The ITAM Review Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Yorick Heijink from Brand Compliance, the official auditor of the ISO/IEC 19770-1 Certification Scheme. If your organisation is considering certification, this is a must-listen-to episode - it provides you with great insight direct from the person who will be on-site with your team performing the audit. Yorick talks us through a typical audit process, explains what a 'management system' is, why you need management buy-in, and the importance of reading and understanding the -1 standard itself. He also shares what he likes most about being a certification auditor. Here's one of our favourite clips from the episode: “These customers are my clients, and my job is to certify them, when they are compliant. I'm not there to find non-conformities. I'm not there to break down the system. In the end, my objective is to help you. But, in my role, I have to stay objective, and I cannot give any advise, which is always the tricky part."

In this episode, we speak with Ash Dharas (Softline Group Northern Europe) and Patrick Milas (HDI Group) about their experiences achieving ISO/IEC 19770-1 certification - these are the world's first two organisations to achieve ISO ITAM certification. Here' are two of our favourite clips from this episode: “The benefits of ITAM are much broader than people think. It is the nucleus for every other IT process. If you don't know what you have, you can't manage it. The audit process was the perfect way to get all the relevant stakeholders across the business in one room to make the case for ITAM and demonstrate its value.” - Patrick Milas, HDI Group “It is a humbling experience, but it ultimately improves the quality of your ITAM practices. It was a very enlightening journey and well worth the effort.” - Ash Dharas, Softline Group Northern Europe

In this episode, we speak with Alastair Pooley (CIO, Snow Software) about key findings from Snow's 2023 IT Priorities Report and the opportunities for ITAM. The bottom line is there are many opportunities for ITAM - some you would expect, some that may come as a surprise. Together, they present ITAM with a real opportunity to become a strategic, trusted advisor. Here's one of our favourite clips from this episode: “We're happier now buying SaaS applications than we were before COVID hit. I think this is a permanent shift in how we buy software. But, it's harder to manage. This is where ITAM can really help. Managing this and helping to prevent any surprises when unexpected cloud bills arrive is something ITAM professionals can really help with.” The 2023 IT Priorities Report: www.snowsoftware.com/go/it-prioriti…BoChAoQAvD_BwE

If you, as an ITAM professional, want to learn how you can make a difference by reducing e-waste (the fastest growing waste stream in the world), this podcast episode is for you. AJ Witt is the best person we know to address how ITAM can positively contribute to sustainability programs. Whether it's in regards to hardware or software, as AJ says, "You have the ability to make a difference."

We speak with Ron Brill, chair of the ITAM Standards Committee, to learn more about ISO and the ISO ITAM family of standards (19770) and what's coming down the pipeline. We also touch on FinOps and Sustainability and how ITAM can contribute. Our favourite quote from this episode: "It's my guess that it will be ITAM that will have to adapt to be more like FinOps than the other way around." Besides his role with the ITAM Standards Committee, Ron is also Vice Chair of the ITAM Forum's Trustee Board and the Chairman at Anglepoint. He's also a FinOps Certified Practitioner (and holds many other certifications).

We speak with Brian Adler from Flexera about key findings from the 2022 State of ITAM report. Brian is Senior Director, Cloud Market Strategy, at Flexera and a Governing Board Member of the FinOps Foundation. We discussed how ITAM professionals are creating more time (thanks to tools and automation) to focus on non-audit activities and the rising percentage of ITAMers who are now part of their organisation's CCoE (Cloud Center of Excellence) team...and much more. You can access the full 2022 State of ITAM report here: info.flexera.com/ITAM-REPORT-Stat…Asset-Management

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Partner of the Year winner. From building trusted relationships to delivering real-world impact, the winner shares their approach to collaboration, lessons learned, and what it takes to be a true strategic partner in ITAM. “Reducing drama is a superpower in an enterprise IT.” - Kerim Yuksel

