I need some form of audit checklist for general accepted best practices around software management and licensing in the windows environment. Everywhere else I have asked they just say “download this tool”. But I more over want a set of controls around software licensing and management for windows workstations and servers. So much so that we can use this checklist or best practice document as a “baseline” to check how our 3^rd party IT provider manage software on servers/workstations. It sounds like exactly the kind of thing Microsoft would have a best practice document with 10 key controls for – but I just can’t find it. The solution may well be a tool but we need some sort of recognised best practice for desktop software/server software in the MS environment on which to check them against to see how they do things. No just “have you got this tool yes/no”. Or a list of things you must do for good software management/licensing – are they doing them. Your help most welcome.

Not exactly sure what you're looking for here, but have you considered the best practices defined in ITIL... http://www.itil-officialsite.com/home/home.aspx Microsoft SAM might also be of interest... http://www.microsoft.com/sam/en/us/default.aspx Douks

Not exactly sure what you're looking for here, but have you considered the best practices defined in ITIL... http://www.itil-officialsite.com/home/home.aspx Microsoft SAM might also be of interest... http://www.microsoft.com/sam/en/us/default.aspx Douks

Some 3rd party solutions http://www.flexerasoftware.com/ http://www.sassafras.com/licensing.html Rigards Milos

Some 3rd party solutions http://www.flexerasoftware.com/ http://www.sassafras.com/licensing.html Rigards Milos