Pre-Con Ed: Covering Your "Assets" - Don't get Caught with Your [Software] Pants Down

World®
’16
Pre-Con Ed: Covering Your "Assets" -
Don't get Caught with Your [Software]
Pants Down
Kim Rasmussen
Sr. Principal Engineering Services Architect – CA Technologies
AMX25E
AGILE MANAGEMENT

2 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
© 2016 CA. All rights reserved. All trademarks referenced herein belong to their respective companies.
The content provided in this CA World 2016 presentation is intended for informational purposes only and does not form any type of
warranty. The information provided by a CA partner and/or CA customer has not been reviewed for accuracy by CA.
For Informational Purposes Only
Terms of this Presentation

Abstract
Do you ever feel like you are trying to boil the ocean when all
you need is a water for a cup of tea? Well that's what an ill
targeted software asset management plan can feel like. Using
software asset manager capabilities in CA IT Asset Manager as
an example, find out how to identify the software in your estate
that really matters, that's important, for which there is demand.
Learn where to focus and where not to. Investigate streaming,
software subscriptions and other impactful topics to enhance
your software asset manager success.
CA Technologies -
Sr. Principal
Engineering Services
Architect
Kim
Rasmussen

Agenda
CHALLENGES
GETTING YOUR “DUCKS IN A ROW” (FIND THE RIGHT DATA SOURCES)
CALCULATE COMPLIANCE
USING CONNECTORS
COLLECTING ENTITLEMENT DATA
DATA QUALITY
1
2
3
4
5
6

@CAWORLD #CAWORLD © 2016 CA. All RIGHTS RESERVED.5 @CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Pants Down
The Challenge

6 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
No standards on purchase data1
Volumes of discovery data2
Not all licenses created equal3
Dynamic data, constant change4
There is no Silver Bullet5
■ Fines/penalties
■ Public relations
■ Unplanned expenses
Out of Compliance 6
■ Money could be used to fund other key projects
■ Additional Maintenance monies coming from
already tight budgets
Over Purchases7
Software Asset Management
Challenges

Define Compliance
■ Processor Value Unit (PVU)
■ Client Access License (CAL)
■ Core Based
COMPLEX LICENSE
■ Multi Use License
■ Multi Version License
■ Downgrade Rights
■ Downgrade Path
LICENSE VARIANTS
■ Buy One, Install One
SIMPLE LICENSE

Effective demand vs. Software installs
Metric Engine Calculation
Recognition

Pants Down
Getting your “Ducks in a row” (Find the right data sources)

Getting your “Ducks in a row”
§ Resulting data quality is only as good as the original source
§ You must trust the input sources to trust the result
§ Environment data changes all the time
– Requires continuous data collection
– Process to validate data and error handling
§ No one tool can collect all data
Find the right data sources

The Multiple Sources
Enrichment SourcesPrimary Sources
CA ITAM –
Software Asset
Management
CA ITAM – Asset
Portfolio Management
CA IT Asset Manager (CA ITAM)
Data Coordination Service
1. Enrich Device data
CA Client Automation (Servers)
SCCM (Desktops EMEA)
SCCM (Desktops Americas)
vCenter
CA Configuration
Automation
Custom Software Asset Management (SAM) Connectors
Oracle
CA ITAM Data Coordination Service
1. Base Data
Hardware Reconciliation
MDB

3rd Level Metrics
Non-generic data, for example:
Features Enabled
# of Concurrent users
# of Active users
Many Server-based enterprise
wide Software solutions
require specific KPI’s
1st Level Metrics
Count of devices, number of
sites, number of employees
Typically for things like site
licenses or enterprises wide
licenses
2nd Level Metrics
A combination of Generic
Device:
Capacity
Relationships
Installations
Most common licensing
metrics
Data typically available in an
Inventory tool
Finding the Right Data Source
We categorize License Metrics into three categories

§ Typically this is a count from HR or Finance
– Number of employees
– Number of sites around the world
– Number of devices bought
§ Normally you would not need a tool to collect this, but it can
help in automating the process…
– …IF the software vendor accepts that count as “proof of usage”
What do we need for 1st Level Metrics ?

§ A combination of:
– Installation
– Device Capacity
– Relationships
§ Virtualization
§ Users
§ Device attributes important for effective demand calculation
(capacity)
– Device type
– CPU Type
– CPU Count
– Overall Core Count
What do we need for 2nd Level Metrics ?

