SAM SAM Tools & Technology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is agentless software discovery in SAM?
- Relying on software vendors to report usage data directly
- Remotely scanning endpoints via network protocols without installing local agent software (Correct answer)
- Using purchase records alone to determine the software inventory
- Conducting annual manual audits of every workstation
Correct answer: Remotely scanning endpoints via network protocols without installing local agent software
Agentless discovery scans endpoints remotely using protocols like WMI or SSH, collecting inventory data without requiring any software agent to be installed on the target device.
Question 2: Which protocol is most commonly used by SAM tools for agentless discovery on Windows endpoints?
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- DNS (Domain Name System)
- WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation)
WMI is a Windows-native management protocol that allows SAM tools to remotely query installed software, hardware, and configuration data from Windows endpoints without installing an agent.
Question 3: What is the role of a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) in a SAM program?
- It serves as the financial ledger for all software purchases
- It functions as a centralized repository of IT assets, configurations, and their relationships (Correct answer)
- It stores employee credentials and access rights
- It tracks customer software usage for billing purposes
Correct answer: It functions as a centralized repository of IT assets, configurations, and their relationships
A CMDB provides a single authoritative source of IT asset data including software deployments, enabling SAM tools to cross-reference configuration records with license entitlements.
Question 4: Which integration is most critical for a SAM tool to calculate an accurate Effective License Position (ELP)?
- Integration with HR and payroll systems
- Integration with customer CRM platforms
- Integration with procurement and contract management systems (Correct answer)
- Integration with building physical access control systems
Correct answer: Integration with procurement and contract management systems
Integration with procurement and contract management ensures the SAM tool has current entitlement data (what was purchased), which is essential for calculating the ELP.
Question 5: What does ELP stand for in Software Asset Management?
- Enterprise License Program
- End-user License Policy
- Effective License Position (Correct answer)
- Electronic License Procurement
Correct answer: Effective License Position
The Effective License Position (ELP) is the calculated balance between license entitlements and actual software deployments, indicating whether an organization is compliant, over-licensed, or under-licensed.
Question 6: What is software metering in the context of SAM tools?
- Measuring the file size of software installation packages
- Counting the total number of unique software titles in the inventory
- Tracking how frequently and how long specific applications are actively used by employees (Correct answer)
- Monitoring network bandwidth consumed by software license servers
Correct answer: Tracking how frequently and how long specific applications are actively used by employees
Software metering tracks actual application usage frequency and duration, allowing organizations to identify underused licenses for reclamation and cost savings.
Question 7: What is 'shelfware' in software asset management?
- Software stored on physical media in a secure storage room
- Licensed software that is installed but rarely or never actively used (Correct answer)
- Software licenses held in reserve for future deployment
- Legacy software no longer supported by the vendor
Correct answer: Licensed software that is installed but rarely or never actively used
Shelfware refers to software licenses that have been purchased and often installed but are rarely or never actively used, representing wasted spend that SAM tools can identify through usage metering.
SAM SAM Tools & Technology 2
What is agentless software discovery in SAM?