Yolanda Harris is a Director Analyst in Gartner's IT Procurement, Asset and Vendor Management team, focusing on supporting clients in maturing their IT software asset management [SAM] discipline and security contract reviews to assess security and privacy risks in 3rd party software and service agreements. In the area of SAM, Mrs. Harris focuses on conducting research on IT software asset management including tooling best practices as well as SAM tool selection. In the area of risk assessment, she focuses on evaluating 3rd party MSAs/SOWs for clients to assist with understanding the meaning and impact of security related terms and clauses in these agreements and how to balance risk acceptance when negotiating these agreements.
Mrs. Harris coverage includes software license maintenance renewal optimization, IT/technology software asset management organization structure and operations, IT/technology software asset practices, processes and metrics, software asset management trends, strategy, compliance, governance and policies. SaaS consumption and license management, SAM process automation tools and vendors. Conducting detailed 3rd party software and services security contract review by evaluating contract language and identifying obligations that have been accepted for client's security and information technology programs and those accepted by the 3rd party vendor's programs.
Prior to joining Gartner Mrs. Harris has worked for large multinational organizations in the high tech and retail industry, gaining extensive experience in IT software asset management, software license compliance, auditing, software discovery and vetting, interpreting, and managing technology contracts. She has developed negotiation strategies to maximize the business value of software license agreements, optimize cost savings on software assets and perform contract analysis. She has provided consultation to organizations on risk management and vendor management. She also holds a law license and is currently licensed to practice law in California.
Retail Industry
Lead, Software Compliance Analyst
Software Industry
Sr. License Consultant Analyst
IT Contracts Negotiations
IT Vendor Ecosystems Management
JD, New College of California School of Law
BA English Lit, Loyola University.
1Trends and best practices in Software Asset Management to support business initiatives
2Software Asset Management strategy and policy
3Maturing Software Asset Management discipline
4IT software spend analysis and IT software category management
5Software compliance strategies and practices