How IT asset discovery can help IT departments

IT asset discovery is the process of identifying and documenting all devices, software, and systems within a network or organization. It’s a critical component of risk assessment and cybersecurity.

It involves scanning networks and systems to identify endpoints and collect data on device types as well as the operating systems, software, and services running on each device.

The collected information is then analyzed and categorized to help organizations better understand their infrastructure, identify potential vulnerabilities, and take the necessary steps to secure and manage their assets.

Asset discovery is a vital process for organizations to effectively manage IT infrastructure and ensure security. By utilizing asset discovery, organizations can better prioritize security measures and protect critical assets from cyber threats.

Additionally, asset discovery allows organizations to optimize their IT spending by identifying unused or underutilized resources that can be retired or repurposed.

Regular asset discovery ensures compliance with regulations and internal policies, providing an accurate inventory of all devices and software within an organization. Overall, asset discovery is a critical component of IT risk management and security.

IT asset discovery for IT departments: use cases

An IT department can utilize IT asset discovery in various ways to manage infrastructure effectively and optimize operations. For example…

• IT asset discovery helps to identify all the devices, software, and systems that are connected to the network, enabling IT teams to monitor them and ensure they are working optimally. Therefore, it is extremely useful for tracking new devices or unauthorized equipment, which could compromise the network’s security.
• It can help to improve network security by identifying potential vulnerabilities in hardware and software. This information is then used to patch and update the system to minimize the risk of security breaches.
• IT asset discovery can be used to optimize the IT infrastructure by identifying underutilized resources, such as unused software licenses or equipment that is not being used efficiently. This information enables IT teams to reassign or repurpose the resources effectively, reducing costs and improving the efficiency of the infrastructure.
• It can help IT departments comply with regulations and internal policies. By providing an accurate inventory of all devices and software within an organization, it helps IT teams ensure they are following compliance requirements and internal policies.
• IT asset discovery can be used to plan and prioritize budgets effectively. By analyzing the data collected through asset discovery, IT teams can identify the most critical assets that require the most attention and allocate their resources accordingly. This ensures that the IT department is spending its budget efficiently, ultimately leading to better results.

IT asset discovery best practices

As IT asset discovery involves identifying and documenting all devices, software, and systems within a network or organization. It is extremely important that IT departments follow best practices for effective asset discovery. By following best practices, organizations ensure that they have an accurate inventory of assets, helping them manage their infrastructure effectively and mitigate the risk of security breaches. Some best practices may include:

• Defining the scope: The first step is to define the scope of the asset discovery process, including which assets to include and what information to collect.
• Conducting regular scans: Asset discovery should be an ongoing process, and regular scans should be conducted to ensure that the inventory is up to date.
• Using automated tools: Use automated tools to conduct the scans to save time and ensure that nothing is missed.
• Identifying all assets: It’s essential to identify all assets, including hardware, software, and virtual machines, and not just those that are connected to the network.
• Collecting detailed information: Collect as much information as possible about each asset, including its IP address, operating system, installed software, patch status, and hardware configuration.
• Prioritizing asset management: Prioritize the assets based on their criticality, age, and usage and develop a plan to manage them effectively.
• Keeping records: Keep records of all asset discovery activities, including the devices discovered, the data collected, and any changes made.
• Ensuring security: Ensure that the asset discovery process is secure and does not expose sensitive data to unauthorized parties.

How Atera’s solution can help with your IT asset discovery

Atera works with IT professionals to ensure that they can work smarter, not harder. That’s why we offer an all-in-one solution for IT departments. One of the key features of Atera’s solution is its Network Discovery, providing a comprehensive security scan and complete view of all of your end-user networks and devices, automatically updating to ensure you always see the full picture in real-time. Here’s how our top features and benefits and the tools that they implore can help with your IT asset discovery:

• Patch Management: Gain full control over all your patches and save time by automating OS, software and hardware patches for both onboarding and ongoing maintenance, individually and with software bundles.
• Helpdesk: Intuitive and easy to use, our AI helpdesk and ticketing system utilizes AI and automation to boost efficiency and support IT departments in their operations.
• Cybersecurity: A complex IT department such as yours calls for comprehensive built-in security that adheres to industry standards such as MFA and smart logging, and reporting. Tightly integrate your IT software with best-in-class partners for antivirus, EDR, backups, email security, and more.
• IT Automation: Harness the power of Atera’s IT automation tools to create set rules that execute repetitive processes not only on a scheduled basis but also automatically as a result of different “states” or “changes of different parameters,” for example, with Alerts which then automatically solves them. Scan networks automatically and continuously with Network Discovery, available on Expert and Master plans to effortlessly map all assets.
• Remote Access: Our intuitive and user-friendly remote access technology enables you to manage your IT department as-a-service. For remote working setups, our “Work From Home” add-on allows for quick access to the office environment from anywhere.

In conclusion, IT asset discovery is crucial in the function of IT departments. It helps identify and document all devices, software, and systems within a network or organization so that organizations better understand their infrastructure, identify potential vulnerabilities, and take the necessary steps to secure and manage their assets.

Atera’s all-in-one solution helps organizations discover, manage, and monitor their IT assets effectively. By providing real-time monitoring, comprehensive data collection, asset categorization, and compliance reporting, Atera’s solution can help organizations optimize their IT infrastructure, reduce costs, and improve security.