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Tech glossary

Defining IT & technology terms

Software audit

A software audit is when a publisher reviews an organization’s software usage and entitlements to discover contract violations. If the audit discovers a violation, the business will be charged fees and penalties and may even face legal action.

Common contract violations include:

  • Buying a single license and installing it multiple times
  • Making copies of the software
  • Using virtualization on the wrong license type

Depending on the organization’s size and software consumption, audits can occur annually or after recent growth. It’s rare for a company to go more than two years without an audit. Software Asset Management (SAM) strategies help businesses prepare for audits by providing a clear picture of what licenses it owns and what it uses.

Learn more about software audits

Related terms

  • Cloud management platform
  • E-procurement
  • Data management
  • Portfolio rationalization
  • Software Asset Management (SAM)

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