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Rising Star. From early career milestones to standout contributions, the winner shares insights, lessons learned, and what it takes to make a meaningful impact in ITAM. "“If my experience encourages someone to take a second look at ITAM or feel excited about pursuing it, then that's incredibly rewarding for me.” - Katherine Caruso

What happens when ITAM and FinOps teams stop working in silos? Real savings. In this episode, we break down how combining IT asset intelligence with financial optimization practices—like BYOL, license portability, reserved instances, and hybrid use benefits—can drive tangible cloud and software cost reductions. Tune in for practical examples and takeaways you can apply immediately. Our favourite takeaway: “You've got two options: you can get on board with it and be part of that conversation… or you can stand still and hope for the best.” - Ryan Hardcastle

Calling all Hardware Asset Managers and IT Service Management pros. This episode is for you! Martin Thompson speak with George Deligiannoudis, the CEO of Mobilise IT about MDM (mobile device management), EMM (enterprise mobility management), and UEM (unified endpoint management). They also touch on ZTM (zero-touch mobility) and how AI-driven robots and industrial devices fall into all of this. You don't want to have a security threat arise with these devices either (think HAL 9000). One of our favorite quotes from this episode: “The proliferation of devices and the IoT explosion, which is expected to reach 40 billion+ devices by 2030, is not only becoming a technical nightmare for any enterprise but also a scale and cost issue.”

In this podcast we take a hard look at where we really stand with software audits as we head into 2026 – who's actually auditing, how their tactics have shifted, and where the real risk now sits. We unpack “cooperative” audit-immunity deals (like IBM's), the rise of volume-based audits over strategically targeting customers, and the new players stepping in as old names step back. We will also the new audit defence tactics that will be required as we move towards more AI-driven, consumption based metrics. "Within three days of expiring, the Audit letter and hit them out and they're literally coming three days after said like we're going to order you now. When you think about the amount of time it takes them to plan that, because the Audit letter mentions the auditor it mentions the Audit company, it mentions the contract so they've also been planning this over two or three weeks. So they knew before long before the ELA was going to expire that they were going to come in an audit just to make sure that there was no further revenue I could get from the relationship. " Barry Pilling, bedigital

AI promises smarter IT Asset Management, but only when the data and decisions behind it can be trusted. In this episode, we unpack how organizations are using data and AI in ITAM, where things can go wrong, and what responsible adoption really looks like. The conversation highlights real-world challenges, governance considerations, and the mindset needed to balance speed, insight, and control. "But in order for us to start leveraging at scale these kind of capabilities, we need to have that foundational trust. And that's nothing new. That's been the case for IT asset management for as long as I've, you know, been in this industry, which is a long time. You know, so having trustworthy data underpinning your IT asset management practice has always been the case, and it's no different now. " - Kieron Dean, SeriveNow

In this episode, SHI and SoftwareOne delve into the critical role of relationship management in ITAM, emphasising its significance in fostering collaboration and facilitating change. We also discuss how embracing relationship management, including effective change management—can enhance communication, build trust, and create a more inclusive environment. Join us as we explore actionable strategies to develop these essential soft skills and elevate the impact of ITAM in today's dynamic business landscape. "We're in a unique position where we have so much data, and we influence all the business. It is the backbone of any business, and they spend millions on it. It's getting that message across that, we could really drive value with our item knowledge and experience and the data we have." - Jayne Frank-Kelly, SHI

AJ Wit, Mark Bradley, and Ryan Hardcastle delves into the powerful intersection of financial, environmental, and asset management. This episode reveals how integrating these practices can help organisations control costs, reduce their environmental footprint, and meet compliance and risk management objectives, creating a more efficient and sustainable approach to IT operations. "FinOps was the new kid on the block, but over time, both FinOps and ITAM have realised they're tackling the same challenges from different angles" - Mark Bradley, Flexera

