Frequently Asked Questions — IT Governance

IT Asset Management (ITAM) is the practice of inventorying, optimizing, and managing the lifecycle of all technology assets within an organization: hardware, software, licenses and cloud services. An ISO 19770-compliant ITAM approach reduces costs, avoids publisher audit penalties and improves regulatory compliance.

ITAM (IT Asset Management) covers all technology assets: hardware, software, contracts and cloud services. SAM (Software Asset Management) is a subset of ITAM focused exclusively on software assets and license compliance. Nexus Conseils TI masters both practices in an integrated ISO 19770-compliant approach.

ISO 19770 is the international standard that defines requirements for Software Asset Management (SAM). It comprises several parts: ISO 19770-1 (SAM processes), ISO 19770-2 (Software Identification Tags — SWID Tags), and ISO 19770-5 (vocabulary). An organization aligned with ISO 19770-1 demonstrates the maturity of its SAM approach and significantly reduces its publisher audit risk.

Outsourcing IT vendor management to an independent firm like Nexus Conseils TI delivers: (1) measurable contractual savings through renegotiation, (2) objective vendor performance assessments via KPIs and SLAs, (3) reduced dependency risks (vendor lock-in), and (4) ITIL best practice compliance. Our independence ensures your financial and contractual interests are defended against major vendors.

IT contract optimization and audit prevention rely on three levers: (1) a precise inventory of deployed software assets (SAM/ITAM approach), (2) an analysis of contractual usage rights versus actual usage to identify over-licensing or under-licensing, and (3) a proactive renegotiation strategy ahead of Enterprise Agreement renewals (Microsoft, Oracle, SAP). Nexus Conseils TI supports all three steps to reduce your exposure and optimize spending.

A Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) is a volume licensing contract for organizations with 500 or more users or devices. It covers Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows and other products. Negotiating an EA should begin 6 to 12 months before expiry and includes: analyzing actual usage vs. contractual entitlements, determining future needs, and negotiating discounts and payment terms. Nexus Conseils TI provides neutral advisory support throughout this process.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a framework of best practices for IT Service Management (ITSM). ITAM is a specific practice that integrates within the ITIL framework, particularly within Configuration Management (CMDB) and asset management processes. Together, ITIL and ITAM enable comprehensive and coherent IT governance.

A CMDB (Configuration Management Database) is a database containing all Configuration Items (CIs) of an IT infrastructure and their relationships. ITAM feeds the CMDB with accurate data on physical and software assets. A well-maintained CMDB improves traceability, reduces incident risks and supports ITIL change and incident management processes.

Yes. Nexus Conseils TI supports clients across Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver), Europe (France, Belgium) and the MEA region (Morocco, United Arab Emirates). Thanks to our remote collaboration tools and mastery of multicultural contexts, we deliver effective engagements internationally.

Nexus Conseils TI offers several engagement models: fixed-fee engagements for defined projects (ITAM audit, contract renegotiation), part-time advisory (monthly consulting), or time-and-materials engagements for ongoing needs. The initial consultation is free and without obligation. Contact us at info@nexusti.ca or call (514) 545-7554.