CIS-Software Asset Management Interview Questions

The most critical stage in achieving exam achievement is to prepare for a job interview. One of the most important steps in your career will be the job interview. Because this is your finest chance to impress recruiters and leave an indelible impression by performing at your best. However, it is critical to understand the fundamentals of an interview before attending. As a result, before beginning to prepare for the CIS-Software Asset Management interview phase, keep the following points in mind:

Research about the company
Research about the job roles and responsibilities
Thinking about wearing decent \ formals for the interview
Having good communication skills
Build yourself on confidence
Preparing for questions that will be asked in the interview
Following up with the recruiters.

In addition, the following sections cover the CIS-Software Asset Management Interview questions and answers. As a result, candidates who take this exam often struggle in the interview stage, owing to factors such as a lack of knowledge about the firm, job function, and, most crucially, ignorance of the most common interview questions. So, stick with us to improve your interview abilities and ace the interview.

Now, let’s begin with some CIS-Software Asset Management Interview questions.

Advanced Interview Questions

Can you explain the process of software asset management?

Software Asset Management (SAM) is a process of managing, tracking and optimizing software licenses and usage within an organization. It involves a set of practices aimed at maximizing the value, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of software assets while minimizing the risk of software license non-compliance.

The following steps outline the process of SAM:

Inventory: The first step in SAM is to create an inventory of all software assets in use within the organization. This includes a comprehensive list of all software applications, versions, licenses, and the number of installations.
Classification: The next step is to classify the software assets into categories such as critical, standard, or redundant. This helps to prioritize the management of software assets based on their importance to the organization.
License Management: After classifying software assets, the next step is to manage software licenses. This involves tracking the licenses, verifying the license compliance, and ensuring that licenses are properly allocated and used in accordance with their terms and conditions.
Usage Monitoring: SAM also involves monitoring the usage of software assets. This helps to identify areas where software assets are underutilized or overutilized, and make adjustments accordingly.
Optimization: Based on the results of usage monitoring, the organization can optimize its software assets by uninstalling redundant applications, negotiating better license terms, or consolidating software licenses.
Compliance: SAM also involves ensuring that the organization remains compliant with software license agreements and regulations. This includes conducting regular audits to ensure that software assets are used in accordance with their licenses.
Reporting: The final step in SAM is to provide regular reports on the status of software assets. This includes information on software usage, license compliance, and areas where optimization is needed.

In conclusion, Software Asset Management is a continuous process of monitoring and managing software licenses and usage to ensure that organizations get the most value from their software assets while minimizing the risk of software license non-compliance.

What are the key components of a successful software asset management program?

here’s an elaborate explanation of the key components of a successful software asset management (SAM) program:

Inventory Management: It is important to have a comprehensive inventory of all the software assets, including installed software, licenses, and maintenance agreements. This information is critical for tracking software usage and ensuring compliance with licensing agreements.
Software License Management: The goal of this component is to ensure that the organization is in compliance with licensing agreements and that licenses are properly managed and tracked. This includes maintaining accurate records of the licenses, their expiration dates, and the number of licenses in use.
Software Deployment and Maintenance: The SAM program should have procedures in place for software deployment, maintenance, and upgrades. This includes creating and maintaining an image library, updating software, and tracking software upgrades.
Software Metering and Usage Monitoring: This component tracks and monitors software usage to ensure that the software is being used in compliance with licensing agreements. This includes tracking the number of licenses in use and identifying any instances of non-compliance.
Software Asset Disposal: The SAM program should have procedures in place for disposing of software assets that are no longer in use or needed. This includes procedures for uninstalling software and destroying data.
Vendor Management: A successful SAM program requires effective communication and collaboration with software vendors. This includes maintaining accurate records of vendor agreements, negotiating contracts, and communicating with vendors about software needs and compliance issues.
Reporting and Analytics: The SAM program should have the capability to generate reports and analytics to provide visibility into software assets, licensing compliance, and usage. This information is critical for making informed decisions about software purchases and usage.
Risk Management: The SAM program should have procedures in place for managing and mitigating risks associated with software assets. This includes managing security risks, data protection risks, and compliance risks.
Processes and Procedures: The SAM program should have documented processes and procedures for software asset management, including inventory management, license management, deployment and maintenance, metering and usage monitoring, and asset disposal. These processes should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are effective and efficient.
Employee Training and Awareness: The SAM program should include training and awareness programs for employees to ensure that they understand the importance of software asset management and the role they play in maintaining compliance and reducing risk.