John Schwartzenberger from Flexera and Kelly Yip explores the complex reality of managing major software vendors in today's IT landscape. Gain a clear understanding of why Tier 1 vendors are so difficult to control, how SaaS sprawl and shadow IT create hidden risks, and why entitlement data is often a critical blind spot. The episode also introduces the idea of a proactive onboarding framework - showing how consistent, strategic approaches can replace reactive management and bring order to the chaos of vendor relationships. "All the information is out there: training, best practices, maturity assessments—use them to become a stronger practitioner." - John Schwartzenberger

ITAM teams face new challenges in tracking AI software, managing dynamic licensing models, and controlling cloud costs. Without a clear strategy, organisations risk overspending, compliance issues, and a lack of visibility into AI-driven assets. Parpreet Singh from TMG joins us in this episode as we explore how ITAM teams can evolve to meet the demands of AI, including the impact of AI on software licensing/asset tracking and best practices for cost optimisation. "The future is moving toward context-based AI and away from general platforms pulling information from across the internet - and that's the right direction" - Parpreet Singh

In this episode, we explore why strong relationship management is essential to successful ITAM. From driving collaboration to enabling meaningful change, we look at how building trust, improving communication, and fostering inclusivity can amplify the impact of your ITAM practice. You'll hear practical ways to develop these soft skills, strengthen partnerships, and navigate today's fast-moving business landscape with confidence.

Tune in as we unpack how IT Asset Disposition can be so much more than a necessary expense. In this episode, we share practical examples and market benchmarks that show how the right approach can cut costs, minimise waste, and even turn a profit. Hear how forward-thinking organisations are transforming their ITAD strategies — and get ideas you can put into action in your own. Want to know more? Well, why not watch our on-demand webinar. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8qtY8p0CQpm3C1FQgCa8RA#/registration

In this episode with Martin Thompson and Aamer Trambu (SoftwareOne) we delve into the critical role of relationship management in ITAM, emphasising its significance in fostering collaboration and facilitating change. They also discuss how embracing relationship management—including effective change management—can enhance communication, build trust, and create a more inclusive environment. As well as this, we hear about Aamer's personal journey into ITAM and his thoughts on the ITAM industry as a whole. “You might be early in your career, but don't underestimate the value you bring—sometimes you're exactly who the team turns to when it matters most.” – Aamer Trambu

In this episode Kelly Yip and Meesha Nayan (TMG), delve into the importance of adopting a continuous learning mindset within ITAM. They discuss common barriers to learning, such as time constraints and a lack of resources, and explore practical strategies for fostering a culture of learning. Listeners can learn about various avenues for continuous education, including certifications, webinars, and networking events that can enhance ITAM skills. They also highlight the value of mentorship programs and peer-to-peer learning as effective means of cultivating a growth mindset. Join us to discover how committing to lifelong learning can position ITAM professionals for success in an ever-evolving industry. “Everything needs a business outcome — even technical work ultimately ties back to cost, spend, and impact.” – Meesha Nayan

Welcome to ITAMantics, where our experts unpack the headlines shaking up the ITAM world. In this May 2025 episode AJ Witt, Martin Thompson, and Kelly Yip explore the stories making waves across cybersecurity, licensing, and sustainability. Stories discussed this month: Cybersecurity breaches hit UK retailers M&S and the Co-op — what ITAM can learn from the fallout Social engineering tactics and the growing risk to asset and security management Broadcom's aggressive VMware licensing audits — what they mean for your estate The rise of the secondary software market and what's driving its momentum How ITAM and FinOps collaboration can strengthen organisational resilience and efficiency

In this episode, we'll delve into the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for sustainable IT. While AI technologies offer significant potential for optimizing operations and improving energy efficiency, they also come with increased resource demands, such as substantial data center requirements, cooling systems, and the raw materials needed for hardware. We'll explore whether the energy savings from AI initiatives are sufficient to offset these resource consumption impacts and how organizations can effectively navigate this balance. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the role of IT Asset Management (ITAM) in leveraging AI for sustainability while considering the broader environmental implications. “We're seeing a lot of the ITAM technologies measure and calculate the emissions and power consumption of those devices — data that's really valuable for ESG teams, who quite often have been estimating carbon impact using cost as a proxy” – Luke Caswell at SoftwareOne.

