IT Asset Management
Software Asset Management: Cut Licence Costs and Pass Vendor Audits
Software is one of the largest IT costs and vendor audits can bring unexpected bills. How SAM establishes your licence position and turns it into savings.
Key takeaways
- Discover SaaS through SSO, finance, browser and network data.
- Rationalise overlapping tools and right-size subscriptions.
- Connect SaaS to SSO and automate offboarding.
- Provide a fast approval path so teams do not bypass IT.
Why SaaS sprawl happens
SaaS is easy to adopt, which is its strength. But unmanaged adoption creates duplicate tools, unused subscriptions, data in unknown places and accounts that remain active after people leave.
Discovery sources
| Source | Reveals |
|---|---|
| Single sign-on logs | Sanctioned apps and usage |
| Finance and expense data | Paid subscriptions, including card purchases |
| Browser extensions or endpoint agents | Apps used without SSO |
| Email and OAuth grants | Third-party apps connected to corporate accounts |
Governance that enables
- A published catalogue of approved apps.
- A quick, risk-based approval process for new requests.
- Security and privacy review proportionate to data sensitivity.
- Named business owners for each application.
Cost control
Track renewal dates, remove inactive licences, consolidate overlapping tools and negotiate enterprise agreements where usage justifies it.
Security
Enforce SSO and MFA, review OAuth permissions granted to third-party apps, and use SaaS security posture management to check configurations of critical platforms. Confirm data processing locations and agreements to meet GDPR and contractual requirements.
A SaaS lifecycle that works
| Stage | Key actions |
|---|---|
| Request | Business case, data classification, existing alternatives checked |
| Review | Security, privacy and legal review proportionate to risk |
| Onboard | SSO, MFA, provisioning, owner assigned, contract recorded |
| Operate | Usage tracking, access reviews, configuration monitoring |
| Renew | Usage-based right-sizing and negotiation |
| Offboard | Data export, deletion confirmation, access removed |
Offboarding: the forgotten risk
When employees leave, access to SaaS applications outside SSO is often missed. Automating deprovisioning through SSO and SCIM, and reviewing non-SSO apps regularly, closes one of the most common data-leakage paths.
Metrics to track
- Number of applications discovered versus sanctioned
- SaaS spend per employee and its trend
- Percentage of apps behind SSO
- Licences unused for 60 days or more
- Average time to approve a new app request
How NAZZTEC helps
Our IT asset management team discovers SaaS usage, builds the catalogue and approval workflow, rationalises overlapping tools and connects applications to identity and ITSM processes for clean onboarding and offboarding.
Next step: explore our ITAM Solutions.
Frequently asked questions
Should we block all unsanctioned SaaS?
Blanket blocking drives workarounds. Focus on high-risk apps and provide a fast approval path.
What is SSPM?
SaaS security posture management checks the security configuration of SaaS platforms against best practice.
Who should own SaaS management?
Typically IT asset management in partnership with security, procurement and finance.
NAZZTEC Editorial TeamWritten and reviewed by NAZZTEC practitioners. This briefing is general guidance, not legal advice.
