IT Asset Management: What you Need to Know For IT Operations Management

Michael Johnson

Description

IT asset management (ITAM) is the set of business practices that join financial, contractual and inventory functions to support life cycle management and strategic decision making for the IT environment.

Assets include all elements of software and hardware that are found in the business environment.

This book is your ultimate resource for IT Asset Management. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, analysis, background and everything you need to know.

In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about IT Asset Management right away, covering: IT asset management, Software Asset Management, Maximo (MRO), Information Technology Infrastructure Library, ManageEngine AssetExplorer, SAManage, Certified Software Manager, Numara Software, Express Metrix, Centennial Discovery, Federation Against Software Theft, Belarc, Asset Point, Axios Systems, Altiris, Staff&Line, Efecte, Absolute Manage, Align (company), Certified Information Technology Professional, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, ERP for IT, KACE Networks, Information technology operations, IP-guard, Faronics, XIO Strategies, Computer Aid International, OCS Inventory

This book explains in-depth the real drivers and workings of IT Asset Management. It reduces the risk of your technology, time and resources investment decisions by enabling you to compare your understanding of IT Asset Management with the objectivity of experienced IT professionals.

Sujets

• Computers
• Informatique

Informations

• Publié par: Emereo Publishing
• Date de parution: 24 octobre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781743044490
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

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Contents

Articles IT asset management Software Asset Management Maximo (MRO) Information Technology Infrastructure Library ManageEngine AssetExplorer

SAManage Certified Software Manager Numara Software Express Metrix Centennial Discovery Federation Against Software Theft Belarc Asset Point Axios Systems Altiris Staff&Line Efecte Absolute Manage Align (company) Certified Information Technology Professional Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México ERP for IT KACE Networks Information technology operations IP-guard Faronics XIO Strategies Computer Aid International

OCS Inventory

References Article Sources and Contributors Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

1 2 4 5 20 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 37 40 41 48 55 57 61 61 63 69 72 76

78 80

Article Licenses License

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IT asset management

IT asset management

IT asset management(ITAM) is the set of business practices that join financial, contractual and inventory functions to support life cycle management and strategic decision making for the IT environment. Assets include all elements of software and hardware that are found in the business environment.

Hardware asset management Hardware asset management entails the management of the physical components of computers and computer networks, from acquisition through disposal. Common business practices include request and approval process, procurement management, life cycle management, redeployment and disposal management. A key component is capturing the financial information about the hardware life cycle which aids the organization in making business decisions based on meaningful and measurable financial objectives. Software Asset Management is a similar process, focusing on software assets, including licenses, versions and installed endpoints.

Role of IT asset management in an organization The IT Asset Management function is the primary point of accountability for the life-cycle management of information technology assets throughout the organization. Included in this responsibility are development and maintenance of policies, standards, processes, systems and measurements that enable the organization to manage the IT Asset Portfolio with respect to risk, cost, control, IT Governance, compliance and business performance objectives as established by the business. IT Asset Management uses integrated software solutions that works with all departments that are involved in the procurement, deployment, management and expense reporting of IT assets.

Goals of ITAM ITAM business practices have a common set of goals: • Uncover savings through process improvement and support for strategic decision making • Gain control of the inventory • Increase accountability to ensure compliance • Enhance performance of assets and the life cycle management Risk reduction through standardization, proper documentation, loss detection

Process ITAM business practices are process-driven and matured through iterative and focused improvements. Most successful ITAM programs are invasive to the organization, involving everyone at some level, such as end users (educating on compliance), budget managers (redeployment as a choice), IT service departments (providing information on warranties), and finance (invoice reconciliation, updates for fixed asset inventories). IT asset management generally uses automation to manage the discovery of assets, so inventory can be compared to ownership information. Full business management of IT assets requires a repository of multiple types of information about the asset, as well as integration with other systems such as supply chain, help desk, procurement and HR systems.

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IT asset management

External links [1] • International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers IAITAM

References [1] http://www.iaitam.org/

Software Asset Management

Software Asset Management (SAM)is a business practice that involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization. According to the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), SAM is defined as“…all of the infrastructure and processes necessary for the effective management, control and protection of the software assets…throughout all stages of their [1] lifecycle.” Fundamentally intended to be part of an organization’s information technology business strategy, the goals of SAM are to reduce information technology (IT) costs and limit business and legal risk related to the ownership and use of [2] software, while maximizing IT responsiveness and end-user productivity. SAM is one facet of a broader business discipline known as IT asset management, which includes overseeing both software and hardware that comprise an organization’s computers and network.

