IT Asset Management: A Cornerstone for Accelerating ITIL Success

TECHNOLOGY BRIEF: IT ASSET MANAGEMENT AND ITIL
IT Asset Management - A
Cornerstone for Accelerating®ITIL SuccessTable of Contents
Executive Summary
SECTION 1: CHALLENGE 2Understanding ITAM as a Cornerstone of ITILSuccessAn Asset Repository Is Not a ConfigurationManagement DatabaseITAM is a Program
SECTION 2: OPPORTUNITY 5Achieving an ITIL-Compliant ComprehensiveITAM ProgramStart by Assessing Your ITAM ProgramTake a Phased ApproachCommunicate Common UnderstandingDeploy Technology That Supports the ITAM Program
SECTION 3: BENEFITS 12Supporting ITIL, ITSM and Your Business
SECTION 4: CONCLUSIONS 13Summarizing ITAM Value
SECTION 5: ABOUT THE AUTHORS 13
ABOUT CA Back Cover
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Challenge
IT Asset Management (ITAM) is a cornerstone of IT Service Management (ITSM) yet isoften omitted from existing ITSM implementations or initiatives. Version 3 of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) expands theprocesses, functions and roles in the service life cycle. However, it still does not provideenough details on key process and functional integration points for ITAM. This lack of detailintroduces significant challenges for organizations looking to implement ITSM processes todrive higher quality, stability and availability of IT services. The asset life cycle has a directimpact on the service life cycle and vice-versa.
Opportunity
Today organizations are largely focused on continuously improving ITSM-related processesto increase service levels and manage risk to deliver value to the business, effectively managingcosts to do more for less and avoid unnecessary expenditures and controlling the changesand IT resource expansion associated with evolving business initiatives and technology.The basis for the improvement of ITSM processes for many organizations is the adoption ofITIL best practices using the service life cycle approach. As more organizations adopt ITILbest practices, it is important to recognize and understand the role of ITAM in improvingITSM process.A comprehensive IT Asset Management program is fundamental to managing the infra- structure that supports the delivery of IT Services to the business. ITAM is an importantbuilding block for organizations because it enables automated tracking, control and financialmanagement of the assets (devices and applications) that comprise the IT infrastructure.
Benefits
With ITAM it is possible to establish and maintain IMAC (Install, Move, Add and Change)best practices, improve asset service levels and manage service risk and IT resources in acost-effective manner and as part of a comprehensive ITSM program.This document describes ITAM's role in providing a solid foundation upon which to buildmeaningful ITSM processes. It also describes the engagement methodology andtechnology needed to implement a comprehensive ITAM solution that creates businessvalue across the service life cycle. A pragmatic and phased approach to adopting ITSM and ITAM processes is recommendedto help to secure continued funding of your programs. This program development approachcreates recurring business value, improves your organization's IT maturity and providessuccess at every step.
TECHNOLOGY BRIEF: IT ASSET MANAGEMENT AND ITIL 1SECTION 1: CHALLENGE Understanding ITAM as a Cornerstone of ITIL SuccessITAM manages the life cycle of IT assets - from planning through acquisition, managementand retirement. ITAM is concerned with all of the physical, financial and contractual aspectsof IT assets throughout their life.
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