What is hardware asset management?

Hardware asset management is the process of keeping track of relevant information related to the hardware elements within your IT environment. Through IT hardware inventory management, you can collect and define asset types, locations, statuses, maintenance logs, models, warranty information, software licenses, serial numbers, and manufacturers, making it easier for you to track and monitor your hardware. This process requires discovering new assets and updating current ones. Good management requires you to store your data in an organized fashion, so you can find the information you need at a moment's notice. The hardware inventory management process also involves tracking dates when you may need to take action, such as expiration dates. Additionally, you can note changes to hardware and configurations within an associated change management database ( CMDB ). Traditional hardware inventory management required manual updates to paper records or spreadsheets. Today, computer network inventory software simplifies this process, saving time and reducing the likelihood of human error.

Why is hardware inventory management important?

Hardware inventory management can help you ensure your system and business are always equipped with the necessary underlying resources. Hardware inventory management is designed to provide you with detailed information about all your hardware assets. By consolidating your assets from across your organization, you can easily visualize your full asset life cycle, which can help you identify areas where you can reduce the overall cost of assets.

How does computer inventory software work?

Computer inventory software automatically scans your entire network and creates detailed records of the hardware assets it discovers. This scan is designed to detect changes to the hardware in your network, documenting all your assets and their configurations in a central control center. The software then monitors this hardware inventory automatically. It centralizes the maintenance process so you’re better able to keep your devices up-to-date. The software can send you automated alerts if there are action items needing your attention, and you can use it to run reports about your system’s inventory or recent changes. When a request for a new computer enters the help desk, or when it's time to upgrade a device model, you’ll know exactly where your inventory stands to enabling better decision-making and showing how each request impacts the organization.

How does hardware inventory management work in Service Desk?

SolarWinds Service Desk is built to help simplify the hardware inventory management process by automatically scanning your network and centralizing asset information. You can easily access information about what hardware you have in your network, where it’s physically located, who’s using it, and its configuration history. Following the initial scan, the tool can periodically scan and update asset data. This means you can see the detailed configuration and physical location of each laptop, server, PC, or other network devices from your network equipment. Service Desk serves as a CMDB and can allow you to simplify the process of tracking changes in your IT hardware inventory to help ensure changes are accurate, effective, and to see the impact of future changes. It allows to optimize configuration management, easily map relationships between components, and link your assets to issues for a more seamless ticketing process.

Hardware Inventory Management

Track hardware location, configuration, lifecycle details, and usage with SolarWinds^® Service Desk.

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Lifecycle Management

Plan IT Changes

Real-Time Inventory Mapping

Service Desk Integration

Maintain an accurate hardware inventory

Hardware Inventory Management Software 0 Features Array Item - features item image

SolarWinds Service Desk helps IT teams track hardware assets across locations from a central inventory. Use SolarWinds Discovery to collect data from computers, servers, mobile devices, printers, network devices, and other connected assets. Add assets manually when needed, review the inventory in Service Desk, and maintain records that support IT asset lifecycle management, procurement, audits, and day-to-day IT support.

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Plan changes with current hardware inventory management

Use asset discovery data to understand the hardware in your IT environment before making a change. SolarWinds Discovery uses the Discovery Agent and Discovery Scanner to collect details about computers, servers, mobile devices, network devices, printers, and other IP-connected assets. Review device configuration, installed software, warranty information, and related asset records to better assess replacement, refresh, relocation, and support decisions.

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Find hardware with the Assets Map

Use the SolarWinds Service Desk Assets Map to view discovered IT hardware by its assigned Site and Location attributes. The map draws on data collected through the Discovery Agent and Discovery Scanner and can surface configuration item details such as manufacturer, IP address, and status. IT teams can use this location-based view to support physical audits, on-site troubleshooting, asset accountability, and lifecycle planning.

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Connect hardware inventory to service management

SolarWinds Service Desk connects hardware inventory with incident, problem, and change records so teams can review relevant asset data while managing service work. Asset records can include configuration information, installed software, lifecycle details, and audit history. Keeping inventory and service-management information in the same platform can help technicians investigate issues with better context and help IT teams maintain a more complete view of their environment.

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Learn More About Hardware Inventory Management

Do you find yourself asking…

Why should I track hardware and software inventory?
Can hardware inventory data support incident and change management?
Can I track non-IT assets in Service Desk?
What is hardware inventory management?
How does SolarWinds Service Desk discover hardware assets?
Can Service Desk track hardware lifecycle and warranty data?
Can I use Service Desk to track assets across sites and locations?

Your IT environment consists of a variety of assets, and the updated database listing these products is called a hardware and software inventory.

This inventory is a record of all the essential information related to the hardware and software within your IT environment. It’s meant to help you stay on top of all the products in your network, including their license keys, expiration dates, IP addresses, serial numbers, installation types and locations, and more.

A hardware asset management inventory can help you determine the condition and lifespan of your hardware. It also helps you keep track of who has access to what hardware within your company.

When it comes to software, an inventory can help you stay on top of your update cycle, your expiration and license renewal dates, and the different types of software deployed or installed in your IT infrastructure. It helps to pinpoint vulnerabilities caused by outdated assets.

Your IT environment consists of a variety of assets, and the updated database listing these products is called a hardware and software inventory.
This inventory is a record of all the essential information related to the hardware and software within your IT environment. It’s meant to help you stay on top of all the products in your network, including their license keys, expiration dates, IP addresses, serial numbers, installation types and locations, and more.
A hardware asset management inventory can help you determine the condition and lifespan of your hardware. It also helps you keep track of who has access to what hardware within your company.
When it comes to software, an inventory can help you stay on top of your update cycle, your expiration and license renewal dates, and the different types of software deployed or installed in your IT infrastructure. It helps to pinpoint vulnerabilities caused by outdated assets.