When it comes to successfully answering a vendor audit, it’s what you know that is important. You may believe you have a grasp of the licenses your organization purchased, and those beliefs may even turn out to be correct, but in an audit you will need to prove that you know what your organization’s software licensing entitlement is. This is the crucial difference between belief and knowledge: It’s all about what you can prove.

So, how do you go about making sure that you have knowledge of your license entitlement? Just like so much in the realm of software asset management, a lot of it comes down to your data.

Essential software licensing data and where to find it

In order to establish a knowledgeable position on your license holding, you will need to ensure you have collected the software licensing data that proves, in detail, all the purchases you’ve made from a given vendor. It’s also important that you locate any contracts or other documentation relating to license purchases made from a vendor – as these may be crucial in translating your purchases into an entitlement.

SOURCE: licensedashboard.com