Role within organizations SAM can serve many different functions within organizations, depending on their software portfolios, IT infrastructures, resource availability, and business goals. For many organizations, the goal of implementing a SAM program is very tactical in nature, focused specifically on balancing the number of software licenses purchased with the number of actual copies installed. In doing so, organizations can minimize liabilities associated with software piracy in the event of an audit by a software vendor or a third party such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA). SAM, according to this interpretation, involves conducting detailed software inventories on a periodic basis to determine the exact number of software installations, comparing this information with the number of licenses purchased, and establishing controls to ensure that proper licensing practices are maintained on an ongoing basis. This can be accomplished through a combination of IT [3] processes, purchasing policies and procedures, and technology solutions such as software inventory tools. More broadly defined, the strategic goals of SAM often include (but are not limited to) the following: • Reduce software and support costs by negotiating volume contract agreements and eliminating or reallocating [2] underutilized software licenses [4] • Enforce compliance with corporate security policies and desktop standards [2] • Improve worker productivity by deploying the right kinds of technology more quickly and reliably • Limit overhead associated with managing and supporting software by streamlining and/or automating IT [5] processes (such as inventory tracking, software deployment, issue tracking, and patch management) • Establish ongoing policies and procedures surrounding the acquisition, documentation, deployment, usage and [6] retirement of software in an effort to recognize long-term benefits of SAM

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Software Asset Management

SAM Technology A number of technologies are available to support key SAM processes: •Software inventorytools intelligently“discover”software installed across the computer network, and collect software file information such as title, product ID, size, date, path, and version. Some inventory tools compare software inventory data with purchasing information to reveal license deficits and ensure that organizations remain compliant with their licensing agreements. •Software meteringtools monitor the utilization of software applications across a network. They can also provide real-time enforcement of compliance for applications licensed based on usage. •Application controltools restrict what and by whom particular software can be run on a computer as a means of [7] avoiding security and other risks. •Software deploymenttools automate and regulate the deployment of new software. •Patch managementtools automate the deployment of software patches to ensure that computers are up-to-date and meet applicable security and efficiency standards.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) In 2006, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) began working with the SAM industry to develop a standard of best practices for software asset management programs. Standard ISO/IEC 19770-1:2006, Information technology–software asset management–Part 1, was published by the ISO and IEC in May 2006. Part 1 of the standard details SAM processes including control environment, planning and implementation, inventory, verification and compliance, operations management and life [8] cycle. [9] ISO/IEC 19770-2:2009 - Part 2: Software identification tag ; establishes specifications for tagging software to optimize its identification and management. Using Software Identification Tags or SWID Tags makes discovery a simpler and more accurate process that can be verified by software vendors if they audit an organisations entire estate.

Issues with scalability An example of issues faced when scaling up discovery tools is with Microsoft's System Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM). Using metering rules to monitor software deployment and usage across a small estate is relatively easy and reliable given the total number of unique executables (.exe files) and the number of instances of each executable. If you try turning on metering rules for every packaged application and every executable in a large estate the volume of data generated quickly becomes unmanageable and expensive to maintain.

References Reference Number 4 is no longer valid (missing link). [1] ITIL’s Guide to Software Asset Management [2] "Information technology—Software asset management-- Part 1: Processes".International Standard. International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission. 2006-05-01. pp. 5 [3] "What is SAM?" (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sam/what.mspx). Microsoft. . Retrieved 2008-03-19. [4] Dunn, Ian; Daniel Dresner (2004). "SAM Best Practice" (http://www.fast.org.uk/groups/AMG-FASTtalkArticleSAMBestPractice.pdf) (PDF). Federation Against Software Theft. . Retrieved 2008-03-19. [5] "Information technology—Software asset management-- Part 1: Processes".International Standard. International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission. 2006-05-01. pp. 19 [6] "Microsoft Software Asset Management: Step-by-Step Training - Step 4" (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sam/sbs_4.mspx). Microsoft. . Retrieved 2008-03-19. [7] Ogren, Eric (2006-11-03). "Application control coming your way" (http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/3890).ComputerWorld. . Retrieved 2008-04-03.

