Which role primarily handles the discovery of software on devices?

The role that primarily handles the discovery of software on devices is the System Administrator. This individual is responsible for the configuration, maintenance, and monitoring of IT systems, including software management. The System Administrator typically oversees the tools and processes that identify software installations across devices within the organization, ensuring that all software assets are correctly recorded and managed.

In the context of Software Asset Management, the discovery process is critical because it lays the foundation for maintaining an accurate inventory of software assets. This information is essential for compliance, usage tracking, and optimizing software licenses, which is a significant responsibility of the System Administrator. They utilize various tools and techniques to perform software discovery, including automated scripts and asset management solutions, to ensure that all installed software is detected and accounted for.

Other roles, such as the SAM Manager, IT Procurement Manager, and IT Contract Manager, have responsibilities that relate more to managing software policies, procurement processes, and contractual obligations rather than the technical execution of software discovery on devices.