Why IT Pros Choose SMPs Over Software Asset Management Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

•  What are the differences between SaaS Management Platforms’ (SMPs) and Software Asset Management Platforms’ (SAMs) discovery capabilities?
  
  

  Software Asset Management (SAM) platforms typically use a limited range of discovery methods compared to SaaS Management Platforms (SMPs). Commonly, SAM platforms employ agent-based and agentless scanning methods to discover IT assets, which primarily include on-premise hardware and software. These methods are effective for cataloging known network-connected assets but are not designed to detect unsanctioned applications, especially those outside the traditional IT environment, like Shadow IT typically found in SaaS ecosystems.

  SAM tools are generally not equipped to discover unsanctioned applications because they rely on predefined network perimeters and authenticated environments to track asset usage and compliance. This setup makes it challenging for traditional SAM tools to detect applications that are acquired and used without IT department approval, which are often outside of their monitoring scope.

  Therefore, while SAM tools provide essential functions for managing on-premise software licenses and ensuring compliance, they may lack the broader discovery capabilities needed in today’s cloud-centric environments, where SaaS applications can be quickly adopted by teams without central oversight. This limitation highlights the growing importance of integrating SMPs like Torii, which are designed to manage both sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS applications through a variety of discovery methods, including secure browser extensions, SSO integrations, and financial tracking.

  Torii uncovers Shadow IT through seven discovery methods including IdPs, finance and contract data, a secured browser extension, direct connections with MDMs, and 3rd party marketplaces.

• What the differences between Torii’s and Software Asset Management Platforms’ automation capabilities?
  
  Software Asset Management (SAM) platforms typically focus on managing software licenses, ensuring compliance, and optimizing costs, but their automation capabilities, especially around user lifecycle and application workflows, are somewhat limited compared to specialized tools like SaaS management platforms (SMPs).

  SAM Automation Capabilities:

  1. License Tracking & Management: SAM platforms excel in automating the tracking of software licenses, helping ensure compliance and flagging unused or underused licenses. They can send automated notifications when licenses are about to expire, but deeper automation, such as reclaiming or downgrading licenses automatically, is often more manual.
  2. Application Lifecycle Management: While SAM platforms can automate some parts of the application lifecycle, such as software procurement, license assignments, and compliance tracking, they typically don’t extend into the full application lifecycle workflows that involve regular access reviews, application onboarding, or deprovisioning. The automation in SAM platforms is mostly centered around procurement, usage tracking, and compliance rather than complete lifecycle workflows.
  3. User Lifecycle Automation: SAM platforms generally lack advanced user lifecycle automation capabilities, such as onboarding, offboarding, and access requests. These processes, including automated workflows for granting or revoking access and managing roles based on lifecycle changes, are more commonly found in SaaS management platforms or dedicated Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions.

     For example, tools like Torii specialize in user lifecycle management, offering automation for provisioning, offboarding, and role-based access control (RBAC), something that traditional SAM platforms don’t handle as effectively. These solutions allow for more granular and automated workflows involving user onboarding, application access management, and license rightsizing.

  In summary, SAM platforms automate basic asset management tasks like tracking and compliance, but for more advanced workflows involving user lifecycle, application access reviews, or detailed license management beyond just procurement and cost optimization, SMPs or IAM tools are more suited.

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  The Future of Software Management: Why SAM Tools Are Becoming Outdated

  Software Asset Management (SAM) has long been a cornerstone of IT operations, helping companies track software licenses, ensure compliance, and manage on-premise applications. However, as businesses shift towards cloud-first strategies, traditional SAM tools are quickly becoming outdated, lacking the flexibility and features necessary to manage the growing complexity of SaaS ecosystems.

  SaaS Management Platforms (SMPs) have emerged as the modern, essential solution to fill the gaps left by SAM tools. With organizations increasingly relying on SaaS applications to scale their operations, SMPs provide the visibility, automation, and cost-saving capabilities needed to manage the dynamic world of cloud software. If your business is still dependent on a SAM tool alone, you’re likely missing out on key efficiencies and opportunities for cost control.

