A Process Orientate Approach to ITAM

A Process Oriented Approach IT Asset Management

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The core business opportunities in ITAM as we understand it currently are as follows:

1. ITAM training and Certification

2. ITAM user group 3. ITAM Gap analysis

4. ITAM and ITSM integration 5. Asset Register and CMDB integration

6. Establish an ITAM Program development/office

7. Establish ITAM best practice library per customer 8. Manage various ITAM/ITSM projects

9. Map ITIL and ITAM projects to extract more value 10. IT Supply Chain business process optimization

11. Develop ITSCM rapid deployment solution 12. Develop bespoke ITSM/ITAM reporting per customer

13. Develop software sales opportunities a. ITIL

b. ITAM

c. ESM

Fundamentally, ITAM is concerned about maximising value and as such is involved with

activities throughout the lifecycle of assets exchange from strategy to purchasing, receiving, storage, moves, adds, changes, salvaging of software licenses and ultimately the disposal of

assets. To do this, it touches many aspects of IT and intersects with a number of ITIL processes. A good example is that both areas need to rely on change management to maintain

the accuracy of the CMS.

ITAM is a proven means to manage costs and improve the quality of services provisioned by

IT, not to mention better risk management by avoiding potential software fines. In fact, the vast majority of organizations see true ROI within a year’s time and then on-going savings

from there. Note that these numbers are based on real accounting savings and not consultant hocus-pocus or stretches of the imagination that do not affect the bottom line.

In comparison to configuration management, ITAM is a management discipline spanning

multiple functional areas in IT and the business. In fact, to be successful it must not be an

initiative pursued only by IT. Also, to be clear, it is not about fixed-asset management wherein accounting is concerned with tracking all assets over a defined value for depreciation purposes.

The trends have changed for good.

At IAITAM, we have listened carefully to the feedback from our members and one of the

messages we have heard many times is that there is a need for best practice information, more advanced training and a defined growth path for both asset managers and organizations.

We have taken this to heart and will be deploying a new ITAM Best Practice Model (IBPM) during the months ahead. This model has been under development for some time now, but

beginning in 2011 we will begin to leverage it so that it is reflected in our new and redesigned

training and certification offerings and also through our CAPc providers.

A Process Oriented Approach IT Asset Management

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The Economic Benefits of Implementing ITAM Best Practices

Implementing a best practice approach to IT Asset Management (ITAM) can result in significant

and very tangible benefits for an organization. The benefits that can be reaped are broad and include operational efficiencies, business performance, soft cost savings, hard cost savings and

cost avoidance. Soft savings are more difficult to estimate accurately, but this does not mean

that they are any less real. It is important to note that real, quantifiable results can be realized very quickly by implementing the right efforts in a planned sequence.

In order to identify specific benefits, it is helpful to consider the business challenges facing most of our organizations. The following is a summary of common and current IT Executive

concerns as they relate to ITAM. These are general and really reflect the overall concerns of running IT as a business – Risk, Cost, Performance, Control and Accountability.

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• Software license management cost savings can come from avoidance of overspending through monitoring of software utilization. Software sitting in inventory and from equipment being disposed of can be redeployed to avoid additional spending.

• A significant savings can be realized through consolidation and optimization of the

procurement process for software. Although typically considered soft costs, the reduction in effort brought about by streamlining requisition, receiving and identification

functions is real.

• Cost avoidance represents savings or avoided spending resulting from fines and penalties that result from a forced compliance event. In estimating these costs it is

important to consider the factors such as hand reconciliation during a forced audit and

downtime for end-users.

• Optimizing asset tracking, repeatable processes and consolidation of systems can result in savings due to greater simplicity in reporting and tracking and reduced efforts to manage inventory.

Accountability Can you view baseline IT spending in your organization today by asset category? It’s estimated that 70% of software licenses are not negotiated, but simply accepted. Through improved vendor management and vendor consolidation, gains can be made. In addition to training for and standardizing on a negotiating process, you should be leveraging your organization’s standard terms and conditions for software during each new acquisition. Effectively managing maintenance and support agreements as a part of this process is critical.

