Unified SAM body formed through partnership between FAST and Investors in Software

In a move designed to make it easier for customers to get advice about software asset management (SAM) the Federation Against Software Theft and Investors in Software have joined forces.

In recent campaigns led by a various of intellectual property lobby groups the customer interest in SAM was one of the themes of activity by both FAST and the Business Software Alliance.

The joint venture will be under the leadership of FAST with both brands continuing to operate and John Lovelock, chief executive of the Federation, said that it had been working over the year to ensure it was providing customers with the information they needed about best practices.

“The logic of this operational merger becomes clear when you consider the fact that organisations increasingly have to demonstrate good corporate governance through compliance audits, but equally they wish to reduce software procurement and support costs and ensure that all licenses owned are fit for purpose,” he said.

Shaun Frolich, chairman of Investors in Software, said that it made sense to provide a single source of information around SAM that offered greater cost savings and better software management for companies.