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    Governance & Control: The Backbone of Trust in SAM

    Without governance, SAM is just spreadsheet management. We explain how structured oversight, clear accountability, and enforceable controls transform software asset management from a cost center into a strategic function that protects budgets and builds executive trust.

    Michael Corey

    Michael Corey

    Co-Founder, LicenseFortress

    January 2025
    5 min read
    Governance & Control: The Backbone of Trust in SAM

    Without governance, SAM is just spreadsheet management. We explain how structured oversight, clear accountability, and enforceable controls transform software asset management from a cost center into a strategic function that protects budgets and builds executive trust.

    The bottom line

    Without governance, SAM is just spreadsheet management. We explain how structured oversight, clear accountability, and enforceable controls transform software asset management from a cost center into a strategic function that protects budgets and builds executive trust.

    • LicenseFortress is an independent software licensing advocate — we never sell vendor licenses and take no vendor commissions.
    • $2.4B+ in vendor claims defended and $625M+ saved for clients.
    • Coverage across Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, SAP, VMware by Broadcom, and Adobe.
    • Licensing experts working alongside software contract attorneys.

    From our case files

    Governance is what makes a license position defensible. Two engagements that relied on it:

    Browse all client results

    About the author

    Michael Corey

    Michael Corey

    Co-Founder, LicenseFortress

    Michael writes on vendor strategy, audit behavior and the business realities of enterprise software agreements.