Risk Among the factors that should be proactively dealt with in terms of reducing risk are:

• Defining the terms of compliance in every contract • Preventing loss of reputation • Responding to audits

• Accurate reporting • Liability for assets acquired during mergers and acquisitions

• Privacy • Disposal reporting • Environmental regulations

Business Performance Implementing integrated processes for IT Asset Management should result in additional

synergies that impact many other aspects of IT. For instance, most organizations are very

concerned about configuration management. Using an asset management repository as a baseline for the assets to be controlled is an excellent start. Integration between the repository

and configuration management applications will result in changes to the asset baseline automatically being picked up.

Security continues to be one of the hottest concerns in IT. Implementation of Identity and Access Management solutions should be tied to known asset inventories, people and locations.

A Process Oriented Approach IT Asset Management

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Other operational efficiencies can also be gained. Integration of asset repository information

with a help desk can result in increased performance of problem identification and problem management functions. Longer term savings may be found where transactions are

streamlined. As an example, if request-procurement-deployment cycle of IT software and hardware is optimized, it may be possible to conduct these activities with reduced head count.

A Process Driven Approach

Process is the underpinning of a service management model for IT Asset Management. Successful organizations reduce risk and manage the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of assets by implementing processes as a proactive program of ITAM best practices. This must be managed as a program of specific initiatives, process development and measurable objectives that result in increasing levels of organizational maturity in managing the asset lifecycle.

It is an adage that “the qualities of results are often only as good as the processes

that are used to produce them”

Implementation of processes requires discipline, time and support from the top down. Process

improvement relies on coordinating both the human and technological components of infrastructure. Process must address both people and the underlying technology.

A key operative is the statement: A Program of Specific Initiatives. It is ITAM’s experience

that asset management practices and processes should be managed as a phased

implementation and ongoing operational program, prioritized based on the needs of the business. Whether the program management function will be conducted by the Asset Manager

alone, an Asset Management Team or perhaps integrated with another part of the organization will depend on the size and maturity of each enterprise.

Defining a Best Practice Model for IT Asset Management

ITAM has developed a Best Practice Model (IBPM) for Asset Management. The model is

based upon a number of process areas (PA).

A Process Area is a set of related practices that together represent an organizations ability to perform within a specific discipline. ITAM has defined these process areas as those bearing a

significant level of repeatability within organizations. For the most part these Process Areas are specific to ITAM functions. There are some, however, that will overlap into broader

disciplines such as Project Management and Policy Management.

IBPM Process Areas

Asset Discovery and Identification Compliance Management

Communication and Education Disposal

Documentation Management Financial IT Asset Management

IT Asset Lifecycle Management Legislation

IT Acquisition Program Management

Policy Management Vendor Management

Project Management

Within each PA, specific model attributes are identified. Each organization differs from the

A Process Oriented Approach IT Asset Management

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next and may require different processes that are not defined within IBPM. By looking at the specific attributes within your own organization, it is possible to develop a set of strengths and weakness within each Process Area.

For instance an objective of the Documentation Management process area is as follows:

“License Compliance is Assured in a way that proof of ownership can be demonstrated; and proof of ownership can be correlated with a specific license at a specific physical location or

end-user, so that: Litigation is avoided; Cost of non-compliance is reduced; and, risk of

negative publicity is reduced.”

Given specific goal statements, an organization can then assess whether they are meeting the goal, working towards being able to meet the goal, or possibly not coming close to meeting the

goal.

It is important to point out that the IBPM does not define processes, per se. This must be

performed by the organization. Rather, the attributes defined for each process area are intended to provide a framework to the organization which can be used in order to quantify

and improve. Equally important is to avoid the notion that a process area is equivalent to a

functional organization. A given process area may define functions, goals and capabilities that are performed by one individual performing in a given role, or many individuals in different

organizations.

