The ITAM Roundup: 3/9/25

roundup Mar 9, 2025

📰 News

Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle

Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has been a success, with 70% of its largest 10,000 customers adopting VMware's Cloud Foundation stack, contributing to strong revenue growth. The company has also expanded its AI capabilities, working with hyperscalers to develop custom AI silicon, and saw significant increases in semiconductor and AI-related product sales. Despite some concerns about the broader market, Broadcom's earnings have been strong, and CEO Hock Tan emphasized a focus on AI and VMware for the company's future growth.

What’s new at Flexera: January/February 2025

Flexera's January/February 2025 updates introduce several new features across IT Asset Management, IT Visibility, SaaS Management, FinOps, and Security. Key highlights include VMware vSAN inventory recognition, a preview of Cloud License Management for cloud software spend insights, a new Technology Intelligence landing page for IT Visibility, and enhanced SaaS discovery with a Cloud Access Security Broker integration. Additional updates include improved FinOps savings plan management for Microsoft Azure, new security features in Software Vulnerability Management, and the introduction of the “My Requests” feature in AdminStudio for streamlined application packaging requests.

W11 SAM & ITAM Jobs | #ITAMjobs

This week's SAM & ITAM job listings feature opportunities across the globe, including roles at Fannie Mae, Connor Consulting, Nike, Zurich Insurance, and Visa. Positions range from Software Asset Managers to IT Asset Analysts, with locations spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. Follow for more updates or reach out if you're hiring or looking for your next career move in IT Asset Management.

Trump Calls for End to $52B Chips Act Subsidy Program

President Donald Trump called for the repeal of the $52 billion Chips Act, criticizing it as a “horrible” program and urging Congress to redirect remaining funds toward debt reduction. The act, signed by President Biden in 2022, aimed to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing through grants, loans, and tax incentives, leading to over $400 billion in industry investments. Most of the allocated funds were already committed to major chipmakers like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung before Biden left office.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Customers Gain Access to E5 Security Add-On for Advanced Cyber Protection

Microsoft has introduced the Microsoft 365 E5 Security add-on for Business Premium customers, providing advanced cybersecurity tools tailored for small and medium-sized businesses at a 57% discount compared to purchasing individual components separately. The package includes Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, and Defender for Cloud Apps, enhancing protection against phishing, malware, and SaaS-based attacks. Available starting this week, the add-on can be purchased via Microsoft’s Security for SMBs website or through partners, though mixed licensing for endpoint security is not supported.

📖 Tips

Procurement has a relationship problem

Procurement leaders need to rethink their relationships with internal stakeholders to better align with business priorities and create value. Research shows that many internal functions, such as sales, lack a clear understanding of procurement’s role, and procurement’s KPIs are often misaligned with broader company goals. Improving communication and articulating the value of procurement to both internal stakeholders and external suppliers is essential for driving better results and overcoming these relationship challenges.

SaaS Vendors Push Consumption-Based Licensing for AI Offerings: What Customers Need to Know

SaaS vendors like Salesforce and ServiceNow are shifting from traditional per-user licensing to consumption-based pricing for AI offerings, tying costs to usage metrics such as conversations or assists. This model benefits vendors by driving recurring revenue growth but introduces challenges for customers, including unclear usage definitions, potential cost spikes, and the need for strong negotiation strategies. To manage risks, businesses should secure upfront discounts, define clear usage terms, negotiate volume-based pricing protections, and ensure flexibility in licensing agreements to maintain cost control as AI and SaaS pricing continue evolving.

We're Swamped With Unused Servers. How Do We Stop the Sprawl?

Server sprawl is a common issue for expanding organizations, leading to wasted resources, security risks, and disorganized documentation. To address it, IT departments should implement a tagging system for servers, automate lifecycle management policies, and standardize virtual machine provisioning to improve tracking and control. Additionally, creating awareness of costs through chargebacks or showbacks can help reduce unnecessary server creation and promote better resource management.

How to build the modern CFO-CIO partnership

The CIO-CFO partnership is crucial as automation and digital transformation reshape finance, yet tensions often arise from differing priorities—CIOs focus on innovation while CFOs prioritize cost control. To bridge this gap, both leaders must align on shared goals through transparent communication, joint strategy sessions, and measurable milestones, reframing technology as a financial enabler rather than an expense. A strong collaboration fosters enterprise-wide transformation, enabling smarter resource allocation, faster decision-making, and sustainable growth in an increasingly uncertain and tech-driven business landscape.

Microsoft Licensing Update March 2025

Microsoft's April 2025 licensing updates include a 5% price increase for monthly billed annual subscriptions under CSP and MCA-E, along with discounts on Copilot, Microsoft 365 E3/E5, and E5 Compliance. System Center 2025 will be available in CSP from April 1, 2025, with a 10% price increase over the 2022 version while maintaining the same licensing model. Key policy updates include stricter rules on cryptocurrency mining, GDPR compliance for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, and changes to Azure data processing commitments.

The future of FinOps and SAM

As organizations increasingly adopt cloud computing and SaaS, the collaboration between FinOps and Software Asset Management (SAM) is becoming essential for optimizing costs, improving budget forecasting, and streamlining software management. Emerging trends like AI-driven automation, real-time analytics, and the shift to Cloud Asset Management (CAM) are shaping the future of this integration, making financial and software governance more efficient. By leveraging FinOps as a service, companies can enhance financial control, stay agile, and remain competitive in an evolving cloud landscape.

Enterprise Architecture Needs To Take A Narrow View

Enterprise architects manage vast and complex IT landscapes, and SAP LeanIX's new Workspace Views feature helps them focus on relevant data for decision-making. This feature allows stakeholders to filter and customize their views based on roles, projects, or use cases, ensuring they see only the necessary information without being overwhelmed. By enabling users to switch between detailed and high-level views, SAP LeanIX improves clarity, collaboration, and efficiency in enterprise architecture management.

🐛Bugs & Exploits

Threat posed by new VMware hyperjacking vulnerabilities is hard to overstate

Three critical VMware vulnerabilities allow attackers to break out of a single compromised virtual machine (VM) and take control of the hypervisor, endangering all other VMs on the same host. Security experts warn that these flaws, already under active exploitation, could give hackers access to sensitive environments across cloud providers and private data centers. Organizations using affected VMware products should urgently investigate and secure their systems, as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has classified these as known exploited vulnerabilities.