FinOps has long focused on managing cloud spend—but that's beginning to change. In this episode, AJ Witt speaks with Jennifer Kuvlesky at Flexera about the March 2025 FinOps scope expansions and what they mean for SaaS and data center environments. They explore why FinOps is broadening its horizons, how this shift impacts ITAM professionals, and what organisations should expect next. "With cloud data, you can't do your job without understanding where and how things are being used—it's essential for managing spend and securing value." - Jennifer Kuvlesky at Flexera. Download Flexera's State of Cloud Report: https://info.flexera.com/CM-REPORT-State-of-the-Cloud?lead_source=Organic%20Search

More companies are turning to refurbished and second-source equipment, but what's driving the shift? And how has the industry evolved over the years? AJ Witt speaks with Neil Peters-Michaud (Cascade Asset Management), to talk about the changing landscape of ITAD, how COVID-19 reshaped supply chains, and why reuse and refurbishment are becoming the new normal. "COVID forced the industry to focus more on repair and refurbishment—because when new devices weren't available, reuse became essential." – Neil Peters-Michaud Listeners can request our Benchmarking Report here: https://cascade-assets.com/cascade-benchmarking-report/

Sustainability in IT is no longer just a buzzword—it's a necessity. But how can ITAM play a role in making organisations greener and more responsible? Is the business world truly aware of the scale of the challenge ahead? AJ Witt and Megan Barradell from SHI share their insights on the topic. "We've got the vision, and the willingness is there—but the real question is, how do we actually make it happen?" – Megan Baradell

In this episode, Kelly Yip speaks with Fulvio Inserra from The Mastermind Group (TMG) about the perception of ITAM within organisations. What is this perception and does it hinder ITAM? Does it keep ITAM within a 'box'? What do you think? Do we need a rebrand? Fulvio always keeps us on our toes with his fresh insights. Here's one of our favourite quotes from this episode: “We all have a role to play. It's all of us collectively. We need to be better at putting shining examples into the spotlight to get others to understand the value ITAM delivers.”

Do you know of any alternative, maybe lesser-known, software suppliers that can save you money while not compromising on quality? Well, here's one. Meet Nitro. It offers PDF and eSign tools. Here's one of our favourite soundbites: "If you're fed up with a particular vendor, go and seek alternatives - vote with your feet and spend your money somewhere else."

Join AJ Witt and Dr. Mike Corey and Dean Bolton from LicenseFortress as they discuss the dos, don'ts, pitfalls to avoid, and more, when it comes to navigating software renewals. Here's one of our favourite soundbites: “You have to know what you're consuming. What are you using, and what software or products aren't you using? If you don't understand what your use is, you're in no position to determine what licenses you should get rid of, what licenses you should keep, what licenses you should purchase more of so when the next audit comes, you're not under licensed. It really does comes back to those basics if you want to understand if you're paying a fair price.”

In this episode, AJ Witt speaks with Robbie Plourde from USU about what's new in SaaS Management, moving from cost to value, and the influence of AI.

Well, this is quite a thought-provoking question! In this episode, ex-Gartner Analysts Ryan Stefani and Ken Gonzalez discuss the future of ITAM and ITSM. As Ryan says, ITAM isn't really dead...it just needs to evolve, and there are new technologies enabling and preparing ITAM and ITSM to let go of the past.

In this episode, Ryan Stefani speaks with Tamara Lajara, FinOps Team Lead at Crayon about the similarities and differences between ITAM and FinOps. Spoiler alert - there are more similarities than differences. And, forget the ongoing debate...should FinOps report to ITAM?...should ITAM report to FinOps?...Isn't FinOps really just ITAM? It doesn't matter. What matters is the answer to this key question: what is the organisation's goal? Yes, ITAM and FinOps may look the same and share common goals, but you wouldn't use a hammer to cut a piece of wood. The answer to the question above will tell you which tool you need.

