Posts Tagged ‘network inventory’

Why Companies Struggle to Manage Their IT Assets

Posted in Asset Management, IT Asset Management, IT Management on July 2nd, 2009 by Jodi – Be the first to comment

Most companies today manage their technology inventory by logging and tracking assets manually, a process that is both cumbersome and error-prone. In fact, more than 65 percent of companies have immature IT asset management strategies in place, according to Meta Group.

Companies who don’t use automated tools to manage hardware and software inventory are likely to face significant challenges. For a variety of reasons, they will struggle to effectively monitor the various components within their infrastructure, and maximize the value of IT assets throughout their lifecycle.

A Dynamic Business Landscape

Today’s organizations are undergoing rapid change – mergers and acquisitions, expansions or downsizing, etc. Each one of these changes has an impact on IT inventory, making hardware and software asset management somewhat of a “moving target”. For example, new employees will require new equipment, while a layoff will make PCs, software licenses, and IT other assets available for use by others. Opening a new branch may call for the purchase of new hardware, while a shift in business strategy may require new applications to be acquired and deployed. This type of dynamic, ever-changing environment makes taking IT inventory a challenge.

A Geographically-Dispersed Network

Long, long ago, companies operated out of a single location. If they wanted to know what IT assets they had, and where they were located, they simply walked around and took stock. However, today’s firms do business on a global scale, with branches, offices, and even remote or home-based employees performing work out of numerous locations spread across the world. With IT assets housed at so many different locations, it becomes harder to manually monitor changes or additions in the environment, such as when an employee installs software on a PC, or when a new peripheral like a scanner or printer is connected to a network. As a result, IT asset inventory logs can quickly become outdated.

Constant Asset Upgrades or Replacement

Technology innovations emerge at a sharp pace, as new and better software and hardware solutions are being introduced by vendors all the time. And, while technology budgets are stagnant or shrinking in today’s tough economic times, companies still invest in the latest and greatest solutions to help them maintain an edge. The acquisition of new hardware, software, or subscription-based technology services means more than just a new physical asset to track – there are financial assets to consider, like contracts and software license management.

Only comprehensive, fully automated IT asset management solutions can help organizations keep their technology inventory up-to-date and balanced at all times, even in the face of rapidly-changing architectures and business conditions. With IT asset management systems, businesses can achieve complete, real-time visibility across their entire technology landscape, knowing exactly what they have, where it is located, and how it is being used at all times.

Learn more about powerful, on-demand IT asset management solutions from SAManage, and how they can help you can avoid the pain of manually managing your IT assets

New: View Storage Adapters and Memory Slots

Posted in Features, Release Notes, User Guide on July 1st, 2009 by Jodi – Be the first to comment

We have recently enhanced the hardware inventory views, and added more information about available memory slots and storage adapters available on the computer.

Memory Slots

Memory information can help you keep track of how much memory is available, versus how much is in use on each computer.  It can also help you determine if there are any available (free) storage slots that can be used to add more memory to that PC. To view the information, simply click on the computer details, and navigate to the Hardware tab.

Memory slots available on a computer

Memory slots available on a computer

Storage Adapters

In addition to the disk and drive information already available under the Hardware tab, SAManage will now display the logical drives for a computer, allowing you to view the PC’s physical storage adapters.

Storage adapters on a computer

Storage adapters on a computer

Disks and Drive letters on a computer

Disks and Drive letters on a computer

5 Tips for Effective IT Inventory Management

Posted in Asset Management, IT Management on April 24th, 2009 by Eran – Be the first to comment

When it comes to successful, broad-reaching IT inventory management, nothing is more important than visibility. Knowing what you have, where it is, what is connected to it, who is using it, and how it is being used is the key to preserving the integrity of your infrastructure, and maximizing the value of your technology investments.

But, there are other factors to consider when outlining your IT inventory management strategy. Below are five steps for more effectively controlling your inventory of PCs, software, hardware, peripherals, and other components.

Conduct a Preliminary Audit

An initial IT audit will provide you with a current and accurate log of what you have, and related characteristics. In addition to the physical location of each asset, you’ll need to collect and record information such as its model and vendor, as well as its configuration, primary user(s), and any applications installed on it, peripherals connected to it, networks it interacts with, etc.

Schedule Frequent Reviews

Technology environments change rapidly, so frequent reviews of your inventory to identify new assets or changes to existing ones will be required to keep inventory and related records up-to-date. Most experts recommend that your IT inventory management plan include at least one audit each quarter.

Implement Usage Policies – And Enforce Them

A complete inventory management plan must provide for end-to-end control over all related assets – including how they are utilized. Be sure to create and document formal policies and rules related to technology usage. And, make it clear what action will be taken if policy violations are detected.

Be Proactive

The key to keeping your inventory of IT assets protected from threats is to proactively assess risks, and eliminate them before they create a problem. During your audits, be on the lookout for unauthorized downloads, unlicensed software packages, or anything else that can put your company in jeopardy of data or financial loss.

Select a Comprehensive Automated Tool

Manually auditing, logging, and tracking your technology inventory can be highly error prone, and can pose a huge strain on your IT resources. A comprehensive automated asset management software will increase both the accuracy and efficiency of your IT inventory management processes.

IT Asset Management solutions from SAManage empower you to gain complete, unhindered visibility into the IT assets that exist throughout your enterprise. With SAManage, you can better control your environment, and improve inventory management processes across your entire technology landscape.