The ITAM Review Podcast

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?

Discover why SPM is crucial for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprise-level corporations. We explore the challenges organizations face in managing software sprawl, the risks of non-compliance, and the financial implications of inefficient software use. Our own Rich Gibbons is joined by Fabian Gutschera, Team Lead for SAM Solution Sales at USU, and they will share practical insights and real-world examples, shedding light on how SPM can lead to better decision-making, cost optimization, and enhanced security. Whether you're an ITAM Professional, IT leader, or a curious business professional, this podcast will provide actionable strategies to help you align your software portfolio with your business goals.

Welcome to the August edition of ITAMantics, our monthly news podcast where we discuss the biggest ITAM stories. We're in the middle of the summer, but there are still ITAM stories to discuss. In this episode we discuss: - SaaS management vendor Zluri raising $20 Million in series B funding - Europeans paying 20%+ “cloud tax” according to CISPE report - Can you sue your software vendor? Interview with Pam Fulmer, Technology Litigator at Tactical Law Group LLP - Zylo Case Study with Adobe

Welcome to ITAMantics - the first of a new monthly podcast where we review the biggest news stories of the last month. This month Rich, AJ and George discuss the latest vendor financials, an interview with Vodafone about training the next generation of ITAM professionals, Crayon's ITAM report, the news that IBM is acquiring Apptio. And last but not least, would you get a SAM tattoo?

A conversation with Rory Canavan, Owner at the SAM consultancy SAM Charter.

In this podcast with Mike Loria, President of IT Asset Management providers Re-Source Partners, we discuss the role of ITAD in facilitating digital transformation and the shift to hybrid and remote work. With costs under increasing focus we discuss how keeping track of assets throughout their lifecycle can solve cost challenges whilst improving service for employees and enabling innovation.

This is a Fireside Chat podcast with the reigning winner of the Professional of the Year award (sponsored by USU), at the ITAM Review Excellence Awards. We discuss Abdullah's ITAM career at Turk Telekom where he is currently the manager of Contract and Software Asset Management. We delve into the steps that first brought him into the world of ITAM from his contract management role, from when he first heard the word "SAM" at a conference in Germany in 2013 to his first SAM/ITAM role in 2017.

In this podcast Dean Bolton and Michael Corey from LicenseFortress discuss Oracle's recent changes to Java licensing. We detail exactly what has changed, provide practical tips on how to assess your potential exposure, and explore options for mitigating this significant risk. With organizations facing anything from a 2x – 10x increase in Java license costs this is something which all IT Asset Managers should be taking action on now.

Rich & James discuss a range of topics including: • Common challenges faced when onboarding an ITAM tool...and how to overcome them • How to set your ITAM priorities • The need for licensing knowledge • How to use 3rd party experts • How to demonstrate value as an ITAM professional as well as plenty more.

Rich Gibbons talks cloud cost optimisation with fellow cloud guru Robbie Plourde from USU. They discuss the different ways that ITAM can, and should, be involved in helping manage cloud spend including: • Aligning with FinOps • Managing hybrid environments • Bring Your Own Licensing (BYOL) • Focusing on spend efficiency • Engaging with stakeholders as well as identifying transferable skills between ITAM & cloud management and supporting the culture shift within a business. Robbie also shares his 5 top tips for making an impact in this area so don't miss out!

In this episode I speak to Ben Van Den Bosch, IT Asset Management Expert at The ITAM-Unit, an ITAM consultancy based in the Netherlands. Ben was the 2022 winner of the "Rising Star Award" at the ITAM Review Excellence Awards, sponsored by SHI. During the episode we discuss Ben's passion for inspiring the next generation of ITAM, his globe-trotting early career, and the romantic origins which led to his shift from investment banking to ITAM.

We talk to Tony Crawley, MD of Synyega, about: The importance independence in ITAM The US SAMOSA act and its impact on ITAM Using ITAM to drive digital transformation Join us to hear how an independent 3rd party view when it comes to software licensing & procurement can help, and how being involved early and consistently can help raise ITAM's strategic importance as well as save your organisation time and money. We also discuss the proposed SAMOSA Act from the US Government and how this could drive increased need for ITAM across various sectors.

We speak to Neil Frodsham, SHI and Rebecca Horton, USU to talk about the ITAM Review Excellence Awards, why they sponsored the Rising Star & Professional of the Year awards, the importance of recognising great work as peers, and much more. We also talk about mentorship, grad programmes, executive buy-in and several other important topics.

Michael Corey and Dean Bolton from License Fortress discuss findings of their recent survey on audit tactics, and what to expect from Oracle in 2023. Hear about their Java strategy, price rises, and focus on Oracle Cloud.

Join AJ Witt & SaaS Management expert James Moy as they discuss how SaaS Management teams can improve the security of SaaS applications in conjunction with other stakeholders, presented in conjunction with Zluri. Part 2 of a 2 part series

Join AJ Witt & SaaS Management expert James Moy as they discuss why SaaS Management teams should pay close attention to the security of SaaS applications, presented in conjunction with Zluri. Part 1 of a 2 part series.

Rich Gibbons talks to Jelle Wijndelts, Director of Business Consulting EMEA at Snow Software, about building your ITAM roadmap for 2023 and the key considerations for the new year. They also review some of the key insights, issues, and ideas that were raised and discussed by attendees at our joint Wisdom Unplugged conference on November 30, 2022.

A chat with Salome Hugo, Head of IT Enterprise Asset Management at First National Bank based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In our new Fireside Chats series we learn more about the people behind ITAM. How did they get into ITAM, what are their personal and professional goals, advice for others etc.

AJ Witt discusses practical approaches to cost optimization with Becky Trevino, SVP of Product at Snow Software. With many software publishers announcing significant price rises in 2023, what can ITAM teams do to save their organizations money?

In this episode of the ITAM Review podcast we discuss Java audits and changes to Oracle's audit strategy with Java licensing expert Silke Henderson-Stuenkel of Matrix42.

In this final podcast in the Change Makers series Eric discusses how best to engage with operational stakeholders, and how coming from a hands-on technical background gives ITAM managers a distinct advantage