§ Identify software installation
– APR
§ Master catalog includes a lot of Recognition information
– Native method
§ Most likely requires new Signatures and Recognition rules
§ Virtualization Relationship
– Device type – Physical – Software partition – Hardware partition
– Relation to Physical Host, Cluster and Pools
§ User Relationship
– User – Device information
§ Secondary use right
§ Metric conversion for user-based software installed on a device
§ MSDN

§ Product specific, for example:
– Oracle features and options enabled
– Number of concurrent service desk users
– Number of managed devices in the CMDB

Primary Source vs. Enrichment Sources
§ Primary Source
– Creates and maintain the Device Record
– Your typical 1st and 2nd Level Metric data
§ Enrichment Source
– Adding data to existing object
§ Cluster information
§ Oracle discovery
§ Organizational info (i.e. Cost-center, location and user relations)
– Some inventory tools might deliver some of the data
– In special cases it can enrich the actual base data

Primary Source
§ You should only have one primary source for each device
– Create the device, classify device and CPU type
– Hardware attributes
– Preferably installed software
§ You can have multiple primary sources
– Not to overlap devices
By type
• Desktops
• Unix servers
• Windows servers
By location
• EMEA
• APJ
• Americas
By organization
- Finance
- Development
- Sales

The Multiple Sources
Enrichment SourcesPrimary Sources
CA ITAM –
Software Asset
Management
CA ITAM – Asset
Portfolio Management
CA IT Asset Manager (CA ITAM)
1. Enrich Device data
CA Client Automation (Servers)
SCCM (Desktops EMEA)
SCCM (Desktops Americas)
vCenter
CA Configuration
Automation
Custom Software Asset Management (SAM) Connectors
Oracle
CA ITAM Data Coordination Service
1. Base Data
Hardware Reconciliation
MDB

Find the Right Primary Source
§ Typically the Inventory management tool
– Microsoft SCCM, Symantec Altiris, CA Client Automation
§ If overlap
– Best practice, uninstall the agents from one of the tools
§ You should not need two management tools on each device
– Nominate the Primary tool for the set of devices
§ Modify both connectors to enforce that rule
– Do not create Device from other tool
– Do not overwrite

Enrichment Sources
§ Should not change any hardware attributes
– Will mess up the history
– If you have to, the primary source should not include the attribute
§ e.g. Core count, then the Primary will have to deliver Core count and the
Enrichment only include Core count
§ Typically supply RAW or Software Install/usage
§ General Rule:
– If you update anything from the Enrichment source it can NOT be
included in the Primary source data

Pants Down
Using Connectors

Standard Connectors
§ Over 40 Standard Connectors (for Inventory and License)
§ Admin -> Standard connectors overview

Standard Connectors

OOTB Enrichment Source
Consolidated Asset Views
CA IT Asset Manager
Asset Portfolio
Management
Software Asset
Management
CA Service Management Components
CA Service
Catalog
CA Service
Desk Manager
SAM
DB
(Hardware Discovery/Ownership)MDB
TADzSCCM
§ License Compliance
§ Internal Allocations
§ SAM Lifecycle
CA Client
Automation
DDMI
Discovered Data Sources

Reference Data
Source
(E.g. Cost Centers)
Hardware
Reconciliation
And Enrichment
Reference/Ownership Data
Owned Data Source
(E.g. Hardware Assets)
Owned Data Source
(E.g. Software Licenses)
Owned Data
Source
(E.g. Software
Contracts)
CA ITAM
– Asset
Portfolio
Management
CA ITAM – Software Asset Management
Discovered Data Source
(E.g. DDMi)
(E.g. CA Client
Automation)
(E.g. SCCM)
Reference Data – Organizational Structure
Reference Data – Geographical Structure
Owned Data – Contacts
Discovered Data – Hardware Devices
Enriched Hardware Assets
- Contact
- Location
- Cost center
OOTB Enrichment source

CA ITAM – Data Coordination Service
OOTB Enrichment source
Division
Company
Cost Center
Region
Country
Location
Group All

Combining Data Sources
§ SCCM do not know about clusters
and virtualization
§ Maintain Virtualization Relationships
§ Need to handle the data awareness to not update same thing
from 2 sources
§ Doc: CA ITAM Software Asset Management Multi-Source
Discovery v2.pdf
Use Case – SCCM and vCenter

Combining Data Sources cont.
§ Consideration
– Should vCenter create devices ?
§ ESX hosts and Clusters as this is not in SCCM
§ What about partitions?
§ Yes: Get incomplete data if it does not exist in SAM
§ NO: Get Import error if Device do not exist in SCCM
§ My preference – NO.. As it is better with no data than with incomplete data
– Software inventory for the Servers…. Yes – no other source
– Software inventory for Partitions… NO incomplete data
– Device types
§ Yes : SCCM does not know about virtualization so device type has to change..
– Implement awareness for device type

Combining Data Sources cont.
§ Device type
– 400_sccm_devices.xml
§ Only update if changed
§ OK with history
– 400_devices_vcenter_5.xml
§ Add code to change device_type_id Partision and not containing vmware
§ Do not import VM Devices from vCenter only Cluster and Host information
§ See doc.