The Dutch Police became the 4th organisation (ever!) to gain ISO 19770-1 certification for its ITAM management system. In this episode, we speak to the people inside the organisation who made this happen. We hear about their certification journey and the benefits certification brings to their team and to the Dutch Police.

Welcome to ITAMantics, our monthly news podcast where we discuss the biggest ITAM stories from the last month. George is joined for this April 2024 edition by AJ Witt and Ryan Stefani. Stories discussed this month: 1. Flexera is first SAM tool vendor verified for Oracle E-Business Suite applications 2. Software Vendor Insights: What do the numbers tell us about the opportunities for ITAM negotiations? 3. Broadcom is removing expired VMware licences from its portal - take action now! 4. Who Loses When Broadcom Wins?

We sit down with Arthur Lozinski, CEO and Co-Founder of Oomnitza, to talk about the changing face of asset management within a modern business. We look at how all technology is connected within an organisation - i.e. managing SaaS and cloud shouldn't be separated from managing software and hardware on-premises - and the fact that a holistic approach is needed. The need for real-time data and actions means that automation becomes ever more important and adopting true Enterprise Technology Management (ETM) can be a competitive advantage to your business. Join Rich and Arthur to learn more and discover how ITAM professionals can grow and expand along with the future of asset management.

March 2024 edition of ITAMantics, where George, Rich and Ryan discuss the month's ITAM news. Up for discussion this month are: 1 - a survey from Oomnitza which suggests poor inventory data is to blame for increased audit costs 2 - Can you run Oracle on Microsoft Azure, and what are the pitfalls to avoid? 3 - Is HAM the Comeback King?

In this joint ITAM Review / ITAM Forum podcast, George Wright and Jennifer Carr join forces to interview Sarah Marriott, director at Anglepoint. Sarah is the Consultant of the Year 2023 at the annual ITAM Review Excellence Awards.

As hybrid environments become the norm within organisations, considering what you can run where is a key component of system architecture and IT Asset Management. In this episode, Rich talks to Dean (LicenseFortress) and Tim (Bridgeton Data) about the dos and don'ts of running Oracle software in the Microsoft Azure cloud - from both a licensing and a technical perspective. If you have Oracle software and Microsoft Azure in your environment, this episode will help you define what can (and can't) be done as they come together.

In this month's edition of ITAMantics George and Rich discuss another Quest audit ending up in court, a Slack customer falling foul of Slack's broken data migration tool (and facing the threat of their data being deleted), Flexera completing its acquisition of Snow Software, and "Chatbot Turbulence" - Air Canada's misguided AI which gave a customer incorrect advice.

Martin Thompson speaks with James Hatcher from Lansweeper about the value ITAM brings to infosecurity, as well as discussing Lansweeper's contribution to the Safehouse Initiative, a collaborative organization that brings together vendors to help educate companies of all sizes in order to improve overall cyber resilience.

In this joint ITAM Review / ITAM Forum episode, George Wright and Jennifer Carr join forces to interview Mihai Ciupala, Software Asset Management Specialist at _VOIS (Vodafone Intelligent Solutions). Mihai is the 2023 winner of the Rising Star Award, sponsored by SHI, at the 2023 ITAM Review Excellence Awards. This is one of a series of interviews with the reigning winners of the Excellence Awards. Because this is a collaboration between the ITAM Review and the ITAM Forum, this is both an ITAM Review Fireside Chat AND an ITAM Forum Change Makers podcast. We hope you enjoy the mashup format!