What steps do you take to ensure software compliance?

here are the steps one could take to ensure software compliance:

Define Compliance Requirements: The first step in ensuring software compliance is to identify the specific regulations and standards that apply to the software in question. This could include standards such as ISO, SOX, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
Perform a Risk Assessment: Once you know the regulations you need to comply with, you should perform a risk assessment to determine the likelihood of non-compliance and the impact of such non-compliance. This will help you prioritize which regulations you need to focus on first.
Implement Controls: Based on the results of your risk assessment, you should implement appropriate controls to reduce the risk of non-compliance. This could include security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access controls, as well as processes and procedures that support compliance with specific regulations.
Conduct Regular Audits: Regular internal and external audits can help you identify areas where you may not be fully compliant, and allow you to take corrective action to ensure you remain compliant over time.
Document Processes and Procedures: Keeping a record of all processes and procedures used to ensure compliance can help you demonstrate to auditors and regulators that you are taking compliance seriously.
Provide Employee Training: Regular training for employees on software compliance requirements and how to comply with specific regulations can help ensure that everyone involved in the software development process understands the importance of compliance and is able to follow the necessary procedures.
Stay Current: Stay informed about changes in regulations and standards and implement any necessary changes to ensure continued compliance.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your software is compliant with relevant regulations and standards, and that you are minimizing the risk of non-compliance.

How do you monitor software licenses to ensure they are up to date?

Keep track of all software licenses: To monitor software licenses effectively, you need to have a centralized database that contains all the software licenses your organization has acquired. This database should have information such as the vendor, license type, number of licenses, expiration date, and the cost.
Automated license management software: There are many software programs available that can automate the process of tracking software licenses. These programs can alert you when a license is about to expire, and help you manage renewals.
Regularly review the license database: It’s essential to review the license database regularly to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date. This is especially important if your organization has recently acquired new software or if there have been changes to the license terms.
Schedule reminders: Setting reminders to check on the status of your software licenses is an effective way to ensure that they are always up to date. You can set reminders in your calendar or use automated license management software to receive alerts.
Audit the software usage: Regularly auditing the software usage can help you determine if you have more licenses than you actually need. This can help you reduce the number of licenses you have to purchase, which in turn can save you money.
Work with vendors: Establishing a good relationship with software vendors can help you keep track of your licenses and ensure that they are up-to-date. Some vendors can provide automatic alerts when a license is about to expire, which can make it easier for you to manage your licenses.

By following these steps, you can effectively monitor your software licenses and ensure that they are always up to date. This will help you avoid any legal issues and ensure that your organization has the necessary licenses to use software effectively.

Can you explain the importance of having accurate software inventory data?

Having accurate software inventory data is important for a number of reasons:

Software Licensing Compliance: Accurate software inventory data ensures that a company is in compliance with software licensing agreements. This can help prevent costly legal disputes and fines for non-compliance.
Budgeting and Cost Management: Accurate software inventory data helps companies budget for software purchases and upgrades, as well as manage the costs associated with software licenses, maintenance, and support.
Asset Management: Accurate software inventory data helps companies manage their software assets, including tracking software installations, usage, and lifecycle status. This information can be used to plan for software upgrades and replacements, as well as make informed decisions about software investments.
Security: Accurate software inventory data helps companies identify vulnerabilities in their software applications and systems, and prioritize patches and upgrades. This can help prevent security breaches and protect sensitive data.
Software Optimization: Accurate software inventory data can help companies optimize software utilization and reduce unnecessary software expenditures. For example, if a company has multiple software applications that perform the same functions, they can be consolidated or replaced with a more efficient solution.

In summary, having accurate software inventory data is essential for ensuring software licensing compliance, managing software costs, optimizing software utilization, and improving software security. This information can help companies make informed decisions about software investments, manage software assets, and improve the overall efficiency and security of their software infrastructure.

What methods do you use to track software usage and identify areas for optimization?

below are the common methods used to track software usage and identify areas for optimization.

