Every organization needs software asset management. Not every organization needs to build a SAM team to get it. Three models are common: in-house, fully managed by a provider, and hybrid. The right choice depends on the size and complexity of your estate, the skills you have, and how quickly you need results.
Comparing the models
| In-house | Managed service | Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Full | Shared | Decisions stay with you |
| Specialist skills | Must be hired or trained | Included | Bought where needed |
| Speed to results | Slower to start | Fast | Fast |
| Cost profile | Salaries and tools | Service fee | Mix |
| Best for | Large, stable estates | Organizations without SAM staff | Mid-sized organizations |
What the work actually involves
SAM is not one skill. It is a mix of routine operations and occasional specialist work, which is why hybrid models are so common.
Who typically does what in a hybrid model
Owns decisions: renewals, consolidation, policy. Knows the business.
Holds contracts, usage, renewals and budgets, and automates reminders.
Runs the routine cycles, prepares renewal evidence, and brings specialist licensing expertise when needed.
Questions to decide
The market
Gartner publishes a Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Managed Services; in its 2025 edition, Anglepoint, Livingstone Group, Crayon and SoftwareOne were named Leaders. Large providers suit large global estates. Mid-sized organizations often value a provider that brings its own platform and works closely with the internal team.
How MI Solutions works
Frequently asked questions
Does a managed service mean losing control?
Not if decisions stay with your owners. A good provider prepares the evidence and runs the routine; you decide.
Can we switch from managed to in-house later?
Yes, if the platform and data stay with you.
What should a managed service report?
The same KPIs you would use in-house: realized savings, utilization, renewals decided on time and audit readiness. See SAM KPIs.
Sources
- SoftwareOne and Crayon, "SoftwareOne and Crayon recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SAM Managed Services," October 1, 2025. https://news.cision.com/softwareone/r/softwareone-and-crayon-recognized-as-a-leader-in-the-2025-gartner--magic-quadrant--for-sam-managed-s,c4244233
- Dutch IT Channel, "Gartner belicht Software Asset Management Managed Services-toppers," October 2025. https://www.dutchitchannel.nl/news/714260/gartner-belicht-software-asset-management-managed-services-toppers