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What is Asset Management?
What is IT Asset Management? Does your organization have control over your IT assets? Are you able to track and manage all your assets effectively? If not, you may need IT Asset Management (ITAM).
IT Asset Management is about following and managing all your IT assets in an organized and structured way. This includes everything from hardware such as computers and servers to software licenses and digital resources.
By implementing an IT Asset Management solution, organizations can achieve several benefits. It can help reduce costs by optimizing the use of existing resources and avoiding redundant purchases. It can also increase security by ensuring that software licenses are up-to-date and compliant with rules and regulations.
Through a systematic approach to IT Asset Management, the organization can achieve better control and financial efficiency in all aspects of its IT assets.
Learn more about IT Asset Management
IT Asset Management (ITAM) is a process that focuses on the management and control of the company's IT assets. It is about identifying, tracking, managing and optimizing the use of all its assets, including both hardware and software.
A fundamental component of ITAM is the registration of all IT assets in the company. This includes all computers, servers, network devices, mobile devices, software licenses and digital resources. By having a centralized registration of these assets, the organization can achieve better control and an overview of its IT assets.
An important part of the ITAM process is also the lifecycle management of its devices. This means that the organization must be able to follow the entire life cycle from acquisition to disposal. This involves updating and maintaining the asset record, performing regular updates and upgrades, and handling replacements and disposal of old or obsolete assets.
An important aspect of ITAM is also to ensure that the organization complies with license agreements and rules for the use of software. This means keeping track of the number of licenses available and ensuring there are no violations. By having an accurate record of licenses and usage, the organization can avoid fines and legal problems and ensure that all software applications are used legally and in accordance with license agreements.
Finally, ITAM is also about optimizing the use of existing IT assets and avoiding unnecessary purchases. By having a clear overview of the IT assets' status and usage patterns, the organization can identify areas where savings or improvements can be made. This may include consolidating hardware, reusing or repurposing software licenses, or even streamlining processes and workflows.
All in all, IT Asset Management (ITAM) is essential for successful IT management in an organization. By taking a systematic approach to identifying, tracking and managing IT assets, the company can achieve better control, financial efficiency and compliance with rules and regulations.
Asset Management and ITIL
IT Asset Management plays an important role within ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library), which is an internationally recognized best practice framework within IT Service Management. With the ITIL framework, there is a focus on organizations being able to deliver consistent, high-quality IT services. One of the key components of ITIL is Asset Management, which is one of the 26 processes in the latest ITIL 4 framework. Learn more about ITIL here: What is ITIL
Why is IT Asset Management (ITAM) important?
IT Asset Management (ITAM) is of vital importance to companies and organizations for several reasons:
- Control and overview: A systematic approach to IT Asset Management gives organizations a better control and overview of their IT assets. By registering and tracking all IT devices, the organization can know exactly what they own, where they are and how they are being used. This helps prevent the loss and theft of assets and allows for quick action in the event of a crash or disruption.
- Economic efficiency: By optimizing the use of existing IT assets, the organization can reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary purchases and maximizing the utilization of each asset. This may include consolidating hardware, reusing or repurposing software licenses, and streamlining work processes. By being able to make informed decisions about purchasing and replacing assets, organizations can reduce costs and optimize their IT budget.
- Compliance with rules and regulations: IT Asset Management also includes compliance with license agreements and rules for the use of software. By following and managing software licenses, the organization can avoid legal practices and fines for illegal use of software. It also helps ensure that the organization is in compliance with rules and regulations that require license updates and security updates.
- Security: ITAM also contributes to improving security in organizations. By ensuring that software licenses are up-to-date and compliant with regulations and insurances, the organization can avoid vulnerabilities and protect against threats and attacks. In addition, IT Asset Management can also help track and respond to suspicious or unauthorized access to your IT assets. Overall, IT Asset Management is essential for successful IT management in an organization. By taking a systematic approach to identifying, tracking and managing IT assets, the company can achieve better control, financial efficiency, compliance with rules and regulations, and improved security.