Objectives are tangible goals that move the organization closer to a desired state.

Commitments represent actions taken by the organization to ensure that program activities are enabled and supported. Typical commitments include Executive sponsorship, resource

allocations, funding approvals and development of policies.

Capabilities describe both human and technological conditions that must be met for the

organization to perform competently within a given discipline. An example of a human capability would be “Asset Manager recruiting and training is based upon specified skills,

knowledge, and experience.” A technological example of a capability would be; “The discovery process is implemented with toolset(s) that meet the software inventory scanning

criteria for all specific operating systems in use”.

Activities are specific actions that are taken to achieve a particular work product or outcome. Activities involve people acting in specified roles and following procedures or specific process steps. Performance of an activity can involve developing plans, doing work, tracking progress and making decisions.

Measurements is a quantitative indication of progress, status or outcome as related to the

ITAM discipline. Measurements that indicate positive business performance are often

referred to as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Verifications describe measures that are taken to ensure a particular discipline is functioning as designed. Verification also confirms that activities are being performed in compliance with the processes that have been developed. Verification should be supported through periodic management review.

An organization may choose to define additional attributes for a given process area as an aid to

helping teams perform better. Examples of these attributes could be: Roles, standardized deliverables, techniques, sample reports, etc.

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ITAM Best Practice Model Process Areas

Process

Area

Program Management As we described earlier, the ITAM program consists of specific staged

initiatives prioritized to meet the needs of the organization. The purpose of defining an ITAM Program is to encapsulate and define the overall strategy, mission, objectives, measurements

and prioritization of IT Asset Management efforts within an organization. The function of the program manager is to ensure that all efforts necessary to accomplish the mission are subdivided into specific initiatives, or projects, and that these are monitored and

controlled through the Portfolio Management for Projects sub-process. Further, the Program Manager works to ensure that appropriate resources and commitments are gained from

various organizations across the enterprise, to ensure that teamwork is developed. Typically the IT Asset Management program will require participation from the following organizations: Corporate Communications, Facilities, Human Resources, Information

Technology, Legal, Procurement and Executive Management, as appropriate.

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The Program Management process defines staffing, support roles, relationships and teamwork

necessary to ensure that ITAM functions are coordinated and not managed within “silos”. It is

within this framework that initiatives are identified, business cases are developed and Executive support is gained. The Program Management function also provides an important

output via the communication and education process area, so that new initiatives, successes and requirements are communicated to various target groups.

ITAM program management addresses the following sub-processes: Program Initiation,

Current State Evaluation and Discovery, Process Management, Portfolio Management for Projects, Manage Strategic Needs and Reporting.

Process

Area

Process

Area

Process

Area

Project Management Project Management discipline is well defined by many authorities and

ITAM efforts do not place any unique requirements on the well-known and time-honored

practices for project managers. What ITAM recommends is that every initiative or implementation be defined, organized, managed and concluded by following a formalized

approach to project management. As stated above, the Program Management process area identifies the need and once this has received prioritization, the Expectation is that an

experience project manager and team will carry out the effort.

Policy Management Clearly defined and understood policies are a critical success factor for

and are the underpinning of any successful asset management program. ITAM has identified over thirty policy areas that should be addressed in the majority of organizations. Once

defined, the policies must be visible and employees must understand what is required and why it is beneficial for the organization.

Policies are ineffective if they are not enforced. Therefore part of the transformation that must

take place is that policies are uniformly enforced and non-compliance results in consistent demonstrable actions. This will ultimately lead to reduced risk of non-compliance and better

protection of both the individual and the company. Strategies for gaining voluntary compliance

are also an important aspect of a successful policy management approach. Lastly, policies must be reviewed and updated periodically in order to take advantage of new industry practices, technological advances and in order to address new compliance

requirements.

