This article is for IT managers.
Definition of IT Assets
An IT asset is any piece of software or hardware that an organization uses in the course of its business activities. This includes all IT equipment used by employees as well as the equipment managed by IT staff behind the scenes.
- Hardware assets encompass physical computing equipment such as personal desktop computers, laptops, mobile devices, monitors, printers, Wi-Fi routers, and physical servers in data centers.
- Software assets, include applications, software, databases, and computer programs for which licenses are typically issued per user or machine. This category also covers cloud-based assets, such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.
- Data and information are sometimes considered IT assets as well, encompassing any valuable information stored on a computer or an online database.
Basic Types and Most Common types of IT Assets in a Company
IT Equipment (End-User Devices for Employees)
- Personal Computers (Laptops, Desktops)
- Phones – Includes all employee phones or mobile devices
- Monitors, Docking Stations
- Mobile Devices (Company Phones, Tablets)
- Peripherals and other IT Equipment & Other IT Equipment (Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Webcams)
- Printers, Scanners
- Conference Room Equipment (Projectors, Smart TVs, Video Conferencing Systems)
- External Storage (Flash Drives, External HDDs)
- SIM cards – Whether used in phones, devices, or IoT systems
IT Infrastructure (Back-End & Network Components)
- Servers (Both Physical and Cloud-Based)
- Network Equipment (Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Access Points)
- Storage Systems (NAS, SAN, Backup Servers)
- Virtualization & Cloud Solutions
- Security Devices (Firewalls, Antivirus, Intrusion Detection Systems)
- UPS & Backup Power Sources – Backup power supplies that provide temporary power in case of outages or voltage fluctuations, protecting IT assets from potential damage.
Other IT Equipment & Assets
This category is often overlooked in physical asset tracking but is crucial for IT asset management (ITAM):
- Software & Licenses – Operating systems, office and specialized applications, security software
- Software Inventory – Information about company applications and all software used
- Cloud Services & SaaS – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, CRM, ERP
- IT Services & Contracts – Support agreements, warranties, SLAs
- Certificates
How Aptien helps you to manage IT assets?
Aptien IT asset management software helps you to keep information about IT assets, keep track of all maintenance tasks and manage various IT - related requests and tickets from your employees.
Central library of IT assets
- A CMDB (Configuration Management DataBase) is a central repository where you store information about your IT equipment and is also used to manage the configuration of IT equipment
- A CMDB provides a common place to store data associated with IT assets
- An IT asset inventory can include many of the specifics of each piece of computer equipment.
Maintenance and operational log of IT equipment
- Monitoring hardware warranty terms
- Monitoring regular hardware changes
- Keeping an operational diary of maintenance, updates, patch management
- Monitoring regular penetration tests
- You can easily set up and monitor all of the above activities for different IT assets
Handing over IT equipment to employees
- Handing over IT equipment to new employees
- Handing over IT equipment at the end of employment
- Monitoring the change of IT equipment