What is ITSM?
IT service management is how IT teams manage the end-to-end delivery of IT services to customers. This includes all processes and activities to design, create, deliver, and support IT services. The core concept of ITSM is the belief that IT should be delivered as a service.
What is IT Asset Management or ITAM?
It is a set of business processes designed to manage the lifecycle and inventory of an organization’s IT assets.
What is an IT asset?
This includes all elements of software and hardware that you generally find in a business environment.
When properly used, an IT Service Management (ITSM) process helps organizations lower IT costs, reduce IT risk and improve their productivity.
There are two subsets of IT Asset Management:
- Hardware Asset Management (HAM)
- Software Asset Management (SAM)
Hardware asset management focuses exclusively on the physical components of information technology. HAM begins as hardware is acquired, continues through the life of the hardware, and ends with the final disposal of the defunct component. Hardware asset managers take the lead in this responsibility, and must be intimately familiar with all relevant company hardware, and capable of working closely with departments and management across all levels of the organization.
Software Asset Management (SAM) is a business strategy that controls and automates processes such as the procurement and distribution of an organization's software licenses and maximizes savings. Purchase, distribution, maintenance, etc. of existing software applications within the organization. allows to manage and optimize the entire process.
Best practices in software asset management
- Build a strong foundation for your SAM program
- Determine exactly what and where your software assets are
- Monitor software usage
- Compare software inventory, usage, and license count
Best practices in hardware asset management
Hardware asset management (HAM) best practices have similarities with those in SAM. You still need someone from the top to sponsor your HAM program if you want sufficient leverage once you start the ball rolling.
- Take an inventory of all hardware assets.
- Record their physical location, specific configurations, associated contractual and financial details.
- Because your hardware assets can undergo various changes in their lifetime, you need to incorporate several processes like deployment, decommissioning, and disposal into your HAM program.
- To streamline these processes, apply change management at every step of the way.
As with the case of SAM, hardware asset management can be carried out more efficiently if you employ the right technology. A HAM system that scans your network for hardware assets and stores all relevant information in a centralised asset repository or database (mostly a CMDB) can greatly simplify many time-consuming and error-prone tasks.
Our Expert can help you in ITSM and ITAM processes.
- Category: Business Process Services
- Date: 01-10-2022