IDG Contributor Network: Are software application audits still required in the age of cloud computing

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Virtually every organization has some form of IT infrastructure and software licensing
For many, the cost to license software is in the tens of millions of dollars, and it obviously a vital part of running a business
With so much money on the line, and the potential impact of not having the necessary software, it easy to see why an increasing number of
organizations are finally being proactive with software asset management (SAM).The nature of software is that it is easy to install and run,
or to access tools and data on or from multiple devices and doing so may go unnoticed by IT administrators
Accessing email or data on a corporate server from an employee smartphone, for example, typically requires some form of software license
Employees do this every day, and it often in the best interest of the organization to let them, but if the organization doesn&t manage it
properly, the consequences can be severe.