Event tracking: This involves tracking events within the software such as button clicks, form submissions, page views, and others. This method allows you to see how users interact with the software, which can give insights into the most used features, the most common problems faced by users, and areas for improvement.
User analytics: User analytics tools track the actions of individual users within the software. This method allows you to see how different users interact with the software and identify patterns in their behavior. For example, you can identify which features are most used by different user groups, which can inform decisions about optimization.
Session replay: Session replay tracks the entire user session, including mouse movements, clicks, and scrolling behavior. This method allows you to see exactly how users are using the software, which can highlight areas where they struggle, or where the software can be optimized.
Error logging: Error logging tracks any errors that occur within the software. This method allows you to identify and fix problems quickly, and prevent them from happening again.
A/B testing: A/B testing involves creating two versions of the software and comparing their performance. This method allows you to test different optimization strategies and see which ones work best, providing valuable insights into the areas where the software can be improved.

By using a combination of these methods, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of how the software is being used and identify areas for optimization.

How do you handle software license disputes or negotiations with vendors?

here are the steps one can follow to handle software license disputes or negotiations with vendors:

Identify the issue: Before starting any negotiation or dispute resolution, it is important to clearly identify the issue at hand. This could be related to the licensing agreement, the software product itself, or the vendor’s performance.
Review the agreement: Read through the licensing agreement carefully to understand the terms and conditions, including any clauses related to disputes. Make sure you understand the specific terms and conditions that are causing the dispute.
Gather evidence: Gather any relevant documents, contracts, and correspondence related to the software license and dispute. This could include invoices, purchase orders, and any correspondence with the vendor regarding the software license.
Contact the vendor: Contact the vendor directly to discuss the issue. Explain the issue clearly and calmly, and provide evidence to support your argument. If necessary, request a meeting or conference call to resolve the issue.
Negotiate: If the dispute can be resolved through negotiation, try to reach a mutually agreeable solution. Be flexible and open to compromise, but also be firm in your stance on what is important.
Seek legal advice: If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, seek legal advice to determine the next steps. This could include mediation, arbitration, or a lawsuit.
Be professional: Throughout the dispute resolution process, it is important to remain professional and respectful in all interactions with the vendor. Avoid making personal attacks or threatening behavior, as this can damage the relationship and make it more difficult to resolve the issue.

In conclusion, handling software license disputes or negotiations with vendors requires a clear understanding of the issue, a review of the licensing agreement, and the ability to negotiate and resolve the dispute professionally.

How do you approach software retirement or decommissioning?

Software retirement or decommissioning is the process of retiring or ending the use of a software application. This can occur due to various reasons such as a newer version of the software, technology advancements, obsolescence, end of support from the vendor, etc.

Approaching software retirement or decommissioning requires a well-planned and executed strategy to ensure that all data, systems, and processes that depend on the software are transitioned smoothly. Here is a step-by-step approach to software retirement or decommissioning:

Assessment: The first step is to assess the impact of retiring the software. This includes identifying the systems and processes that are dependent on the software, evaluating the data that is stored in the software, and identifying any risks associated with retiring the software.
Planning: Based on the assessment, the next step is to develop a comprehensive plan for retiring the software. This plan should include the steps that need to be taken to retire the software, the timeline for the decommissioning process, and the resources required to execute the plan.
Data migration: If the software contains valuable data that needs to be preserved, it is important to have a plan in place for migrating the data to a new system. This may involve exporting the data to a file or transferring the data directly to a new software application.
Communication: Communication with stakeholders is critical for a successful software retirement or decommissioning project. This includes communicating with users of the software, IT staff, and any other individuals or departments that may be impacted by the retirement of the software.
Training: If a new software application is being implemented to replace the retired software, it is important to provide training to users on how to use the new software.
Testing: Before retiring the software, it is important to test the new software and the data migration process to ensure that everything works as expected.
Retirement: Once the planning, testing, and communication steps have been completed, the software can be retired. This may involve uninstalling the software, disabling the software, or simply ceasing to use the software.
Review: Finally, it is important to review the software retirement or decommissioning process to identify any lessons learned and to make improvements for future projects.

In conclusion, software retirement or decommissioning is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. By following these steps, organizations can ensure that their software retirement or decommissioning projects are successful and minimize the impact on their systems and processes.

Can you provide an example of how you have resolved a software license audit issue?

