Software Asset Management – ITSM/ITAM/ESM Blog

What is IT Asset Management (ITAM)?

The International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers (IAITAM), answers the question, “What is IT Asset Management?” by defining ITAM as, “a set of business practices that incorporates IT assets across the business units within the organization.”

ITAM includes a review of current software and hardware used, ensures licensing compliance, and tracks how IT assets are being used and where changes may be needed. An ITAM audit may save you money by identifying software for which you are over licensed or an IT asset you are spending money on, but no longer using.

Is ITAM new?

No. ITAM has been around as long as IT has. The tools back in the day were just a lot simpler, for example back in the HEAT for Windows days in the mid 1990s, I developed Asset Tracking Systems for many clients such as Purolator Courier Services in Canada. Those Tracking Systems basically evolved over time, ITIL in the 1990s introduced the Configuration Management Database (CMDB), and in the last couple years we have seen some great enhancements again, and with that moved away from the term CMDB and started using ITAM.

Ivanti Asset Manager

IAM includes Hardware Asset Management, Software Asset Management, License Reconciliation, and Barcode Scanning and complements Ivanti Service Manager or runs stand-alone.

Where to next?

Simply put, Ivanti IT Asset Management (ITAM) goes beyond the old CMDB (Configuration Management Data Base) and offers an inventory of “What we think we have” versus “What we know we have“, that is “What was discovered”, and tools to make informed decisions, audit, reconcile and redistribute hardware and software assets.

Fast-forward to Ivanti Neurons and Edge Computing and you will see more shift-left solutions, features and functionalities.

Word of caution, out of the box, Ivanti Service and Asset Manager do offer you some basic configurations, however you will want to contact a seasoned Ivanti Consultant to implement the latest solutions that fit your company’s overall strategy, business processes, and roadmap.

Be sure to contact me for a FREE no obligation discovery session to take your ITAM Implementation to the next level!

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Software Asset Management 101

Software asset management (SAM) is a business practice that involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization.

Ivanti Asset Manager

Ivanti Asset Manager (IAM) is a much talked about “new” product that was released with ITxM 2018.3 and actively promoted with ITxM 2019.1.

ITxM 2019 in fact consists of Ivanti Service Manager (ISM) and Ivanti Asset Manager (IAM).

Ivanti Asset Manager has been around for a while and Ivanti Service Manager, formerly known as HEAT, has done Asset Management since its early HEAT for Windows days in the 1990’s.

Software Asset Management followed a little later with the HEAT ITSM using Software Inventory and Software Product Configuration Items (CI).

For more info on Ivanti’s Hardware Asset Management click here

IAM Business Objects

To someone new to ISM/IAM the SAM implementation looks like something of a “Frankenstein hodge podge”. There is a combination of Legacy, DSM, and IAM business objects, and relationships. That is by design. Upgrades from HEAT SM, DSM, and ISM to IAM vary, as do discovery tools and sources, plural, (more on that on a future post) and so do requirements as per business processes and standard operating procedures (SOP).

Getting Started with SAM

Strategy. Architecture. Processes. There really is not quick and easy way to just “install”SAM. Careful consideration, planning, and data analysis is required to determine where you are today, where you want to go, and the steps to take you there. While there are some common practices and implementation methods, every organization has variances that must be considered, carefully. What are your sources? What data are you capturing, where and how? What processes are manual versus automated. How are you tracking your licenses and entitlements today, what details, and at what level. Vendors, Manufacturers, Versions, Features, License Keys, etc. What does you procurement process look like? Alerts, renewal reminders? It’s best you start simple with data analysis, process analysis, document workflows, processes, entity relationships (ERD), and build a proof of concept, followed by a prototype to validate each step of the process.

If your Software Asset Management really is a simple slam-dunk, then all of the above steps will be very quick, but I can almost certainly guarantee you from experience that there are always variances. The devil is in the details as you say. And usually with the most complex and expensive software titles and products.

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Ivanti Service & Asset Manager

Before you tackle the gargantuan task of software asset management be sure to contact a19 Consulting Professional Services and put yourself in the hot seat with the a19 Software Asset Management audit.

