NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: CURRID & COMPANY'S TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE 08/23/04
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * What IT asset management certification could do for you * Links related to Technology Executive * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle An Economist Intelligence Unit White Paper: From Grid to Great? Grid computing is breaking out. Familiar mostly to academics, government groups, and scientific researchers, this technology that links together the power of diverse computers to create powerful, fast and flexible systems is beginning to catch on in the corporate world. Included in this white paper, results and interviews from a global survey among Sr Executives, click to download now http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=75670 _______________________________________________________________ Weekly Webcast Newsletter The weekly Webcast Newsletter brings you information on webcasts available on NW Fusion - your 24/7 source for the latest solutions and strategies, complete with links, resources, and the personal answers you need. Covering vital topics like security, applications, wireless, and more, our webcasts are highly focused, single-topic briefings from experts in technology. Sign up today! http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=72887 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: IT asset mgmt.: Your certification could help your firm save money By Linda Musthaler In a recent opinion column in Network World (see link below), I griped about the need for a technical certification for software license management since the options are getting so complicated these days. Perpetual licensing. Subscription licensing. Utility "pay-as-you-go" licensing. How is anyone supposed to know what is best for an enterprise? It turns out there is an organization to help you deal with the challenges of asset management, and not only does the agency offer one certification - it offers four. The International Association of IT Asset Managers (IAITAM) is the advocacy group and service organization for the IT asset management professional. I learned from my discussion with IAITAM President Barbara Rembiesa that IT asset management is a profession, not just a side job. Her organization exists to help educate and certify these professionals, and to promote standards and legislation regarding fair licensing and usage of IT hardware and software. "IT assets are often a company's second largest expense, coming behind the cost of employees," says Rembiesa. "It takes a knowledgeable professional to manage these assets wisely." IAITAM offers training and certification to help individuals and their organizations deal with everything from acquisition to disposal of hardware and software. "With proper asset management tools and techniques, it's possible for an enterprise to reduce its IT budget by up to 30%," Rembiesa says. The three individually obtained certifications offered are: * Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM) - focused on software ��license management, compliance, contract negotiations, and ��change management techniques. * Certified Hardware Asset Management Professional (CHAMP) - ��focused on hardware licenses and agreement negotiations, ��maintenance contract management, lifecycle management, inventory ��and redeployment or disposal of assets. * Certified IT Asset Manager (CITAM) - focused on ��software/hardware licensing, compliance, contract knowledge ��management, legislation, savings opportunities, and developing ��policies and procedures. The corporate certification is: * Compliance Audit Process Certification (CAPc) - focused on ��asset management best practices within the corporate structure. IAITAM offers specific training that leads to the certifications above. All training and the certifications are vendor-neutral, although the candidate will learn about various vendors' tools for discovery, repository, metering and usage, and disposal. "We teach our students about the tools they can use to get the best return on their investment," Rembiesa says. "We help them figure out what kinds of licenses are best for their own situations. We help them look at the usage of an asset, and to evaluate if they are spending money wisely." A good asset manager can save the organization significant money. For example, many companies often over-purchase software licenses - typically by 10% to 15% - to ensure they comply with the license agreements. Further, they may contract for maintenance and support that is underutilized. "The key to managing your assets is in knowing what's in your contracts," Rembiesa says. "You need to wade through the legalese to know how your hardware and software can be used, by whom, when, and how. The vendor isn't going to help you maximize your investment - it's all up to you." Jack Blackburn of Northrop Grumman attended IAITAM training and used his newly-acquired asset management skills to identify contract errors and overlaps and underutilized assets that added up to nearly $500,000 in savings over five years. Rembiesa encourages students to "look for the low hanging fruit" of cost savings in order to fund a more extensive asset management program throughout the enterprise. While cost savings are always appreciated, many corporate executives also are concerned about laws and legislation that affect IT assets, including Sarbanes-Oxley, the National Computer Recycling Act, Title 17 of the copyright law, and others. Even unintentional non-compliance with such laws can be costly. The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the organization that audits companies suspected of using unlicensed software, has collected more than $15 million in settlements over the past three years. That figure could well climb into the hundreds of millions, as Gartner predicts that 40% of all medium and large companies could be targeted for BSA audits in the next two years - four in ten companies to be audited - that's a pretty high risk. It's time to get your house in order now to mitigate those risks. IAITAM plans to launch a magazine called "IT Asset Knowledge" this fall. If you're interested in a free subscription, send your request to <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Or, consider attending IAITAM's annual asset management conference in Las Vegas this October. Whether you get certified or just take the training, IT asset management is an important profession that will get you noticed by the CIO, CFO and CEO. Linda Musthaler is vice president of Currid & Company. You can write to her at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS Software licensing grows complex Network World, 07/26/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/072604musthaler.html The International Association of IT Asset Managers � http://www.iaitam.org/ State IT execs betting on VoIP Network World, 08/23/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/082304nastd.html?nl2 _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Linda Musthaler Currid & Company <http://www.currid.com/> researches information technology and how it can change the rules of business. Analysts focus on emerging technologies and methods by which organizations can obtain the best results from these innovations. Currid & Company offers consulting services to computer industry and corporate clients to help define and fulfill the potential of these exciting technologies. To learn more about emerging technologies that affect your business and your life, visit Your Digital Minute <http://www.yourdigitalminute.com/> , brought to you by Currid & Company. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle An Economist Intelligence Unit White Paper: From Grid to Great? Grid computing is breaking out. Familiar mostly to academics, government groups, and scientific researchers, this technology that links together the power of diverse computers to create powerful, fast and flexible systems is beginning to catch on in the corporate world. Included in this white paper, results and interviews from a global survey among Sr Executives, click to download now http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=75669 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archive of the Technology Executive newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/techexec/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE WONDERING IF YOUR PAY IS UP TO SNUFF? Check out Network World's 2004 Salary Calculator to see if you're getting paid what you're worth. Using data collected in the 2004 Network World Salary Survey, we've programmed this calculator with several categories that could affect your pay. Answer the questions and find out what the average salary is for your job category. Click here: <http://www.nwfusion.com/salary/2004/calculator.html> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2 International subscribers click here: http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx> To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Preferences.aspx> To change your e-mail address, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx> Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please use this address when modifying your subscription. _______________________________________________________________ Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of Online Development, at: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Copyright Network World, Inc., 2004 ------------------------ This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BCfwlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumpulan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
