Written by Afsa Ashraf
Content WriterThe processes, tools, and strategies for managing hardware assets i.e. the physical components of computers and related systems are referred to as hardware asset management (HAM).
Hardware asset management, a subset of IT management, focuses solely on the physical components of information technology. HAM begins with the acquisition of hardware, continues throughout the life of the hardware, and concludes with the endmost disposal of the defunct component. Hardware asset managers are in charge of this responsibility, and they must be intimately familiar with all relevant company hardware as well as capable of working closely with departments and management at all levels of the company.
A hardware asset is a term for any tangible, physical asset, including those in use, storage, & support equipment. With this in mind, hardware assets are normally classified into four types:
The modern workforce is not limited to the office; it also includes remote workers who work from home. Hardware asset management must be able to meet the needs of the remote workforce while also accounting for the physical equipment they use to do their tasks.
ServiceNow HAM defends the hardware asset for the duration of its service life. This lifecycle is divided into six stages:
A variety of factors influence organizational hardware requirements, including priorities, customer and business data, incidents, compliance, and budget. All of this, however, boils down to two specific questions: What hardware is required to meet the service management business requirement? And how much money is there to go around? These questions are addressed during the request stage of HAM, hardware solutions are identified, and requests are submitted.
After budgets have been finalized and hardware has been selected, the next step in the assets lifecycle is to fulfill hardware requests. To do so, organizations must first determine which vendors are available, what levels of technical and warranty support they provide, and whether their hardware is compatible with other IT assets within the organization.
The fulfillment stage ensures that all personal devices that may be used for company work have authorized, secure access to internal systems, are logged by the corporate body, and are accounted for in terms of financial reporting for businesses that operate under a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy.
The asset is now ready to be configured and deployed after being tagged for future device servicing and organization. This step may include having an employee sign out' the device, as well as reading and agreeing to any established acceptable-use policies. Transporting the asset from storage to the destined work area (including remote-work environments), configuring the asset, & integrating the asset with any added relevant technologies are also part of this stage.
Once the hardware has been deployed, asset managers must do everything possible to reduce risk and ensure effective hardware performance. Through ongoing monitoring, this entails developing a comprehensive view of the entire hardware asset estate. Monitoring deployed hardware enables managers to keep a closer eye on aging resources, prevent assets from appearing in unexpected places on the network, and eliminate risks associated with outdated software. Integrating monitoring capabilities and accuracy with IT and Security Operations workflows.
Hardware, by definition, necessitates routine maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness. This stage of the lifecycle includes any planned maintenance, updates, or upgrades, as well as any unplanned emergency repair work. HAMs are responsible for reviewing the state of the hardware in question during this process to determine whether the asset should be recycled, reassigned, or retired.
When an asset reaches the end of its service life, is unrepairable, or has unpatched security vulnerabilities, the final step is to remove it from active use. Alternatively, in the case of BYOD equipment, the hardware must be retired from service if the employee who owns it leaves the company. The asset's status will need to be updated in company systems, and any and all corporate data on the device will need to be wiped. The device can then be returned, sold, donated, recycled, or properly disposed of.
Business hardware does not always appear to be a safe investment; its value depreciates quickly, it suffers from ongoing wear and tear, and it necessitates regular maintenance and repair work. Effective hardware asset management mitigates these disadvantages. Among the benefits of ServiceNow HAM are the following:
Keeping an accurate catalog of all company hardware—both in use and in storage—allows for easy tracking of equipment and identification of missing hardware. Asset tagging, ownership assignment, and asset tracking provide organizations with the information they need to mitigate risks associated with incomplete asset knowledge. It also enables ServiceNow HAMs to determine which assets are idle and, as a result, more likely to be targeted for theft.
Employees are frequently tasked with handling and tracking equipment in the absence of a formal hardware asset management strategy. The employees may therefore rely on inefficient, ineffective, or time-consuming processes in the absence of established ServiceNow HAM best practices. Proper asset management not only ensures accurate cataloging and distribution of critical equipment but also frees up employees' time by predicting asset issues before they occur and allowing organizations to automate several asset management systems.
Best practices in hardware management, as well as well-organized maintenance and upgrade schedules, help ensure that employees use company equipment correctly and get the most out of it. Simultaneously, accurate asset inventories safeguard organizations from overspending, lowering overall spend and allowing them to get more out of their hardware investments.
Security teams have a difficult time protecting what they can't see. Effective ServiceNow HAM provides a comprehensive list of all hardware assets, along with relevant version information. This enables security teams to develop comprehensive coverage strategies while also identifying assets that could be vulnerable to emerging threats. Hardware asset management, in conjunction with ITAM, can also identify unapproved hardware assets and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations.
Most importantly, ServiceNow HAM provides businesses with complete visibility and control over the asset lifecycle. Asset managers can easily access product and vendor details, usage history, current ownership and tasks, and other information for each piece of equipment. Using this information, HAMs can make more informed decisions about vendor contracts, servicing, replacements, and other issues.
These advantages clearly benefit organizations that invest in effective hardware asset management. High-quality ServiceNow HAM systems and strategies quickly pay for themselves in terms of both time and finances.
Almost every benefit associated with hardware asset management includes cost savings. Here are a few ways that ServiceNow HAM can help your company save money:
Lower maintenance costs
More precise hardware budgets
Spending less on hardware
Improved disposal procedures
Manual labor is minimized
Hardware management is an important but often overlooked aspect of business success. With ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management, businesses can now put HAM in the spotlight. Any organization can gain deep visibility and control over its physical assets with advanced automation technologies, user-friendly dashboards, and powerful audit and analysis tools.
The ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management solution offers complete end-to-end asset visibility, accurate insights to reduce asset costs and risk, and automated asset workflows to ensure an effective hardware asset management lifecycle. Hardware Asset Management, which is available as part of the ServiceNow IT Asset Management toolset, removes the daunting complexity of managing & maintaining the devices on which businesses rely.
Royal Cyber can assist you in deploying and integrating ServiceNow HAM into your workplace. We are a professional services firm that offers customized solutions based on the needs of the client. If you want to learn more about the ServiceNow HAM or are looking for a partner who can help you get the most out of it, please contact us at info@royalcyber.com or visit www.royalcyber.com.