Ivanti Asset Manager 101

Ivanti added their Asset Manager product (IAM) into Ivanti Service Manager (ISM) in late 2019 with the 2019.3 release. While a new product to some, and definitely a huge learning curve for many ISM customers, Asset Management is not a new concept to ISM.

Ivanti Asset Manager IAM Asset Scanner Procurement CMDB Configuration Item CI Software Inventory Product Catalog Contracts Invoices Purchase Orders Scan Log Storage Entitlement ITAM Asset Management

Back in the HEAT for Windows (HFW) days under Bendata ownership, that’s right, going back over 20 years now, “Asset Tracking” was accomplished with the HEAT Ticketing System, now called HEAT Classic (by Frontrange Solutions) or HEAT Call Logging, using Profiles, subsets, and detail screens until configs were introduced and then later the HEAT ITSM introduced the CMDB (Configuration Management Database Base) which consists of CI‘s (Configuration Items) such as Services, Software, Enterprise Applications, Servers, Computers, and other hardware, and complimenting Service Request Offerings, Workflows, and Automation, as well as integration with Discovery Tools such as SCCM, EPM, and others.

Fast forward to 2020 and Asset Management takes a front-seat, especially now with Covid-19 and work-from-home projects. The new interface combines IAM into ISM, hence the introduction of new business objects with the ivnt (Ivanti) pre-fix, new roles (Asset Administrator, Asset Manager), new CI type for Software Product, as well as General Assets, Un-managed Assets, Infrastructure, and Peripheral Device that combines some of the previous CI Types for “peripherals” into one.

The new business object structure and ERD takes some time to study and getting used to, especially since the ITxM (ITSM/ITAM) architecture has been combined over time, with some FRS (Frontrange Solutions) prefixes, such as the revamped Product Catalog (FRS_Price_Item), and the standard naming convention (without prefix), and ivnt prefixes. On top of that there are legacy and legacy discovery (DSM) business objects (which are partially used by the EPM and SCCM integrations). Software Asset Management (SAM) becomes even more convoluted as there are new workspaces, legacy workspaces, and depending on which discovery tool you’re using, there may be a subset of workspaces and objects. Plus SAM is closely integrated with Contracts and Purchase Oder now.

Procurement has gone through major improvements as well, and Contracts, Purchase Orders, and their respective line items, plus Invoices added. This can be a project of its own, and can be integrated with your ERP or accounting system.

Asset Scanning with the Asset Scanner Mobile app is another major feature introduced that allows your Storage Manager’s (another new role) to scan assets into inventory, check them out, do floor sweeps of inventory, and track stock levels as well as shipments for orders.

Understanding, implementing IAM, and doing so correctly and efficiently, can be a daunting task.

Before you waste time, energy, and resources, be sure to contact a19 Consulting for Ivanti Professional Services, the testimonial from the latest of many Asset Manager installations speaks for itself.

Ivanti Service Manager Upgrades

Before you consider upgrading your on premise Ivanti Service Manager (ISM) and/or Ivanti Asset Manager (IAM) you should consider the What’s New Releases, the Ivanti Release Schedule, Steps Involved, and Impact to your Service Desk Implementation.

For example if you are upgrading from the HEAT Classic Ticketing System then the changes and impact to your organization, business processes, and day to day operations, is substantial versus just a minor release upgrade.

Of course if you’re using SaaS (Software as a Service) hosted by Ivanti then you are privy to the most current version and should review the What’s New information and Ivanti Cloud Calendar for regression testing, training, and identifying a communication plan.

Here is a quick summary of the latest Ivanti Service Manager (ISM) and Ivanti Asset Manager (ISM) Releases. This is my personal cheat sheet.

Ivanti Service Manager Releases – What's New – What you need to know before you upgrade from a19 Consulting – Ivanti Professional Services

https://www.slideshare.net/IvantiServiceManager/ivanti-service-manager-releases-whats-new-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-upgrade-237947346

Be sure to Contact me for more information!

What are ITSM, ITIL, and Ivanti?

ITSM began with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), which provides best practice guidance and an extensive set of processes and policies for improving IT service delivery and customer satisfaction.