Risk control, workflow optimization, successful delivery of value-added services to the customer… They all go hand in hand with good Asset Management.
Asset Management is a process that allows companies to achieve proper management of IT assets to improve the efficiency and performance of the organization and thereby minimize costs, among other things.
One of the main objectives of IT Asset Management is to provide the organization with a deep knowledge of its information systems to use this information for the identification and rapid resolution of problems.
However, even with the advantages it brings, companies continue to offer it a low level of priority in their strategic plans. The main reason is that in many organizations they tend to perceive this process as cumbersome and difficult to carry out.
Luckily the truth is different. Actually, when following good practices, IT Asset Management can become a simple task. Read on and learn some tips for carrying it out successfully.
What exactly is IT Asset Management?
It was ITIL that first introduced the term Asset Management. This process is part of the total ITIL framework, and its main objective is to ensure complete control of the company’s IT Assets.
Asset Management provides, among other things, up-to-date and complete information about the configuration of assets and their relationship to each other, and also makes sure that this data is available whenever it is needed.
It combines financial, contractual, inventory, and planning aspects to provide complete visibility into IT assets. In this way, the company can optimize the life cycle of its equipment and facilitate decision-making about IT systems.
What are the advantages of IT Asset Management?
Proper management of IT assets brings many benefits to the organization. Among the most important are:
#1 Optimized asset lifecycle management
With proper management of IT assets, it is possible to keep track of the company’s hardware and software purchases. This gives IT teams the opportunity to determine the exact time when to renew a license; update software, or replace a piece of equipment.
In short, IT asset management lets businesses understand:
- What are the Hardware and Software elements that make up the company’s IT systems?
- How are they used?
- Cost of maintaining these resources.
- When did the company acquire them?
- License expiration date, etc.
#2 Effective cost planning
Through this process, the company can also have better control of expenses related to IT assets. How? By managing the complete information about the life cycle of each asset, it is possible to maximize its use, create provisioning budgets, avoid unnecessary resource expenditures, and plan future expenses.
#3 Increased security
Security is one of the issues that most concern organizations today. The digital world has become increasingly complex and dangerous, and it is the responsibility of companies to ensure the total protection of the data found in their systems, whether internal or those of customers.
This is where Asset Management plays an important role, as it allows companies to know the status of their security tools. This prevents systems from being exposed to risks related to the presence of an outdated or obsolete antivirus.
#4 Better definition of service levels
We have already talked in other articles about the IT service catalog and the importance of developing a good system of communication with users. This type of document requires the company to clearly define what level of service the customer should expect, and how the company guarantees it.
This is where IT Asset Management plays a critical role, helping IT specialists define the level of service that can be offered to customers based on the number of existing assets and their stage in the lifecycle.
Some tips for achieving optimal IT Asset Management
- When creating an IT Asset Management strategy, set objectives that fit the context and particular needs of your business.
- Coordinate this process with that of Risk Management to achieve better results.
- Standardize and automate as many processes as you can.
- Perform constant monitoring of your assets, for this you can use a software solution that allows you to access the status of your IT resources securely and remotely, in case you need it. An excellent option is the BeyondTrust (formerly Bomgar) tool.
- Also, take into account the resources you have in the cloud.
- Measure it all. Intelligent metrics are one of the best resources when it comes to maintaining optimal Asset Management and Continuous Improvement strategies.
Finally, don’t forget to rely on technology. High-end software tools such as ServiceNow can exponentially simplify the process of creating and implementing good IT Asset Management. So don’t hesitate to invest in one if you’re looking to save time and costs.
If you need more information about ServiceNow we will be happy to help you. Contact us. In GB Advisors we offer you advice regarding the best software solutions, in your own language and hand in hand with professionals.
