Guidance for Resellers

FAST IiS provides a range of guidance for Resellers plus opportunities to participate in the development and communication of the guidance. The guidance is delivered in the following ways:

• Public Relations and Press Releases
• Bulletins
• White papers
• Conferences
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Tools
• Forums
• Publications
• Exhibitions
• Federation speakers at 3rd party events
• Training
• Blogs
• Webinars

Type of guidance:-

• Simplified guidance on the benefits of adopting SAM & SLM best practice policies, processes and procedures.
• Demonstrating to organisations and consumers the legal and practical risks associated with using illegitimate software in order to reduce losses of revenue in the channel.
• Self Assessment Engine (SAE) - the SAE is a self assessment guidance tool based on the ISO/IEC 19770-1 standard that enables an end user and/or SAM Practitioner to benchmark SAM policies and procedures. Resellers can promote the SAE to their end user base and benefit from the guidance it provides.
• Surveys
  • FAST IiS Software Industry Research Board (SIRB) run an annual survey with IDC to review attitudes and perceptions in the end user base. The analysis of the resulting data is communicated back to the market in a variety of the media listed above.
  • Other 2008 surveys include:- The economy’s impact on software piracy (May 2008); The future generation’s attitude towards file sharing, piracy and what they perceive as theft (planned for September 2008).
• Updates from the Federation Legal Advisory Group (FLAG).
• Notification of UK lobbying activities to protect the IP rights of software publishers.
• Thought leadership forums. FAST IiS in association with other industry bodies set up forums to explore new innovations that impact the software industry i.e. virtualisation and SaaS. The forums are focused on the major challenges that the software publishers face, which will in turn impact the software reseller environment. They also address the concerns of the end user wishing to unravel the new demands.
• International reach: FAST IiS champions consistent standards, best practice and simplified messaging worldwide. We do this through the development of international chapters, alliances and associations with similar bodies. We offer Resellers the opportunity to be involved in these activities and to benefit from the outcome.
• SAM Practitioner Certification – the FAST IiS SAM Practitioner Certification programme consists of instructor-led and on-line training, exams and industry experience which is measured through end user case studies and subsequent qualification interviews with the end user. The certification benchmarks an individual’s and/or organisation’s skills, it adds value to the SAM Practitioner community, raises awareness of SAM and increases it’s credibility in the software industry. The SAM Practitioner Certification enables resellers, end users, ISVs and other sectors to elect a Practitioner with confidence; secure in the knowledge that the Practitioner has reached an industry recognised level of competency. (This programme is due to launch in November 2008).

FAST IiS has an extensive end user database and ISV/SAM Practitioner membership base which it influences through educational activities and guidance. The net effect of these activities benefits Software Resellers and brings the communities closer together.

Software Resellers are invited to speak and/or participate in a variety of FAST IiS events. Active involvement in a range of FAST IiS initiatives that benefit and guide the software industry as a whole is also encouraged.