In this bumper 2-month edition of ITAMantics, George, Rich and AJ discuss the biggest ITAM stories to drop during the last two months. Stories discussed in this episode are: 1. Flexera buying Snow! + our analysis 2. Rocket acquisition of OpenText's Application Modernization Business (formerly part of Micro Focus) 3. VMware stops selling perpetual licenses 4. Discussion of our interview with S&P Global Ratings 5. Microsoft Copilot general availability 6. 2024 ITAM predictions

Rich and Chris dive into the world of frameworks, bridging gaps in risk control, and the dynamic interplay of FinOps across various domains. Join them as they explore the fusion of ITAM, Security and FinOps and consider aligning ITAM with business strategy. Discover how aligning KPIs can drive actions that truly resonate with outcomes including areas such as GRC & ESG, and how KPIs evolve in the face of continuous improvement.

This month Rich, George and AJ tackle the biggest stories to rock the ITAM World in November. Note that the BIGGEST story of the month happened the day after we recorded this, so there is no mention of Flexera announcing its intention to acquire Snow Software. We'll give that plenty of airtime in the December episode... Stories tackled this month are: - Atlassian buys AirTrack: Consolidation Down Under - AI Driving 2024 IT Agenda: Snow Software report - Draft of the ITAM Review Microsoft Certification - What ITAM can learn from contract management: Lessons from Schiphol Airport - Harnessing the power of Microsoft Copilot: A guide for business decision makers If you notice Rich go a little quiet when discussing his love of Australian coffee and the caffeine-based rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney, don't worry, he soon returns. He simply wanted to save your ears from his excessively loud doorbell...

Rich is once again joined by the experts from LicenseFortress and Beeman & Muchmore - this time to examine the latest happenings in the ongoing battle between Oracle and 3rd party support provider, Rimini St. They discuss the details of the case, what has happened recently, and how this may impact customers of Oracle and Rimini St - and what potential it holds for the wider software and IT industry. Everything in the podcast is opinion based on public information.

Rich speaks to Paul Deur from ReadyWorks about how Digital Platform Conductors tools can help organisations manage infrastructure and costs across a modern hybrid organisation. Assets are on-premises and in the cloud - how do you not only track them but also make the most effective use of all the data you have? That's what they attempt to answer in this podcast!

In this podcast, Rich talks to Jillian McCue, ITAM professional and Robbie Plourde of USU about the importance of data across an organisation. They discuss strategies to best engage stakeholders across the business, how to monitor ongoing data quality, the use of dashboards, and more. They also talk about ways to extend your team in a flexible manner when needed AND ponder what the upcoming AI revolution may look like for ITAM professionals.

This month George, Rich and AJ tackle the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant for SAM Managed Services, the role of AI in ITAM, insights from nearly a year of Oracle's seismic Java licensing changes, and why Ofcom has been shaking its fist at the UK public cloud market. Oh and why Pinochet makes for the unexpected protagonist in one of AJ's top vampire films ever.

In this podcast AJ Witt from ITAM Review and Alex Cojocaru from Licenseware take you beyond the hype. What is AI, what does it mean for ITAM Professionals, and where will we see it being used in the next few years.

We're approaching 12 months since Oracle made major changes to their Java licensing policy. In this podcast we're joined by: Mike Corey, LicenseFortress Dean Bolton, LicenseFortress Art Beeman, Beeman & Muchmore Joel Muchmore, Beeman & Muchmore to discuss how the changes are impacting organisations across the globe, what options you may have to mitigate or avoid large bills, and what to watch for when dealing with Oracle. If you want to get tips to help you plan your next Java negotiation/renewal, insights into where difficulties may lie in the future, and suggestions on the next steps to take - then this is the podcast for you!

In this Fireside Chat I speak with the FinOps Ninja herself, Rebecca Horton, MD and business lead at USU. We discuss her role, ITAM likes and dislikes, her impressively-varied and globetrotting career, and of course, FinOps.

In the September edition of ITAMantics, Rich, AJ and George discuss Cisco's acquisition of Splunk, ITAM's role in corporate credit ratings, SAP buying LeanIX, Josys raising $93M, Torii launching an AI assistant, and whether Oracle had any role in Birmingham City Council's bankruptcy? And as a bonus, AJ gives one of his foreign film recommendations. Did someone say Chilean Vampire dictators?