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Software asset management (SAM) is the organizational practice of managing, controlling, and protecting software and related assets throughout their lifecycle. It helps an organization understand the software it uses and govern that use and its associated rights and records. SAM is software-focused; IT asset management (ITAM) covers a wider range of technology assets.
What software asset management covers
SAM is a management practice, not simply a list of installed applications or a licensing check. It concerns the software an organization uses and the processes and related records needed to govern that software across its lifecycle.
Software can include executable programs such as applications, operating systems, and utilities. The withdrawn 2012 SAM standard also described non-executable software and related assets, with examples such as fonts, graphics, audio and video recordings, templates, dictionaries, documents, and data. These illustrate how broad the earlier standard’s scope could be; they are not a complete inventory checklist for every organization. ISO’s page for ISO/IEC 19770-1:2012 retains its abstract and status.
How SAM differs from IT asset management
SAM is best understood as the software-focused part of the broader IT asset management landscape. ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 describes ITAM as the infrastructure and processes for managing, controlling, and protecting IT assets throughout their lifecycle. Its overview includes hardware, software, subscriptions, services, and cloud services, and describes processes and technology for detecting, tracking, managing, and optimizing those assets. The committee’s ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 overview provides that broader context.
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| Dimension | SAM | ITAM |
|---|---|---|
| Asset scope | Software and related assets | The wider IT estate, including hardware, software, subscriptions, services, and cloud services |
| Management focus | Governing software use and related assets across their lifecycle | Detecting, tracking, managing, and optimizing IT assets throughout their lifecycle |
| Standards context | The SAM-titled ISO/IEC 19770-1:2012 edition is withdrawn | ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 specifies requirements for an IT asset management system |
What the current ISO/IEC 19770-1 standard says
The current published edition is ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017, titled Information technology — IT asset management — Part 1: IT asset management systems — Requirements. It was published in December 2017. ISO says it was reviewed and confirmed in 2024 and remains current; it also lists Amendment 1:2024, covering climate action changes. The standard applies to all types of IT assets and organizations of all types and sizes. ISO’s catalog entry for ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 gives its status, scope, and publication details.
The title and scope matter: the current standard is about IT asset management systems, not a software-only standard. The 2012 edition, Information technology — Software asset management — Part 1: Processes and tiered assessment of conformance, is withdrawn and superseded by the 2017 edition. Its abstract can still help explain the earlier SAM process framing, but it should not be presented as the current standard.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the standard does not define
ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 specifies requirements for an IT asset management system; it does not supply every rule an organization might need for a particular asset. ISO says the standard is not intended to manage information assets independently of hardware and software assets, and it does not specify financial, accounting, or technical requirements for managing specific IT asset types.
In practice, the standard should not be treated as a substitute for an organization’s detailed accounting policies, interpretation of software license terms, or technical configuration requirements. Those matters are not fully established by the public catalog description.
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