News You Can Use

News Bite 1:  GSA SAM Alpha Tool Available to Beta Testers

The GSA FedITAM Program Office commissioned Dynanet Corporation to build an alpha tool that might help agencies seeking to better manage their software assets.

The prototype tool can integrate Excel, CSV, or XML files pre-formatted according to defined standard data layouts from Acquisition, Finance and IT systems. The stand-alone ad hoc tool can create a repository and produce executive reports to give agency officers and managers visibility into their software assets-- what is approved, purchased, and deployed on the network at a given point in time.  It also produces reports on utility, saturation, and depletion rates of software inventory.

The Department of Interior is the first agency to request a copy of the SAM tool for beta-testing in their Bureau of Land Management as they seek to gain greater visibility into their inventory of software assets.

To see a demo of the tool or to obtain information on how your agency might become a beta-testing participant, contact the FedITAM PMO.


News Bite 2:   GSA Automation of “Bricks” Underway

The GSA Architecture & Engineering Standards Division, under the direction of GSA’s CIO Casey Coleman, is spearheading an effort to automate “The Bricks.”

According to IT Specialist, Rick Murphy, this familiar source of information about GSA approved software and network architecture may be accessible on-line in 2009 with enhanced search capabilities, replacing the Power-Point formatted information source of the past.


News Bite 3:   USDA’s EATS System a Front-runner in Hardware Asset Management

The Department of Agriculture recently demonstrated their Equipment Acquisition Tracking System (EATS) application to the FedITAM office.  Prompted by a consolidated computer buying initiative several years ago, this production system now tracks assets serving over 3500 USDA offices across the country, helping managers to request, track, re-deploy and retire hardware assets from cradle to grave. View the EATS management guide.


Current ITAM Newsletter:

The Fall 2008 issue of FedITAM News advises cost-conscious chief officers about some of the questions they should be asking as the trend moves towards greater transparency and reductions in spending. [PDF - 139K] [PUB - 177k]

 

Archived ITAM Newsletters:

This 2007 issue of FedITAM News provided an overview of Software Asset Management and efforts toward developing a prototype tool at GSA. [PDF - 130k] [PUB - 93k]

Last Reviewed 11/25/2008