IT asset management involves inventorying, tracking, and managing the lifecycle of IT assets from acquisition to disposal. The document discusses how ITIL processes like configuration management, change management, and financial management can assist with IT asset management. It recommends taking a phased approach to implementation, starting with high ROI asset types. Success requires people, processes, technology, and information to be in place, as well as governance, tools, and continuous improvement.

1. Where is IT Asset
Management in ITIL?
Nicole Conboy, NCA
IT Service & Asset Management Consultant

2. NCA 2006 2
What is “IT Asset Management”?
 Inventory Collection
“What”
 Asset Tracking
“Where / Who”
 SW License Management
“How Used”
 IT Asset Management
“How Much”
 Configuration Management
“How Related”
1000 1000122
200
Net
Book
Value
Configuration
Items (CI’s)
?

3. NCA 2006 3
How do you do IT Asset Management?
Inventory Collection
 Snapshot of IT assets (wall to wall)
 Requires an inventory repository
 Use of scan tools will increase accuracy and efficiency
Asset Tracking
 Requires Change Management (or IMAC) to authorize changes and
notify asset data base administrator
 Requires an asset repository and scan tools/site visit to verify DB
 Requires user verification for accuracy (use Incident Management)
HW and/or SW IT Asset Management (full lifecycle management)
 Uses ITIL Incident, Change, Release, Configuration, Capacity,
Financial and Service Level Management processes
 Requires interface to Contract Management (Warranty, Maintenance)
 Understand TCO of IT Assets
 Requires accurate reports

4. NCA 2006 4
What about Software License and
Configuration Management?
Software License Management (metering and monitoring)
 Requires Asset DB, Metering/Monitoring tools, Discovery tools, DSL
 Uses ITIL Change, Financial, Capacity, Configuration and Release
Management processes
 Requires interface to Contract Management, Procurement
 Requires HW Asset tracking
Configuration Management
 Requires CMDB (with functionality to define relationships)
 Discovery tools will increase accuracy
 Uses NW diagrams and build information
 Includes documentation
 Requires Change and Release Management for accuracy
 Service Level Management will ensure success through continuous
improvement, SLA’s, UC’s and OLAs

5. NCA 2006 5
ITIL processes assisting with IT
Asset Management
Configuratio
n
Management
Plan and Identify CI’s, Control CMDB, Track CI Status through lifecycle
Audit/Verify CI Data, Produce reports
Change
Management
Authorizes changes to CI’s/assets
Financial
Management
for IT
Assists with determining budgets, depreciation methods
Allocates cost types to assets (CIs)
Uses HW/SW costs/details for use in cost models, plans, TCO
Release
Management
Orders HW/SW for release – maintains DSL and DHS
Maintains Documentation (licenses, contracts, procedures)
Capacity
Management
Determines correct capacity of resources (CI’s) for business (plans)
Monitor usage and allocate licenses accordingly
Incident
Management
Service Request = Standard Change, procedures to update CMDB
Report CI discrepancies
Service Level
Management
Define requirements, deliverables for IT Asset Services
Create SLA, UC, OLA

6. NCA 2006 6
ITIL’s Software Asset Management
book
 Assists with business case and benefits
 Provides guidance on implementation
 Identifies potential CI’s and attributes to track
 Describes license types
 Discusses tools
Not prescriptive!

7. Implementing
Asset/Configuration
Management

8. NCA 2006 8
Why invest in IT Asset or
Configuration Management?
 Legal compliance i.e. Sarbanes-Oxley, Privacy
 Software license compliance
 Assist high-availability
 Improve management of IT resources (people, tools)
 Increase user efficiency
 Reuse of assets/Recovery of lost assets
 Timely lease returns
 Relieve tax burdens
 Secure, timely product removal
 Address vendor challenges or invoice errors
 Improve warranty service

9. NCA 2006 9
Use a standard improvement method
Measurements
Implement
Plan
Assess
Vision High level business objectives and
requirements
Understand where you are - strengths/weaknesses
in people, processes, technology, investment
Where you want to be and target
timeframe
Activities to close gap to target
KPI’s to determine if the target was met
Continuous
Improvement

10. NCA 2006 10
Complexity
Payback
Mainframe
Desktop Software
Network
PDATelecom
Cable
Server
Cellular
Printer
Laptop
Select CI’s with the highest ROI
Docs
Wireless

11. NCA 2006 11
Use a phased approach
Inventory Collection
Asset Tracking
Configuration Management
HW Asset Management
SW Asset Management
SW License Management
by:
 Asset type
 Configuration Item
 Location
 Customer Group
 Service

12. NCA 2006 12
Don’t forget the CSF’s!
 People
 Process Manager, Configuration Librarian, SME’s,
training, ownership, roles and responsibilities, etc.
 Processes
 Configuration, Change, Financial, Release, Capacity,
Incident, Policies, Procedures, Work Instructions, etc.
 Technology
 CMDB, Scan tools, DSL, metering/monitoring tools, order
tools, etc.
 Information
 Data, reports, exceptions, audits, recommendations,
plans, etc.

13. NCA 2006 13
Additional tips for success
 Determine who owns the program (IT, Finance, Procurement?)
 Create Program Governance
 Establish a Process Owner/Process Manager
 Identify SME’s for each asset class and function in the lifecycle
 Manage the program with Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
 Include requirements in SLA’s, OLA’s and UC’s
 Promote understanding/compliance with policies, process, standards
 Standardize procedures to improve activities
 Ensure financial and audit controls are in place
 Assess, implement and integrate tools to enable the process
 Provide common and consistent interfaces for asset acquisition,
financial management and disposal across the organization
 Enable information to be easily accessible in a timely manner
 Reduce the cost of managing assets
 Establish a continuous improvement program to add value
 Keep it simple

14. NCA 2006 14
Thank You!
Nicole Conboy
Nicole Conboy & Associates
(416)203-1840
nconboy@sympatico.ca
NCA Partners:
Ahead Technology, Burntsand, Micromation Inc.,
Procept Associates, Tony Grice & Associates