The difference between IT Asset Management (ITAM) and IT Service Management (ITSM)
IT Asset Management (ITAM) and IT Service Management (ITSM) are two related but different disciplines within IT management. Although both areas are about optimizing the use of IT resources in an organization, there are some fundamental differences between them.
IT Asset Management (ITAM) deals primarily with the management and control of the company's IT assets, including both hardware and software. It aims to identify, register, track and manage all assets and ensure they are used effectively and in accordance with regulations and license agreements. ITAM has a more specific and detailed approach and focuses on optimizing the lifetime and value of each individual IT asset.
How are ITAM and ITSM related?
An important aspect of the difference between ITAM and ITSM is the delineation of their responsibilities. ITAM focuses on managing IT assets, including their registration, lifetime management and compliance with regulations and license agreements. It aims to ensure that the organization has control over what it owns and how it is used. ITSM focuses on the delivery of IT services and is responsible for ensuring that these services are available and function as expected.
Although ITAM and ITSM have different focuses, cooperation between the two is essential for effective IT management. ITSM and, by extension, your support teams need up-to-date and reliable information about IT assets to deliver the necessary services to the organization. In the same way, ITAM needs to understand the user's needs and requirements in order to optimize the use of IT assets. Therefore, it is a good idea to create a good interaction between ITAM and ITSM, in order to make the support of the end user and the resolution of an incident more effective.
An example could be a supporter who receives an inquiry about an error on the computer, that it is very slow. The supporter can look up his asset database, which may be integrated with the ITSM solution, to see if there have been other inappropriatenesses with the device and if it may have other things that are diagnosed before. In addition, the supporter can view the history of the device before deciding whether or not it is time for the device to be replaced.
Overall, the differences between ITAM and ITSM can be explained by their focus and tasks. ITAM is about the management and control of IT assets, while ITSM focuses on the delivery of IT services to the organisation's users.
A brief summary of IT Asset Management
All in all, IT Asset Management (ITAM) is an essential process for organizations that want to control their IT assets and achieve financial efficiency, compliance with rules and regulations, and improved security. Through a systematic approach to identifying, tracking and managing IT assets, organizations can achieve better control, strategic decision-making and optimization of their assets. It is also important to note that the collaboration between IT Asset Management (ITAM) and IT Service Management (ITSM) is crucial for effective IT management, as the two disciplines complement each other and ensure that IT services are delivered in an efficient and reliable way.
Do you need more information or help implementing IT Asset Management in your organization? Then we are ready for a non-binding conversation about your needs and wishes.
With Ivanti Neurons for ITSM
With Ivanti Neurons for ITSM we offer a modern, user-friendly platform for effective management of ITSM, IT Asset Management and other Service Management processes. Ivanti Neurons enables you to track, configure, optimize and manage your IT assets throughout their entire lifecycle.
Ivantis leading IT & Enterprise Service Management solution, Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, contains 11 ITIL 4 verified processes.
It is a web-based solution that suits the more advanced and unique needs and wishes. With Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, it is possible to configure much of the solution yourself, so you have the opportunity to scale and adapt the solution to specific business needs.
Let us help you
We are experts in IT, Enterprise and Customer Service Management. We meet our customers at eye level. We believe in a good relationship, where an open dialogue is the way forward to a successful collaboration.
Our focus is on solutions from the top shelf, which we know have a good balance between diet and value.
Let us help you
We are experts in IT & Enterprise Service Management, and we meet our customers at eye level. We believe in a good relationship, where an open dialogue is the way forward to a successful collaboration.
Our focus is on top-shelf solutions, which we know have a good balance between cost and value.
Let us help you
We are experts in IT & Enterprise Service Management, and we meet our customers at eye level. We believe in a good relationship, where an open dialogue is the way forward to a successful collaboration.
Our focus is on top-shelf solutions, which we know have a good balance between cost and value.
