Where is IT Asset

Management in ITIL?
Nicole Conboy, NCA
IT Service & Asset Management Consultant

What is IT Asset Management?

Inventory Collection
What

122

1000

1000

Asset Tracking
Where / Who

SW License Management
How Used

IT Asset Management
How Much

Net
Book
Value

Configuration Management Configuration

Items (CIs)

How Related

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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
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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, SLAs, UCs and OLAs

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ITIL processes assisting with IT

Asset Management
Configuratio
n
Management

Plan and Identify CIs, Control CMDB, Track CI Status through lifecycle
Audit/Verify CI Data, Produce reports

Change
Management

Authorizes changes to CIs/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 (CIs) 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

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ITILs Software Asset Management

book

Assists with business case and benefits

Provides guidance on implementation
Identifies potential CIs and attributes to track
Describes license types
Discusses tools
Not prescriptive!
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Implementing
Asset/Configuration
Management

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
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Use a standard improvement method

Vision

High level business objectives and

requirements

Assess

Understand where you are - strengths/weaknesses

in people, processes, technology, investment

Plan

Implement

Where you want to be and target

timeframe
Activities to close gap to target

Measurements KPIs to determine if the target was met

Continuous
Improvement

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Select CIs with the highest ROI

Desktop

Server

Payback

Printer

Lapto
p

Software

Network
Docs
Wireless
Cellula
r

Telecom

PDA

Mainframe
Cable

Complexit
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Use a phased approach

by:
Asset type
Configuration Item
Location
Customer Group
Service
SW License Management
SW Asset Management
HW Asset Management
Configuration Management
Asset Tracking
Inventory Collection

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Dont forget the CSFs!

People

Processes

Configuration, Change, Financial, Release, Capacity,

Incident, Policies, Procedures, Work Instructions, etc.

Technology

Process Manager, Configuration Librarian, SMEs,

training, ownership, roles and responsibilities, etc.

CMDB, Scan tools, DSL, metering/monitoring tools, order

tools, etc.

Information

Data, reports, exceptions, audits, recommendations,

plans, etc.
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Additional tips for success

Determine who owns the program (IT, Finance, Procurement?)

Create Program Governance
Establish a Process Owner/Process Manager
Identify SMEs for each asset class and function in the lifecycle
Manage the program with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Include requirements in SLAs, OLAs and UCs
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

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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

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