Computer Inventory Management – Tracking Your Hardware and Software

Only a few years ago, most organizations possessed at most one computer in their asset register.

That computer was running no more than five separate programs.

However, computers have become far more ubiquitous, and the volume of available software has grown substantially.

Even a two-person firm might possess three smartphones, two desktops, two laptops, a tablet, and a server. Each of these devices could be running 20-30 applications or more.

Consequently, it is easy to envision the scale of hardware and software assets in a mid-sized enterprise. We need not even consider large conglomerates.

Regrettably, monitoring all of these items can be extremely challenging. Fortunately, inventory and hardware management solutions are available to assist.

In this piece, we will explore what hardware and computer inventory management entail and how they can benefit your organization.

What Is Meant by Hardware and Software Inventory?

Hardware and software inventory involves building a database of your physical and virtual computer assets. Together, these systems constitute computer inventory management.

Hardware Inventory Management

Hardware inventory management involves overseeing all IT hardware assets within your organization. This ranges from simple USB drives to server racks. Naturally, larger enterprises possess more hardware. Yet, in certain industries like hosting providers, the inventory volume may far exceed the headcount.

Overseeing your hardware is critical. Primarily, it provides visibility into in-house resources, enabling you to monitor security and vulnerability concerns. Even basic items like USB sticks or charging cables can present security threats. Thus, it is essential to know what your staff are using at all times.

Most hardware inventory management software, such as Unified Security Stackwill include an autodiscovery capability. This ensures that any device automatically connecting to the network is recorded. Naturally, some items will still require manual addition.

Beyond the IT security angle, hardware management is also vital from a financial perspective. Your accountants will require this data, and it helps prevent equipment theft.

Software Inventory Management

Software inventory management is crucial because organizations rely on multiple tools and applications to perform their work. Whether free or paid, each tool must be tracked.

Like hardware, software contains known defects and security vulnerabilities. By monitoring it, you identify what requires fixing and patching. Additionally, you can maintain whitelists and blacklists to enforce strict security measures.

Moreover, software inventory management assists in tracking licenses and login credentials, allowing you to easily share access with those who need it.

Other Asset Management

In addition to computer inventory, most businesses hold various other assets. These range from furniture and real estate to vehicles and even private jets. Logically, companies should track all valuable assets.

Although some computer inventory solutions allow adding other assets, we consider this suboptimal. Physical assets have distinct tracking requirements and methods that IT-focused tools may not adequately support.

The same applies to vehicles. Monitoring cars, motorcycles, private jets, boats, and similar items has unique needs, including fuel consumption, damage reports, and insurance. As with physical asset tracking, dedicated software is preferable to meet these specific requirements.

Therefore, while finding one platform to track all asset types is unlikely, using multiple specialized tools will provide superior management and handling in the long run.

Best Inventory Management Software

A wide variety of inventory management software exists for business use. Unified Security Stack includes these capabilities within its system. While we would love to claim we are the best solution for you, that would be misleading. We do believe our product is excellent and encourage you to test our free trial.

Nevertheless, different companies have varying needs. Therefore, we recommend exploring other options as well. However, if you are an SME prioritizing compliance and security, you will find Unified Security Stack beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Any Management Tools Available for Free?

Most management tools provide a free trial. Unified Security Stack, however, offers a completely free version to help you begin your computer inventory management journey.

Do Open Source Management Tools Exist?

If you are concerned about proprietary software, Opmantek provides an open-source IT inventory management solution. This theoretically makes it easier to customize for your specific requirements.

Inventory Management – The Basics

In summary, inventory management is vital. If you are not yet tracking your company’s hardware and software, you should start immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes. If you require assistance setting up Unified Security Stack, please sign up and contact us.