  Why SAMs Are No Longer Enough

  SAM tools were built for an era where on-premise software ruled the tech landscape. Their primary focus is on software license compliance and vendor audits. While this was critical when software came in the form of physical media and strict, inflexible contracts, the rise of SaaS has fundamentally changed how companies procure, use, and manage software.

  Here’s why SAM tools are falling behind:

  1. Limited Discovery:
     SAM tools can only discover and manage sanctioned on-premise or approved applications. This leaves a significant blind spot when it comes to SaaS applications, especially the unsanctioned ones (often referred to as shadow IT).  Torii, on the other hand, provides continuous discovery of both sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS and desktop apps, using 7+ advanced discovery methods such as OAuth, SSO, financial data, direct connections with MDMs, and even an secured browser extension to detect every app in your organization’s ecosystem.
  2. No Automation:
     SAM tools are largely manual, requiring human intervention for tasks like license reclamation, renewal tracking, and user onboarding/offboarding. In a world where businesses are managing hundreds of SaaS apps with constantly changing user needs, this manual approach is inefficient and prone to costly errors. SMPs offer no-code automation that streamlines SaaS management, from license downgrades to automated offboarding processes, helping your IT team focus on strategic tasks rather than repetitive ones.
  3. Lack of Real-Time Cost Control:
     SAM tools focus heavily on license compliance for on-premise software but fall short in managing the ever-changing landscape of SaaS spend. SMPs like Torii continuously monitor SaaS usage, identifying cost-saving opportunities in real time, such as unused licenses or underutilized apps. With one-click actions and fully automated workflows to reclaim, downgrade, or reassign licenses, SMPs are far better suited to keep your SaaS budget under control.
  4. Inadequate Security for Shadow IT:
     With SAM tools, you may only see a fraction of the software being used in your organization—leaving your company vulnerable to shadow IT risks. SMPs ensure that all SaaS apps, including unsanctioned ones, are detected, allowing you to mitigate risks and enforce security policies across the entire software ecosystem. This means better control over data privacy and security compliance, areas where SAM tools fall short.

  SMPs: The Modern Solution for Software Management

  As SaaS adoption continues to grow, relying on SAM tools alone leaves organizations exposed to wasted spend, incomplete software visibility, and security risks. Today’s dynamic, hybrid environments require a solution that can handle both on-prem and cloud-based software seamlessly, and this is where SMPs thrive.

  SaaS Management Platforms like Torii offer a comprehensive, automated solution designed specifically for the SaaS-first world. They provide:

  • Continuous Discovery: Detect every app, sanctioned or unsanctioned, ensuring you always have a real-time view of your software landscape.
  • Automated Workflows: From license reclamation to onboarding and offboarding, automate repetitive tasks and eliminate human error.
  • Real-Time Spend Optimization: Continuously monitor SaaS usage and costs, offering AI-driven recommendations to reduce spend and increase efficiency.
  • Advanced Security and Compliance: Ensure policy compliance across all apps, not just those approved by IT.

  Why You Need SMPs Now, Even if You Have a SAM Tool

  Even if your organization is still dependent on a SAM tool for on-premise software, it’s critical to adopt an SMP like Torii to manage your SaaS applications effectively. SMPs complement SAM tools by providing the necessary visibility and control over your cloud applications, ensuring that you stay on top of SaaS spend, shadow IT, and security risks. By working in tandem, SMPs and SAM tools can offer a complete view of your hybrid software ecosystem, but it’s clear that SMPs are the future of software management.

  Upgrade Your Software Management Strategy Today

  As SaaS becomes the dominant force in software procurement, organizations must evolve their software management strategies. SaaS Management Platforms like Torii are the only way to ensure complete visibility, cost efficiency, and security compliance in today’s cloud-first world. Don’t let your company fall behind by relying solely on outdated SAM tools—Torii offers the future-proof solution you need.