Every company in the world uses IT assets. But which is the most important? And how do you maintain it? In this article we will discuss what IT asset management is, some examples of IT assets, as well as what is the most important IT asset to any organization. We will also cover how to ensure the security of those assets and why it is important to manage them effectively.
What is IT asset management?
IT asset management is the process of managing hardware, software. and other technology throughout their lifespan in an organization. The goal of IT asset management is to optimize the use of those materials, minimize the cost of those materials and the time spent managing them, and ensure data security across the entire company whether employees are in office or remote. IT asset management can include anything involved in the IT lifecycle. Onboarding, repairs, data collection and auditing, off-boarding, and disposition all fall within the realm of IT asset management. Managing your company’s IT assets effectively is a sure-fire way to lead your company to success.
Now let’s look at some examples of IT assets that your IT team or IT asset management partner should be managing.
What are examples of IT assets?
There are many examples of IT assets across an organization. Those most commonly seen and used by employees are hardware assets, and the software licenses or services on those machines.
Servers: Physical machines that store, process, and distribute data within a network.
Workstations: High-performance computers used by individuals for demanding tasks such as graphic design or software development.
Networking Equipment: Routers, switches, and firewalls that enable communication and data transfer across a network.
Storage Devices: Hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), or network-attached storage (NAS) devices used to store and retrieve data.
Printers and Scanners: Devices used for printing documents or scanning physical documents into digital format.
Laptops and Desktop Computers: Personal computers are used for various tasks, including office work, browsing, and content creation.
Mobile Devices: Smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices that allow users to access applications and data on the go.
Software Licenses: Legally authorized permission to use specific software applications, which can be installed on various hardware assets.
Cloud Services: Virtual resources, such as virtual machines, storage, or software, accessed online.
Data Centers: Facilities that house multiple servers, storage devices, and networking equipment, providing centralized data processing and storage capabilities.
While all of these assets are important to organizations and should be managed appropriately, the most important IT asset that a company has is what all of these other assets store in some capacity: Data.
What are the most important IT assets?
The most important IT asset is often considered to be data. Data is the backbone of any organization, providing valuable insights, driving decision-making, and enabling businesses to operate efficiently. Without data, businesses would struggle to understand their customers, track their performance, and stay competitive in today’s digital landscape. Protecting and managing data effectively is crucial for any organization looking to succeed in the modern world of technology.
If your team is unsure of their IT asset management recovery practices, ensuring the safety of that data can be difficult. When an employee needs a piece of hardware replaced or is in the off-boarding process, retrieving that old hardware with company data on it is a crucial step in securing that most important IT asset. ITAM companies, such as Multiply Technology, are experts in IT asset recovery. They can ensure that the risk to your company is mitigated using thorough auditing and recovery best practices.
What is the most important computer asset in an organization?
The most important computer asset in any organization is an employee’s computer. Not only is this device how an employee accesses your company network, software licenses that are required for their job function, and communicates with team members, it is also where that previously mentioned asset, data, is stored. An employee’s computer must be handled with care through all stages of its lifecycle. If it is not then you are likely to see increased costs associated with repairs, or loss of work hours for the employee.
Multiply and IT Asset Recovery
Multiply’s team of senior technicians are standing by and ready to partner with you to ensure the safety of your most important IT asset, your data. To get started with us today, contact us via this form!