One software license audit issue that may arise is having more installations of a software than allowed by the license agreement. This can occur due to multiple reasons such as lack of proper documentation, misunderstandings of license agreements, or an intentional overuse of the software.

To resolve this issue, the first step would be to conduct a thorough inventory of all software installations in the organization. This involves identifying the number of installations, the version of the software, and the purpose of the software.

Once the inventory is complete, it is important to review the license agreement and understand the terms and conditions of the license. This will help to determine the actual number of installations that are allowed and to identify any discrepancies between the license agreement and the current installations.

Once the discrepancies have been identified, it is necessary to negotiate with the software vendor to determine the best course of action. This could include purchasing additional licenses, upgrading to a different license that accommodates the current needs of the organization, or negotiating a settlement to bring the organization into compliance.

In some cases, the software vendor may require the organization to remove some of the installations, which could result in a temporary disruption of business operations. Therefore, it is important to plan and manage the process of removing the installations to minimize the impact on the organization.

In conclusion, resolving a software license audit issue requires a thorough understanding of the license agreement, a comprehensive inventory of software installations, and effective negotiation and management of the process of bringing the organization into compliance.

How do you stay up to date with changes in software licensing agreements and industry best practices?

here are some ways to stay up to date with changes in software licensing agreements and industry best practices:

Regularly monitor websites and resources: Stay up to date by regularly monitoring websites and resources such as vendor sites, industry blogs, and trade organizations. These resources are often updated with the latest news, tips, and industry trends.
Subscribe to industry newsletters and publications: Subscribe to industry newsletters and publications to receive regular updates on the latest news, trends, and best practices in the software licensing world.
Attend trade shows and conferences: Attending trade shows and conferences provides an opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with other professionals, and see the latest products and services firsthand.
Follow influencers and thought leaders: Following influencers and thought leaders in the software licensing industry will provide you with insights and updates on the latest trends and best practices.
Participate in online communities: Participating in online communities and discussion forums can provide an opportunity to learn from others and stay up to date with changes in software licensing agreements and best practices.
Engage with vendors: Engage with vendors and software providers to stay informed about changes in their licensing agreements and best practices. Ask questions, request updates, and attend webinars and training sessions.
Stay informed about legal developments: Stay informed about legal developments in software licensing, such as changes in laws and regulations, to ensure that you are in compliance and are following industry best practices.

By staying informed and engaging with the industry, you can ensure that you are up to date with changes in software licensing agreements and industry best practices.

Basic Interview Questions

1. What does Software Asset Management do?

Seamlessly track your software assets through the entire life cycle of the software.
View the licensing position of your software and mitigate potential compliance issues.
Use Software Asset Management dashboards to quickly and accurately report the software usage of your organization.

2. What is a trigger?

The trigger determines when the flow, which might be record-based, schedule-based, or application-based, will begin.

3. What is the use of a record-base trigger?

After a record is created, changed, or destroyed, record-based triggers start a flow. The triggering record can be used as an input for activities in the flow.

4. What is the use of Schedule-based triggers?

Scheduled triggers start a flow at a specific time and date. The execution time can be used as an input for activities in the flow.

5. What is the use of Application triggers?

When the related application is activated, application triggers are added. When the MetricBase application is open, for example, the MetricBase trigger is active.

6. List the steps for Flow processing?

Identify the starting point and ending point of the process
Determine the sequence of steps required to complete the process
Define the inputs and outputs of each step
Determine any decision points or branching paths in the process
Map out the flow using a diagram or flowchart
Test and refine the process as needed

7. What information does the flow context record holds?

To begin with, Flow outcome state
Flow runtime duration
Flow log messages
Lastly, Flow configuration and runtime values

8. List the applications of Flow?

When working with flows, you can:

Save a flow
Activate a flow
Deactivate a flow

9. What can do with subflows?

When working with subflow, you can:

Save a subflow
Publish a subflow

10. What can you do with Actions?

Save an action
Publish an action

11. How to Create a File type data source?

Navigate to the Manage Data Sources page in the Maximo application
Click on the New Data Source button
Select File from the list of available types
Enter a name and description for the data source
Specify the file location and other relevant details
Test the connection to ensure it is working correctly

12. List some base system patterns used by Software Asset Management?

Citrix XenApp
Citrix XenDesktop,
VMware vCenter
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Exchange Server
Oracle Database Server

13. Explain the process of Normalization?

The discovered publisher, discovered product, and discovered version and edition data are compared to the ServiceNow repository of normalized equivalents during the normalisation process.

