Evidence Type = SaaS (How does it work?)

[jq3i4h9u]

1. Go to All Evidence
2. Click "Create Evidence"
3. Use the drop down in "Type" and you see "SaaS"

How exactly does this evidence type = SaaS work?

It's not defined anywhere that I can see (https://docs.flexera.com/flexera/EN/ITAssets/App-EvidTabInstSub.htm?Highlight=applications%20and%20evidence)

Does this evidence type only get used in conjunction with the SaaS Management add-on?

[kclausen]

@jq3i4h9u - Yes, your suspicion is correct.  An evidence type of "SaaS" is used for the integration with Flexera SaaS Management.  When licenses are created within FNMS-OP/ITAM from SaaS Manager, on the Application tab of the new license the Application Name of the SaaS application is created as a placeholder with evidence type of "SaaS'.

[jq3i4h9u]

Thanks @kclausen 

So, following the SaaS evidence type up to its associated Application:

1. If there was an Application named XYZ..
2. with underlying SaaS type evidence...
3. and SaaS Management had its hooks into the actual XYZ SaaS service portal..
4. and SaaS Management was able to determine there were 10 users actively licensed in the XYZ SaaS product....
5. Would Application XYZ show 10 in the Installed column in All Applications?
6. Would Application XYZ show the 10 users devices within the Application record in the Devices tab?

Thanks

[GregBirk]

Based on KClausen reply, I have updated the documentation. The URL of the page had to change slightly. Apologies. It is now: https://docs.flexera.com/flexera/EN/ITAssets/App-EvidTabInstSub.htm 

[kclausen · Accepted solution]

@jq3i4h9u  - By default a SaaS application is run through a browser, there is nothing physically installed as an application on a computer.  Therefore, SaaS Applications will not appear under the Installed Applications view.

On the SaaS User license that is created, the Consumption tab will simply show the names of the Users that are currently assigned a subscription to this SaaS Application.  If any Usage Data is available for this SaaS Application, a Last Logon Date is displayed for each user.

The exception to the above is Office 365 and Adobe Cloud as these are "hybrid" products as they are managed as a SaaS Application but include components/applications that can be installed and run directly from a Computer.  The licenses from these applications are managed with a metric of Named User so that the locally installed applications are shown and tracked.  For example, Microsoft Teams would show under Installed Applications as a normal installed application, when the Teams for Desktop application is installed on a computer.

[jq3i4h9u]

Excellent, thanks again @kclausen 

This was our gut feeling, but wanted to confirm. Just wasn't sure exactly what behavior the Evidence Type = SaaS would drive. Now we know. Great explanation and thanks once again as always.