to the actual needs of the business.