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A Robust and Comprehensive SAM Product for Large Enterprises.
October 27, 2022

A Robust and Comprehensive SAM Product for Large Enterprises.

Steven Calkins | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Snow License Manager

I am not really sure what is meant by "easy to integrate." In the sense of knowing what to do, once that is known, the implementation steps are forthright. Nonetheless, a great amount of preparatory work is necessary, and neophytes can easily make mistakes in understanding the requirements of a new deployment. So weighing the straightforward aspect of deployment once it is understood with the extensive preparations necessary, I would give it a 6.
The organization has ~35,000 networked computers and about the same number not connected to the network. The control of which software is used worldwide in over 80 branch offices throughout the world was an insurmountable problem until that organization began using Snow. It is currently used for almost all network-connected (IT-managed) computers using the Windows and iOS operating systems. Linux is beginning to be implemented. The detached (IT unmanaged) devices are not currently being scanned for software. Frequently unrecognized software appears within the usage of the organization, and the Snow DIS department offers an online Software Recognition Service which adds or amends recognition rules and/or applications to provide recognition for applications that are hitherto unknown. One deficit remains in the case of plugins that run exclusively with the application executable. Very often, these cannot be recognized out of the box, so the solution is to create a local application without recognition rules to manage the licenses. The open architecture of Snow does permit the creation of Powershell scripts that run for such cases, which now begin to be implemented within the organization. The Snow agent, which runs on each managed computer once a day, has a small footprint and does not interfere with compute-intensive applications. All-in-all, the Snow infrastructure is reliable, the service personnel is amiable, and the product is a good choice for large organizations.
  • SLM finds installations of software reliably.
  • SLM determines the usage of applications, web apps, and the users who employ them.
  • SLM Reports help management determine current and future application usage.
  • SLM notifies when forbidden programs are installed.
  • SLM provides complete license management.
  • The Snow Management and Control Center (SMACC) has inconsistent searches and filters, some functioning with wildcards and others not.
  • The learning curve of Snow is quite steep.
  • Recalculating compliance can slow the entire application down.
  • Licensing management to ensure compliance.
  • Estimating future application needs.
  • Consolidating software products that are used.
  • License transfer in cases where application packages exceed the number needed by local requirements and can be used elsewhere in the organization.
  • SLM saved almost $1,000,000 in software acquisition costs in its first year.
  • SLM allowed for reducing the number of different applications in use, i.e., consolidation and simplifying IT management.
  • SLM had become a valuable planning tool for software acquisition.
No SAM software could get a ten because all have deficits, but Snow is one of the best. Its low local device footprint and non-obtrusive scanning permit calculation-intensive applications to run unimpaired. Its reports are helpful for management, IT, purchasing, and license managing departments. SLM's trouble recognizing plugins and addons running in another application space and an, at times, clumsy SMACC prevents an evaluation of 10, but it is worth an 8 in any event. I doubt any other SAM software would reach the same level.
We had some local in-house developments, but these proved inadequate for the worldwide organization. Other SAM products on the market were not in use at any time. The choice of this product was made by others after thoroughly considering what was on the market and what their features were. I have no experience with other SAM products, so a truly accurate comparison is not possible for me. Only the difference between an organization with and without a SAM product like Snow could be made.

Do you think Snow License Manager delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Snow License Manager's feature set?

Yes

Did Snow License Manager live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Snow License Manager go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Snow License Manager again?

Yes

In large organizations where control can be exercised over the computers and the range of the software estate is not clear, Snow can be employed with great benefit, easily identifying applications currently in use and determining over-purchase and under-purchase. In BYOD scenarios, Snow would be less effective since the organization has no clear way to control which applications scanned by the Snow agent belong to the user and which to the organization. Perhaps limiting installations to a virtual realm on the devices employed (VMs or virtual appliances) would make it possible, but this would require significant planning on the part of the IT in such scenarios.