Any business that uses any kind of Internet Technology, software or hardware, should have a detailed and reliable means to track and manage those assets. Businesses waste valuable time and money by not maintaining a firm grasp of their increasingly complex IT software and hardware environment. The right it asset management tool can not only save money but can protect against threats and help businesses run most efficiently.
Every day a growing business adds a certain amount of complexity to their network. With every new piece of hardware comes the difficult task of maintaining that hardware. As the age of the equipment increases, the hardware's reliability and effectiveness decreases. Devices must suit the needs of all new software tools as well as continuing to work with any legacy software on the system.
Additional software tools, needed to do everyday tasks, add to the headaches of maintenance. New software runs the risk of not performing on old systems. It can also conflict with software currently running on the system. Accurately keeping track of who has access to that software, and who needs access could leave administrators left with security nightmares if they lose control over what user can log into what system. Hackers find new exploits into software all of the time. If a business does not keep their software updated, they could leave holes to their infrastructure wide open to cyber criminals.
Businesses face strict compliance regulations that are impossible to conform to without a structured workflow of the total business assets. Software compliance requires a business to know each piece of software on any device on their network. Regulation requires businesses to prove that sensitive customer data stored on the systems is protected. To meet these regulations, businesses must keep a reliable list of the location of every piece of equipment, as well as what software is on that system and what users have access to that system. Any form of management that does not use professional asset management software could land a business in serious compliance issues.
A decision about the needs of the business can be made by analyzing detailed facts about what the business currently has, instead of guessing at what management thinks the business might have. Budgeting for what the business needs, instead of buying more than needed because the purchaser did not realize they already had system saves all around business costs.
Well maintained systems also protect from the ever growing threat of a breach in the network. If users are able to download software onto the systems without the approval of IT, malicious software could reside on the network. A good asset management system will automatically discover any software installed on each system so that IT has control over these hidden dangers. Users can easily download malware and viruses without knowing they are compromising the business. When IT can see these suspicious downloads, they have the opportunity to repair damages immediately, before it is a major cost to the business.
It is critical to rely on a dependable, proven IT asset management strategy. Managers can ensure they have the tools their workers need to do the job in the most efficient way possible. They can keep track of the age of their devices and replace them in a timely matter. Users are not left trying to get work done on slow, outdated systems. When managers know what version of software their employees run they are able to find the known exploits for that software and patch accordingly.
Businesses can streamline their workflow and create policies, plans, and procedures based on knowing what they have and who has access to it. A procedure can be created to assist moves when employees are transferred to other positions. A reliable management system can pick up a new IP address of a computer that is physically moved from one spot to another. So planning a move is as easy as unplugging from the network and plugging back in at the new location. With automatic detection of assets, there is less chance of users not keeping accurate data on every system.
No asset management technique would be worth anything if you cannot pull meaningful data from it. A good system allows users to drill down into the data and create reports that fit their needs. Custom reports should be quick and easy. User-friendly graphical interfaces should allow users to find the information they need, without being a skilled IT professional. Data should be available in formats that fit company needs. PDF reports can be sent to stakeholders. Custom emails can be crafted to managers.
A good asset management solution is no longer just optional to operate a business. It is a critical piece and could mean the difference between staying in business and thriving, or getting breached, or losing business over mismanagement of resources.
