An IT asset management program is a set of processes and tools that help an organization manage its IT assets throughout their lifecycle, from acquisition to disposal. An IT asset management program should include the following components1234:
Maintaining inventories of systems, connections, and software applications: This component involves creating and updating a comprehensive and accurate list of all IT assets owned or used by the organization, including their location, ownership, configuration, and status. This helps the organization optimize the use of its IT resources, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with licensing and regulatory requirements.
Tracking and monitoring availability of vendor updates and any timelines for end of support: This component involves keeping track of the latest updates, patches, and security fixes provided by the vendors of the IT assets, as well as the end-of-life dates and support options for the assets. This helps the organization maintain the security, performance, and functionality of its IT assets, and plan for timely replacement or migration of obsolete or unsupported assets.
Identifying and tracking adherence to IT asset end-of-life policy: This component involves defining and implementing a policy for retiring and disposing of IT assets that are no longer needed, useful, or supported by the organization. This helps the organization reduce risks, costs, and environmental impacts associated with IT asset disposal, and ensure compliance with data protection and disposal regulations.
Defining application security standards for internally developed applications is not a component of an IT asset management program, but rather a component of an application development and security program. An application development and security program is a set of processes and tools that help an organization design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain secure and reliable applications, whether they are internally developed or acquired from external sources. An application development and security program should include the following components5 :
Defining application security standards for internally developed applications: This component involves establishing and enforcing a set of security requirements and best practices for the applications developed by the organization, such as secure coding, testing, and deployment methodologies, security controls, and vulnerability management. This helps the organization ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its applications and data, and prevent or mitigate security breaches and incidents.
Performing application security assessments for externally acquired applications: This component involves conducting security reviews and audits of the applications acquired from external sources, such as vendors, partners, or open source communities, before integrating them into the organization’s IT environment. This helps the organization identify and address any security risks, gaps, or weaknesses in the applications, and ensure compatibility and compliance with the organization’s security policies and standards.
References:
ITAM: The ultimate guide to IT asset management
IT asset management: 10 best practices for success
Asset Management: The Five Core Components
The Fundamentals of Asset Management
Application Development and Security Program
Application Security Best Practices