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Software Asset Management

[8] "Information technology—Software asset management-- Part 1: Processes".International Standard. International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission. 2006-05-01 [9] http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=53670

External links • Business Software Alliance (BSA) (http://www.bsa.org) • Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) (http://www.fastiis.org) •19770-1:2006(http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=33908) • ISO/IEC Information Centre (http://www.standardsinfo.net/info/livelink/fetch/2000/148478/6301438/ index.html) • International Business Software Managers Association (IBSMA (http://www.ecpmedia.com/index.html) • International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers (IAITAM) (http://www.iaitam.org) • Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) (http://www.siia.net)

Maximo (MRO)

IBM Maximo Asset Managementsoftware provides asset lifecycle and maintenance management for all asset types on a single platform. It is used to help maximize the value of critical business and IT assets over their lifecycles with workflows by enforcing best practices that yield benefits for all types of assets, including transportation, production, delivery, facilities, communications and IT. Industry-tailored solutions are available for utilities, nuclear power, transportation, government, telecommunications, life sciences, and oil & gas. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] MRO Software, the provider of Maximo, was acquired by IBM in August 2006.

The current release, IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1, is the third release built upon a J2EE Service Oriented Architecture. It is an Enterprise Asset Management, Service Management and IT asset management suite of applications that are scalable and easily integrated into existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Maximo is also the basis of Tivoli Process Automation Engine, which is the central part of Tivoli Service Automation Manager.

References [1] IBM (http://www.IBM.com/) [2] IBM Maximo User Groups (http://www.tivoli-ug.org/groups.php?ugtype=Maximo) [3] IBM Asset Management Community (https://www-950.ibm.com/communities/service/html/ communityview?communityUuid=1f062ee8-a76e-4e2b-9554-819673462f3b) [4] IBM Asset Management LinkedIn Group (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1985831&trk=anet_ug_grppro) [5] Maximo users group (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MAXIMO/) - Run by Christopher Wanko and Wes Williams since 1999; largest independent user group for Maximo, very high signal/noise ratio. Technical support found here is recommended by MRO specifically. [6] IBM Maximo Enterprise Suite (http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/solutions/asset-management/index.html) - Asset and Service Management Software [7] IBM Maximo Asset Management - Product Support (http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/Overview/Software/Tivoli/ Maximo_Asset_Management)

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Information Technology Infrastructure Library

Information Technology Infrastructure Library

TheInformation Technology Infrastructure Library(ITIL) is a set of concepts and practices for Information Technology Services Management (ITSM), Information Technology (IT) development and IT operations. ITIL gives detailed descriptions of a number of important IT practices and provides comprehensive checklists, tasks and procedures that any IT organisation can tailor to its needs. ITIL is published in a series of books, each of which covers an IT management topic. The namesITILandIT Infrastructure Libraryare registered trademarks of the United Kingdom's Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

History Responding to growing dependence on IT, the UK Government's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in the 1980s developed a set of recommendations. It recognised that without standard practices, government agencies and private sector contracts were independently creating their own IT management practices. TheIT Infrastructure Libraryoriginated as a collection of books, each covering a specific practice within IT Service Management. ITIL was built around a process-model based view of controlling and managing operations [1] often credited to W. Edwards Deming and his plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. After the initial publication in 1989–1996, the number of books quickly grew within ITIL v1 to over 30 volumes. In 2000/2001, to make ITIL more accessible (and affordable), ITIL v2 consolidated the publications into 8 logical "sets" that grouped related process-guidelines to match different aspects of IT management, applications, and services. However, the main focus was known as the Service Management sets (Service Support and Service Delivery) which were by far the most widely used, circulated, and understood of ITIL v2 publications. • In April 2001 the CCTA was merged into the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), an office of the UK [2] Treasury. • In 2006, the ITIL v2 glossary was published. • In May 2007, this organisation issued the version 3 of ITIL (also known as the ITIL Refresh Project) consisting of 26 processes and functions, now grouped under only 5 volumes, arranged around the concept of Service lifecycle structure. • In 2009, the OGC officially announced that ITIL v2 certification would be withdrawn and launched a major [3] consultation as per how to proceed.

Overview of the ITIL v2 library The eight ITIL version 2 books and their disciplines are: The IT Service Management sets 1.Service Support 2.Service Delivery Other operational guidance 3.ICT Infrastructure Management 4.Security Management 5.The Business Perspective 6.Application Management 7.Software Asset Management To assist with the implementation of ITIL practices a further book was published (Apr 9, 2002) providing guidance on implementation (mainly of Service Management):

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