it Asset Management Software
What Does Asset Management Software Mean?
Asset management software is a dedicated application which is used to record and track an asset throughout its life cycle, from procurement to disposal. It provides an organization with information like where certain assets are located, who is using them, how they are being utilized and details about the asset. The asset management software is used for management of both software and hardware assets.
Asset management software is also known as an asset management tool.
Techopedia Explains Asset Management Software
Asset management software tracks every aspect of an asset and is very useful to an organization because, aside from keeping track of assets, it can also provide additional functions like:
Measuring vendor performance
Optimization of supplier portfolio
Vendor audit and policy compliance
Optimization of costs for licensing
Streamlining of procurement processes
Benefits of asset management software include:
Maximize utilization and value of assets
Enable informed decision making through cost transparency
Proactive software license compliance
Manage services as well as assets
Track vendor and supplier performance through transparent metrics
Optimized allocation of assets for greater return on investment
Businesses rely on IT for almost all aspects of their daily operations and functions.
From wireless access points, workstations, mobiles, printers, to software and middle-ware.
Maintaining control of a complex and dynamic IT environment can be quite overwhelming, and requires a particular set of skills and tools.
The right IT asset management ITAM software can help automate tedious processes, keep track of every asset through detailed inventories, and even deal with non-IT resources like licenses, warranties, and even contracts.
Here is our list of the best IT asset management tools:
SolarWinds Service Desk – FREE TRIAL A complete Service Desk package from Help Desk system through to support team management facilities. Installs on Windows Server.
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus – FREE TRIAL Built to ITIL guidelines, this package covers all aspects of ITAM, including system audits. Available as a cloud service or for installation on Windows Server or Linux.
SecPod SanerNow Asset Management – FREE TRIAL A cloud platform that provides secure software and system management tools, such as its asset management module.
ManageEngine AssetExplorer Documents and tracks hardware and software and tracks service life for all assets. Installs on Windows Server.
Spiceworks IT Asset Management Part of Spiceworks Inventory, this free asset tracking tool is available as a cloud service or for on-premises installation on Windows and Windows Server.
LanSweeper This tool scans, identifies, documents, and tracks hardware and software assets. Installs on Windows and Windows Server.
Kaseya VSA Tailored to managed service providers, this package of monitoring tools traces all assets and logs them. This is a cloud-based service.
SysAid ITSM, Service Desk, and Help Desk systems built to ITIL guidelines and offered as a cloud service.
Network Inventory Advisor A Windows-based system that tracks down, documents, and monitors IT assets.
Open-AudIT by FirstWave A assert discovery and tracking system that includes configuration management functions. Available for Windows Server and Linux.
Why is Asset Management Software Important?
IT Asset Management (ITAM) is a set of technologies and methodologies that help support IT asset life-cycle management and smart decision-making within an IT environment.
Some of these methodologies include scanning, inventorying, license management, reporting, and more.
The ITAM software is usually designed around the idea of helping manage assets throughout all their life-cycle phases:
Plan
Develop/Acquire
Deploy
Usage
Maintain/Upgrade
Decommission/Retire
IT Asset Management has always been performed through lists and spreadsheets, but this becomes a near-impossible task in today’s complex IT environments.
ITAM software helps the IT manager automate all of these processes, so the manager can focus on improving, maximizing every resource, and reducing risks.
The software can also help maximize business expenses by identifying underutilized resources and optimizing their usage.
The solution can also prevent downtime by keeping track of licenses and their End-Of-Life (EOL).
Some ITAM solutions also come with automation capabilities. They can automate scans, processes, and tasks, updates, and more.
