Modern businesses are highly dependent on assets to carry out their everyday operations. Without a reliable process of IT asset management (ITAM), keeping track of your software, hardware, non-IT and virtual assets can be a challenging task. This is the reason why ITAM is so crucial.
IT asset management
IT asset management is a process that makes sure that the assets of an organization are accounted for, maintained, upgraded, disposed of and deployed when required. It is the process that ensures that the crucial items of a business are tracked and used properly. Services of ITAD companies make sure that the old or obsolete IT assets of an organization are disposed of properly and no harm to the environment is caused in their disposal.
An IT asset can be a software, hardware or any information that is used by an organization. The assets have a finite period of use and thus optimizing their value is crucial for their lifecycle management. Management of IT assets is not a one-on-one duty. It calls for the effective management over their complete lifecycle to comprehend the entire cost of ownership and to optimize their usage. Thus, by committing to an ITAM process, you get to decrease security and compliance risks and set up a system for removing ineffective processes and redundancies.
Advantages of IT asset management
Boosts utilization and removes waste
ITAM makes sure that the unnecessary stuff is reduced. It concentrates on eradicating waste and saves money by ensuring that there are no superfluous purchases. Old and no longer useful IT assets are handled with the assistance of electronic recyclers.
Creates order
When your organization is not used to ITAM, your assets might be spread across the business and tracked in distinct places by distinct people. Where there is no particular tool in place for centralizing the information, the probability for inaccuracy increases. With the help of ITAM, organizations get to create order. When a single location is provided to keep track of IT assets, employees and management can concentrate on other vital aspects of their business.
Best practices of IT asset management
Understand that ITAM is a continuing process
ITAM is an ongoing process and not something that has a definite end date. When ITAM becomes a continuing routine, it becomes easier to maintain and track. Regular management implies that there is lesser chance of your ITAM getting abandoned in the process. Effective management of IT assets makes sure that organizations follow compliance when it comes to recycling their waste with the help of ewaste companies.
ITAM follows a proactive approach
When ITAM is implemented as an ongoing practice, you will always be ready for inventory checks and audits. This proactive approach leads to reduced last-minute responses and added readiness on the part of the business.
Have a clear plan
Take your time instead of trying to handle all things at once. Start off with an inventory check and then move on to the next steps after it has been done. A mannered approach results in an efficient and smooth process.
Implement an ITAM team
When you set up an ITAM team by either hiring new employees or using your existing employees, you allow the processes to organically develop. It is vital that you encourage dialogue and feedback between the ITAM team and other parts of the business to make way for added improvement and development.
Prioritize automation
Spreadsheets can get clunky and inaccurate with time. You should consider an asset management system that can help you immensely. When you automate the steps of the process, things like file repositories, compliance reports and email reports are taken care of.
