Microsoft software license management software

The Asset Intelligence node in the Assets and Compliance workspace is the home page for asset intelligence in Configuration Manager. This home page displays a summary dashboard view for asset intelligence catalog information. The Asset Intelligence home page doesn't automatically update while you're viewing it.

Catalog Synchronization : Information about whether asset intelligence is enabled and the current status of the asset intelligence synchronization point. The home page only displays this section when you install an asset intelligence synchronization point.

Inventoried Software Status : The count and percentage of inventoried software, software categories, and software families that are identified by Microsoft, identified by an administrator, pending online identification, or unidentified and not pending.

The information displayed in table format shows the count for each, and the information displayed in the chart shows the percentage for each. The asset intelligence reports are located in the Configuration Manager console, in the Monitoring workspace, in the Asset intelligence folder under the Reporting node. The reports provide information about hardware, license management, and software.

For more information about reports in Configuration Manager, see Introduction to reporting. The accuracy of the quantity of installed software titles and license information displayed in asset intelligence reports might vary from the actual number of software titles installed or licenses that are used in the environment.

This variation is because of the complex dependencies and limitations involved in inventorying software license information for software titles that are installed in enterprise environments. Don't use asset intelligence reports as the sole source for determining purchased software license compliance. Asset intelligence hardware reports provide information about hardware assets in the organization. By using hardware inventory information such as speed, memory, and peripheral devices, asset intelligence hardware reports can present information about USB devices, about hardware that must be upgraded, and even about computers that aren't ready for a specific software upgrade.

Some user data in asset intelligence hardware reports is collected from the Windows security event log. For better report accuracy, clear this log when you reassign a computer to a new user. Asset intelligence license management reports provide data about licenses that are being used. This format provides a convenient method of matching acquired licenses with used licenses.

Other license management reports provide information about computers acting as servers that run the key management service KMS for Windows activation statistics. Several of the asset intelligence license management reports present information about the function of KMS, a method of administering volume licensing. If you haven't implemented a KMS server, some reports might not return any data.

Asset intelligence software reports provide information about software families, categories, and specific software titles that are installed on computers in the organization. The software reports present information such as browser helper objects and software that starts automatically.

These reports can be used to identify adware, spyware, and other malware. You can also use them to identify software redundancy to help streamline software acquisition and support. The software identification tags provide authoritative information used to identify installed software. Software 14A - Search for software identification tag enabled software : The count of installed software with a software identification tag enabled.

Software 14B - Computers with specific software identification tag enabled software installed : All computers that have installed software with a specific software identification tag enabled. Software 14C - Installed software identification tag enabled software on a specific computer : All installed software with a specific software identification tag enabled on a specific computer.

Asset intelligence reports can provide large amounts of information about installed software titles and acquired software licenses that are being used. Don't use this information as the only source for determining acquired software license compliance. The accuracy of the quantity displayed in the asset intelligence reports for installed software titles and license information can vary from the actual amounts currently used.

This variation is caused by the complex dependencies involved in inventorying software license information for software titles in use in enterprise environments. The following examples show the dependencies involved in inventorying installed software in the enterprise by using asset intelligence that might affect the accuracy of asset intelligence reports:.

Client hardware inventory dependencies : Asset intelligence installed software reports are based on data collected from Configuration Manager clients by extending hardware inventory to enable asset intelligence reporting. Because of this dependency on hardware inventory reporting, asset intelligence reports reflect data only from clients that successfully complete hardware inventory processes with the required asset intelligence WMI reporting classes enabled.

Because Configuration Manager clients perform hardware inventory processes on a schedule defined by the administrative user, a delay might occur in data reporting that affects the accuracy of asset intelligence reports. For example, an inventoried licensed software title might be uninstalled after the client finishes a successful hardware inventory cycle. Asset intelligence reports display the software title as installed until the client's next scheduled hardware inventory reporting cycle.

Software packaging dependencies : Asset intelligence reports are based on installed software title data collected by using standard Configuration Manager client hardware inventory processes. Some software title data might not be collected correctly. Examples that could cause inaccurate asset intelligence reporting:. The information displayed in asset intelligence reports is subject to many limitations.

The information displayed in them doesn't represent legal, accounting, or other professional advice. The information provided by asset intelligence reports is for information only. Don't use it as the only source of information for determining software license usage compliance.

The following limitations are examples of using asset intelligence that might affect the accuracy of the reports:. The quantity of acquired Microsoft software licenses is based on information that administrators supply. Closely review it to make sure that the correct number of software licenses is provided. The reported quantity of Microsoft software licenses includes information only about Microsoft software licenses acquired through volume licensing programs. It doesn't reflect information for software licenses acquired through retail, OEM, or other software license sales channels.

Software licenses acquired in the last 45 days might not be included in the quantity of Microsoft software licenses reported because of software reseller reporting requirements and schedules. Software license transfers from company mergers or acquisitions might not be reflected in Microsoft software license quantities.

They might require additional review by a Microsoft representative. Installed software title quantity limitations : Configuration Manager clients must successfully complete hardware inventory reporting cycles for the asset intelligence reports to accurately report the quantity of installed software titles.

There might be a delay between the installation or uninstallation of a licensed software title after a successful hardware inventory reporting cycle. This action may not be reflected in asset intelligence reports run before the client reports its next scheduled hardware inventory. License reconciliation limitations : The reconciliation of the quantity of installed software titles to the quantity of acquired software licenses is calculated by using a comparison of the license quantity specified by the administrator and the quantity of installed software titles collected from Configuration Manager client hardware inventories based on the schedule set by the administrator.

This comparison doesn't represent a final Microsoft conclusion of the license positions. The actual license position depends on the specific software title license and usage rights granted by the license terms. Track on-premises software and cloud services together, while the solution evaluates your transition to the cloud. The leading industry analyst has independently certified that our solution meets the highest product standards and requirements for complex enterprise environments, highlighting our fast ROI, scalability, managed services and partnership approach.

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