14. What do you understand by Software Asset Management Content Service?

The Software Asset Management Content Service is an IT asset management (ITAM) shared service that provides users with continual software recognition improvements.

15. What are Models?

Models are different versions or configurations of an object. Various ServiceNow platform asset applications, such as Product Catalog, Asset Management, and Procurement, use models to manage and track assets.

16. What does a Contract consist of?

Contract number
Contract start and end dates
Active status
Terms and conditions statements
Documents
Renewal information
Financial terms

17. List some best practices followed by Asset management?

Control inventory that is purchased and used.
Reduce the cost of purchasing and managing assets.
Select the proper tools for managing assets.
Manage the asset life cycle from planning to disposal.
Achieve compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Improve IT service to end users.
Create standards and processes for managing assets.

18. Mention the Change types?

Standard change
Emergency change
Normal change

19. What do you understand by Standard change?

A Standard change refers to a pre-approved change that is low-risk, frequently occurring, and follows a predetermined process or work instruction.

20. What is Emergency change?

This modification has such a high priority that it bypasses group and peer review and approval, instead of going straight to the Authorization state for CAB approval. Furthermore, in order to remedy a severe event or apply a security patch, a modification must be implemented as soon as possible.

21. What types of emergencies does Emergency change the cover?

Emergency changes cover the following types of emergencies:

Fix on fail or retroactive situations where the impact to service has already been experienced.
Fail or fail situations where the impact to service is imminent if action is not taken.

22. What is Normal change?

Normal change requests follow a prescriptive process which requires two levels of approval before implementing, reviewing, and closing.

23. What are the default Asset classes?

The fundamental Asset classes are Hardware, Software licenses, and Consumables. These universal classes are capable of managing various types of assets.

24. How to Create an asset class?

Navigate to the Asset Class application in Maximo
Click on the New Record button
Enter a name and description for the asset class
Define the attributes and properties for the asset class, such as required fields and validation rules
Assign any associated GL accounts or other financial information
Save the asset class record and make it available for use in other areas of Maximo

25. How to Create a stockroom?

Navigate to the Stockroom application in Maximo
Click on the New Record button
Enter a name and description for the stockroom
Define the location and address information for the stockroom
Specify any security or access control settings
Save the stockroom record and make it available for use in other areas of Maximo

26. How to delete a stockroom with no assets?

Navigate to the Stockroom application in Maximo
Select the stockroom you want to delete
Click on the Delete button
If there are no assets associated with the stockroom, confirm the deletion
If there are assets associated with the stockroom, you will need to transfer or dispose of them before you can delete the stockroom.

27. List the different types of Stockrooms?

Stockroom types are categories of stockroom:

Priority
Shipment Required

28. What are Stock rules?

When the record of a certain asset in a particular stockroom hits a certain threshold, stock rules state that a specific number should be assigned from another stockroom or ordered from a vendor.

29. Define Reconciliation?

The process of Reconciliation involves computing the compliance status of software products concerning their discovery and entitlements.

30. What is a bundled model?

A bundled model refers to a single model that comprises individual models. For instance, a laptop, printer, keyboard, and mouse can be combined into a bundled model.

31. How to form Software models?

As part of the asset management process, software models are generated. You can generate software product models from the product catalog, but you can’t manage all features of the models.

32. What are Bubble charts?

Bubble charts are interactive graphs that help you identify strategies by plotting application indicator scores.

33. How is a risk calculated on a software model?

External aging risk, internal aging risk, external stage risk, and internal stage risk are four predefined characteristics that are used to quantify risk in a software model.

34. How to create a data domain?

Navigate to Application Portfolio Management > Information Portfolio > Data Domains.
Click New.
On the form, fill in the fields.
Click submit

35. Define metric?

A metric is a numerical value that is utilized to evaluate assessable records. Additionally, it can measure subjective values in an assessment questionnaire or gather objective values in a database query executed by a script.

36. What is the use of Rate models?

A rate model is used to derive date-effective, criteria-driven hourly rates for calculating planned and actual resource costs for a project or demand.