Certified Software Manager (CSM)

Certification Overview

Certified Software Manager (CSM)

Exam Code: CSM-002

Certified Software Manager is a professional designation for IT asset management.

IT asset management (ITAM) is the set of business practices that join financial, contractual and inventory functions to support life cycle management and strategic decision making for the IT environment. Assets include all elements of software and hardware that are found in the business environment.

IT asset management (also called IT inventory management) is an important part of an organization’s strategy. It usually involves gathering detailed hardware and software inventory information which is then used to make decisions about hardware and software purchases and redistribution. IT inventory management helps organizations manage their systems more effectively and save time and money by eliminating unnecessary purchases and wasted resources.

Managing information technology is no easy task. You have to comply with software licenses for multiple users, maximize legal use of software, and oversee huge asset inventories etc.

The Certified Software Manager gives you the skills and credentials you need to diagnose, resolve and manage today’s complicated software licensing issues. And, this course prepares you to take and pass the exam that earns you the widely-recognized Certified Software Manager (CSM)® professional designation.

Examples of Software Piracy Taking Place within an Organization

An organization purchases a single licensed copy of a software program and installs it onto several computers, in violation of the terms of the license agreement.

An employee installs business software on their home computers in violation of the terms of the license agreement.

A copy of a software program is copied onto an organization’s servers and the organization’s network “clients” are allowed to freely access the software in violation of the terms of the license agreement.

An organization buys computers with preloaded software, but the vendor fails to provide the organization with purchase documentation to verify the legitimacy of the pre-loaded software.

Examples of Content Infringement by an Organization

Circulating copies of news, magazine, or newsletter articles without permission by e-mail or hard copy (even if only internally within your company)

Posting news, magazine, or newsletter articles on a website wihtout permission (even if they are also posted on the copyright owner’s web site), rather than posting the relevant hyperlink

Posting chapters from a textbook or novel on a website without permission

Internet auctions for scanned textbooks on CD. Watch out for books that have been scanned into an electronic format and then burned onto a CD. Checks to make sure that you are receiving the entire original book and that you are also receiving any and all complementary materials such as CDs or charts in their original form.

Illegally posted news stories on a website. Links to articles hosted on the copyright owner’s site are perfectly legal.

Distribution of Test Prep Materials. Most test prep courses do not allow the transfer of their material from person to person. These materials include text books, sample tests, lectures, lecture notes, computer based reviews, etc.

The Certification perfectly suits individuals who need to optimize their licensing for compliance and savings, additional compatibility and productivity and decreased cost of support.

Exam Information

The exam comprises of 40 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate needs to score 80% (32 out of 40 correct) to pass the exam.

The total duration of the exam is 1 hour (60 Minutes).

  • The exam is conducted in a non-proctored mode and can be taken anytime and anywhere within an eight-month validity period.
  • Upon purchasing the Premium Package or an Exam Voucher Code, a voucher code with two attempts will be assigned to your login profile under the "My Vouchers" tab. You can then take the exam through the "My Exam(s)" tab in your profile. To take the exam, simply apply the voucher code.
  • The Exam Voucher included in the Premium Package or purchased separately is valid for two (2) attempts. If you are unable to pass the exam within these two attempts, you can purchase a new voucher code, which will grant you an additional two attempts.
  • Kindly Note: The voucher will not be valid for a second attempt if you pass the exam on your first attempt.

The Certified Software Manager (CSM)® Certificate is valid for life

CSM® is a Registered Trademark of GAQM

Note: The Certified Software Manager (CSM)® Certification has no pre-requisites (Completion of an E-Course is not mandatory from GAQMBok portal), but we highly recommend doing the E-Course as maximum number of questions are drawn from the E-Course in the actual exam.

Course Outline

Module 1 - Foundation

  • What is Software Asset Management?
  • Objectives
  • The structure of SAM
  • SAM technologies
  • Benefits of implementing Software Asset Management
  • SAM controls
  • SAM Risks and Drivers
  • Implementation approaches
  • Industry Standards
  • KSF's in SAM

Module 2 - Understanding Copyright Law

  • Definitions of intellectual property
  • IP vs Copyrights
  • Works protected by copyrights
  • Rights protected by copyrights
  • Economic rights
  • Translation and adaptation rights
  • Limitations and Exceptions to Rights
  • Duration of Copyright
  • Ownership and Transfer of Copyright
  • Enforcement of Rights
  • Related Rights

Module 3 - Software Piracy – the Problem Defined

  • What is Software Privacy?
  • Software Privacy Regulation
  • End User License Agreement
  • Different types of software piracy
  • The Dangers of Software piracy
  • Preventing Software piracy
  • Software License Compliance What and Why
  • Effective Software License Compliance

Module 4 - Software Licensing

  • What is Software Licensing?
  • Why Software Licenses are important?
  • Open source software licenses
  • Public domain licenses
  • Permissive License
  • Restrictive Licenses
  • LGPL
  • Proprietary Software License Types
  • Subscription vs Perpetual Licensing
  • User licensing
  • Publisher licensing programs
  • Device licensing
  • Network licensesing
  • Metered/Consumption-based Licensing
  • Shareware and freeware
  • Proprietary licenses
  • Benefits of Software Management
  • What does a software license agreement include? 

Module 5 - Anti-Piracy Actions

  • Internal vs External Software Piracy
  • How to prevent External Software Piracy
  • How to prevent Internal Software Piracy
  • How to Maintain IT Compliance: Legal Requirements for a Business

Module 6 - Developing a Software Management Plan

  • Software Project Management overview
  • Building a Software Management Plan
  • Waterfall Methodology
  • Software Development Lifecycle
  • Agile Software Development Lifecycle
  • Benefits of Agile Development

Module 7 - Communicating the Plan

  • Writing and using a software management plan
  • Why develop a software management plan?
  • What do research funders want?
  • Developing your plan
  • Basics of a software management plan
  • Intellectual Property and Governance
  • What is policy management software?
  • Why effective project communication is vital for software project success?

Module 8 – Audit Management and Software Quality Assurance

  • What does an audit management software do?
  • What is an audit management system?
  • What is Audit Management Solutions software?
  • Software Quality Assurance(SQA): Plan, Audit & Review
  • What is the Test Management Reviews & Audit?
  • Why do we need SQA in Test Management process?
  • How to implement the quality assurance?
  • Software quality assurance best practice

Target Audience

  • IT Infrastructure team members and managers who are interested in expanding the career in SAM
  • ITAM / ITSM team members who are interested in Software Asset Management
  • IT Operations Management teams
  • Software Asset Management (SAM) Professionals
  • Software License Management Professionals
  • Software Procurement Specialists
  • Software Contract Managers and Negotiators
  • Software Compliance Management team members
  • Legal and Compliance officers

Registration Process for E-Course or E-Book and Exam

Premium Package
(E-Book Version)

  • E-Book Included
  • This package provides a voucher code granting eligibility for two (2) exam attempts.
  • Includes E-certificate and Digital Badge if you qualify in the exam.
  • Course Duration: 40 Days
  • Price: 190 USD

Exam
Voucher

  • Validity: 240 Days
  • Price: 150 USD
  • Please Read Carefully:

    1) The Exam Voucher is valid for two (2) attempts.

    2) You will receive your voucher code within 24 business hours.

    3) Once you receive the voucher code, you can take the exam via the "My Exam(s)" tab in your login profile.