Augmenting ITAM with Asset Tracking to Mitigate Hardware and Data Loss

Tracking hardware assets across their lifecycle has always been challenging for enterprise IT, but with a growing number of mobile devices, assets distributed across data centers and end user’s homes, and the rise of edge connected devices supporting digitalization efforts, IT asset lifecycle management (ITALM) is becoming impossible to manage with outdated, manual processes.

If teams don’t know where assets are, how can they manage or secure them? Device firmware and applications must be updated and patched or organizations run the risk of ransomware and other cyberattacks by hackers who are adept at using software flaws to their advantage. For healthcare, finance, and other highly regulated industries, cyberattacks and leaks can lead to big fines. To prove regulatory compliance, IT must maintain accurate records of ITALM activities.

In addition to data security issues, as costs continue to rise and supply chains remain disrupted, it’s becoming more important to tag assets to reduce the cost and impact to productivity through asset loss.

There are several types of asset location service solutions that can help with this, including:

• Barcode and QR code tracking systems, which can be used for laptops, desktops, mobile devices, and other IT equipment. By creating barcodes for mobile devices and laptops, IT can assign details such as the user associated with the device, the device name and type and distribution date, as well as other key information.
• RFID tags, that use radio frequency to track assets. Used for high-value assets such as servers, routers, and other network infrastructure, RFID readers can be installed at exit points, allowing IT to confirm if all assets remain on site or identify if an asset has been identified by a reader. Active RFID tags use their own power source to broadcast a signal automatically while passive RFID tags use the power from the reader.
• Near Field Communication (NFC) sensors, use short-range wireless technology to communicate between a reader and a tag attached to an object or asset.
• GPS technology, which can be used to track assets in real time outdoors using satellite signals. This technology is best deployed for large mobile assets such as vehicles.
• Bluetooth low Energy (BLE) sensors, which are commonly used for fixed assets and leverage data such as environmental information, including humidity or temperature.

For those with complex requirements, it’s common to deploy several systems. Unfortunately, different sensor technologies do not always work together and even when they do, location information must be enriched with asset intelligence to properly understand the risk of a mislocated asset. Automation must then be applied to notify stakeholders, act on the information, track location progress, and mitigate associated risks.

Accurate asset tracking relies on automated workflows

By implementing a digital platform conductor (DPC), you can integrate location service solutions with the broader capabilities of automated asset lifecycle management. These capabilities include integrating different sensor technologies and systems, tracking assets from shipping to deployment, updating inventory to reflect asset availability, recording information about users and associated applications, updating device maintenance records, and orchestrating decommissioning and disposal.

Using a DPC you can:

• Augment asset location services data with intelligence from IT, HR and procurement tools and databases to gain a clear view of your IT estate. Clearly identify asset needs across their lifecycle and make better decisions on how to manage them.
• Quickly understand details about lost or misplaced assets including user information, associated applications and more to assess risks.
• Automate workflows to respond to security and compliance violations, including ticket opening and closing, end user communications, notify managers of lost devices, and the ordering of replacement devices.
• Automate ITALM workflows, from shipping/deployment through maintenance, upgrade, and disposal, and leverage clear records for audit trails and reports.
• Accurately assign and optimize costs by identifying underutilized assets and consolidating resources. Prepare clear financial forecasts for upgrades and replacements.

ReadyWorks is a digital platform conductor. Book a demo to understand how to automate asset tracking and seamlessly integrate data from location services solutions within your ITALM program for better decision-making and cost control, and to enhance security and compliance.