3rd Level Metrics
§ Some OOTB connectors (e.g. Oracle LMS)
§ Typically Generic RAW inventory
– Signature recognitions
– Flexible
§ Register as software installation/account usage
– Require you to know ProductID to store it
– Eliminate recognition
– Not as flexible
Connectors

3rd Level Metrics
§ Rely on Primary source to create Base Device data
§ Require a common reproducible device ID
§ All OOTB connectors use Hostname
§ Alternatively use FQDN (DNS names)
– Requires all connectors modified to align
Connectors

What if the data is unavailable or hard to get to?
§ Manually register Usage (Manual Attestation)
§ Can be on Individual Device (Software Installations) or Users (Account
Usage)
§ Typically it will be a cost-center usage
– 1 count for a whole cost center
– Many use a CC for the full company
Manual attestation

What if the data is unavailable or hard to get to? Cont.
§ Need a process to keep data current
– e.g. every month or every 3 months
§ Need documentation
– Use Remark field
§ Use intermediately when implementing
3rd Level Metric connectors
Manual attestation

Pants Down
Collecting Entitlement Data

Challenges

§ Central controlled process
– Can be de-centrally managed
§ NO entitlement should be unregistered
– Robust, but easy to use
– Ease of use encourages use of process
§ Register one Contract / Purchase Order at the time

§ Build Process for future purchases
– Ensuring all entitlement is managed
§ Older data
– Identify old system
§ Excel, Database, manual, non existing
– Identify old storage cabinets
§ Collect one Vendor at the time
– One contract/PO at a time
– Starting with the one you have most knowledge of
– Highest risk

Collecting Entitlements
§ Use a CSV or
Excel sheet to
capture all
data and then
import them.
– Base CSV
Using a CSV system or Excel to collect

Collecting Entitlements
§ CA Services uses an Excel Template
– Build in SKU checker
Using a CSV system or Excel to collect

Hints for Collecting Data
§ Do it in small controlled “chunks”
– e.g. one Contract at the time
§ Ensure you have all data before starting the registration
– Including EULA if the SKU does not exist
– Once registered it is typically archived
§ Consult License Responsible / Internal Produce Owner
– Always have sign off from Product Owner

Pants Down
Data Quality

Data Quality
§ Reliable results come from reliable data sources
§ Data quality also includes completeness
§ Continuously verify the data
– Reports comparing systems
§ Documenting Data Verification process
– Is as important as documenting the data sources
§ Always use common sense in your data assessment

Data Quality
§ Compare Asset Management with discovery
– Are all Owned Assets available
– Are all discovered assets managed by owners
§ Active Directory (AD) contains all computers on the network
– Many AD computer lists hold allot of legacy data
§ ALL data sources require maintenance
§ Automation and processes are KEY
Completeness - Devices

Data Quality
§ Manage Users in one place
– Typically AD
– Need a process to ADD, CHANGE and REMOVE
§ Enrich in tools when needed
– i.e. CA ITAM – Asset Portfolio Management adds Locations and
Device relationships
Completeness - Users

Data Quality
§ Many metrics need more than just installations
§ Device attributes
§ Installation records
§ Verify by License Metric
– i.e. Core Count is not normally available in older SCCM installations
§ Add extra discovery to your inventory tool
§ Add manual data – There is no other way
– Needs to be reproducible
– Needs to be documented
Completeness – Compliance calculation

Understand the Data
A tool is not everything; if you
do not understand the EULA
you may not be able to ensure
correct compliance status
Always apply human logic and
common sense to the result to
ensure correct compliance
status
Know Your Data Sources
Remember to collect and
manage both Discovery and
Entitlement data.
Document every data stream
to be able to understand the
different data elements that
comply to the result.
Ensure Data Quality
(and completeness)
Data is everything is you can
not trust the data you can not
trust the result.
CA ITAM – Software Asset
Management provides a wide
range of data quality
indicators. Use them in a
structured manner.
Summary

Recommended Sessions
SESSION # TITLE DATE/TIME
AMX23E CA Software Asset Management - Key Customer Topics 11/15/2016 at 3:30 pm
AMX21S
Case Study: Create Time out of Thin Air - Automate and
Stop Manual Software License Compliance
11/16/2016 at 3:00 pm
AMX122S
Case Study: Taking IT Asset Management to the Next
Level With Process Automation
11/17/2016 at 3:45 pm

Must See Demos
Service Desk
and Support
Analyst xFlow
Experience
Software and
Hardware Asset
Management
Request
Management
and Self-service
Management
Insights –
Reporting and
Dashboards

Questions?

Thank you.
Stay connected at communities.ca.com

Pre-Con Ed: Covering Your "Assets" - Don't get Caught with Your [Software] Pants Down

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