Cloud spend is exploding and finance is finally asking IT to explain why.
From unmonitored SaaS subscriptions to cloud resources running 24/7, the costs pile up quickly.
According to the Flexera 2025 State of ITAM Report, nearly 50% of organizations reported spending more than $1M on software audits in the past three years. The same study reveals a sharp rise in collaboration: 44% of ITAM teams now work closely with Cloud teams, and 38% with FinOps teams.
The message is clear: controlling technology costs is no longer optional, it’s a boardroom priority.
But here’s the catch: FinOps on its own isn’t enough.
Why FinOps needs ITAM
FinOps is brilliant at showing you what you’re spending in the cloud, but not always why. That’s where IT Asset Management (ITAM) comes in.
- FinOps tracks financial performance, optimizes invoices, and highlights overspend.
- ITAM provides the context: licensing rights, usage entitlements, compliance, and lifecycle insights.
Together, they paint a full picture: not only where your money goes, but also whether you should be spending it at all.
Example:
- A FinOps dashboard flags an expensive SaaS tool.
- ITAM reveals that 30% of licenses are inactive and can be reharvested immediately.
- Result: instant cost savings, without sacrificing functionality.
Insights from the Flexera 2025 Report
The Flexera research shows how this partnership delivers tangible value:
- Organizations that align ITAM and FinOps achieve higher cost savings and fewer audit penalties.
- Cloud and SaaS waste remain the top financial risks with up to 30% of cloud resources sitting unused.
- Companies that silo ITAM from FinOps are more likely to face unexpected budget overruns.
This proves that the FinOps + ITAM relationship is no longer “nice-to-have”, it’s essential.
Real-world cost synergies
When ITAM and FinOps work hand-in-hand, organizations can unlock value in three key areas:
- Cloud Cost Optimization
- Identify unused or underutilized resources.
- Apply ITAM insights to negotiate smarter contracts.
- SaaS Rationalization
- Consolidate overlapping tools.
- Detect “shadow IT” subscriptions draining budgets.
- Audit Avoidance
- Use ITAM’s Verified License Position (VLP) approach to stay compliant.
- Avoid the million-dollar audit surprises highlighted in Flexera’s report.
Quick wins you can start tomorrow
If your ITAM and FinOps teams aren’t yet in sync, here are three simple steps to get started:
- Unify your data. Build a single view of cloud, SaaS, and on-prem assets.
- Set joint KPIs. Example: reduce SaaS waste by 15% this year.
- Run a monthly joint review. Spot anomalies, optimize contracts, and act on unused spend.
Why this matters now
2025 is shaping up to be a year of financial accountability. Boards want transparency. CIOs want predictability. CFOs want savings.
The organizations that succeed won’t be those who silo FinOps and ITAM, but those who bring them together as a cost control power couple.
How ITAM solutions can help
At ITAM solutions, we help organizations bridge the gap between ITAM and FinOps. From Cloud Cost Management to SaaS optimization and audit readiness, we provide the insights and tools that empower teams to take back control.
Because in 2025, cost control isn’t just about cutting budgets, it’s about unlocking smarter, leaner, and more innovative IT.
Ready to uncover your hidden cloud savings? Get in touch with us today and let’s start optimizing.
