IT Asset Management (ITAM) is the process of accounting for all of the assets that comprise your IT infrastructure and software running on those devices.
The purpose is to ensure that your IT assets are implemented, supported, upgraded, and discarded when needed; to proactively manage any IT asset’s lifecycle.
By tracking hardware and software usage, organisations can reduce licensing and support costs, and enforce compliance with policies and regulatory requirements. Effective ITAM can also reduce waste by eliminating shadow IT and idle devices.
Additionally, today’s hybrid workplace means employees are accessing corporate resources remotely, potentially using unauthorised or unprotected devices that can introduce vulnerabilities into the network. ITAM helps to ensure that all IT assets are deployed with the proper security protocols and protections in place.
Organisations are usually not aware of the devices, software, and other IT assets they have, where they are located and who is using them. With the increase of new devices and applications required, it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to track where IT assets are, who controls them and their associated security risks.
ITAM can save organisations money by identifying software for which they are over-licensed, or an IT asset that they are spending money on, but no longer using. It also helps track trends in the IT asset lifecycle and identify time and money saving areas.