Asset Discovery and Compliance Management The Compliance Management Process Area is the focal point for risk avoidance and audit response. As part of this PA, the organization prepares to

respond, responds to compliance events, performs periodic internal asset discoveries and

ultimately settles non-compliance matters. Sub-processes: • Compliance Event Management

• Respond to Compliance Events • Conduct Initial Discovery

• Conduct Proactive Discovery

• Negotiate Settlements

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Process

Area

Process

Area

Process

Area

Process

Area

Asset Identification The Asset Identification Process Area encompasses the activities

that uniquely identify and validate the physical presence of assets. Asset Identification begins

when an asset is first introduced into the environment and thus is a key enabler of many related activities in the Software Lifecycle, Hardware Lifecycle, IT Acquisition and

Documentation Management Process Areas.

Communication and Education Deployment of best practices for IT Asset Management will involve

many people up to and including the entire organization when it comes to awareness and understanding of policy. IT Asset Management processes generally encompass more than a

single department or type of professional within the organization, escalating the need for a common vocabulary and set of experiences on which to build cooperation. The Communication

and Education disciplines are key elements to that success. Proactive change management requires planning and communicating for change followed by

the necessary training to ensure that adoption is successful and that employees truly understand how to use the new processes to help them perform.

Creating an education plan and communication that addresses both appropriate delivery

mechanisms as well as identifying functional objectives by role. Some of the most important

considerations in this discipline are:

• Communication and Education mechanisms that can enable and verify employee

awareness, especially with respect to policy and compliance. • Well-timed communications as an enabler for change management

• Education just-in-time to support technology rollouts. It is essential to achieving ROI

for the Asset Manager and other key technical specialists to receive training on technical

implementation and end-user functions of Asset Management toolsets. • Ongoing education and certification for IT Asset Managers.

Disposal The Disposal Process Area defines process and procedures for removing assets

from your environment. A mature disposal process will allow your enterprise to avoid costly

storage of unused assets, mitigate risk associated with disposal, reallocation of software, security of information maintained before the disposal process, while increasing return on

investment.

Documentation Management The Document Management Process Area encompasses management of all IT asset related documents throughout most of their life-cycle, from acquisition

onward. This discipline includes management of contracts, proof of purchases, and all software

licenses including certificates of authenticity (COAs). Specific outcomes of a fully implemented document management discipline include:

• Asset information is maintained in a centralized repository

• License compliance is assured • Terms and conditions are defined and understood

• The organization can recover from a disaster and continue its business • Contract Terms and Conditions are broken down and accessible online.

• Vendor information is cataloged and tied to each class of asset

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By implementing the Documentation Management Process Area fully, the organization will

accrue the following benefits: Optimized financial controls, license compliance assured,

accurate records are available for audits on short notice, software license quantities can be monitored and matched to the required number of users and information about the

configuration of every computing device is available for disaster recovery.

Process

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Process

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Financial IT Asset Management The Financial IT Asset Management process area is a key part of not only your asset management program but will affect departments across your corporate enterprise. Financial IT Asset Management is the backbone to savings within your IT Asset Management program from budgeting to invoice reconciliation.

Financial IT Asset Management includes many operationally recurring functions: budgeting,

fixed asset reconciliation, chargeback, invoice reconciliation, forecasting, financial audit preparation and billing.

In addition to these, the Financial IT Asset Management discipline must support a strategic

view of IT spending by building a portfolio management perspective. IT spending must support the overall growth and goal achievement of the enterprise and should be optimized as

such. This process area requires that baselines are developed for each asset category and then continually reviewed for both cost-competitiveness and strategic fit.

IT Asset Lifecycle Management This Process area encompasses both the software and hardware

disciplines as well as integration with those processes responsible for IMAC. The Hardware

Lifecycle Management processes are the lynch pin of successful IT asset management as the functions in this area involve the movement of the physical asset during the life time use of the

asset in the classic “birth to death” scenario. Success elements focus on the development of efficient processes that are centralized, standardized and reliably repeatable. The discipline

requires evaluation of both integration and automation as ways to eliminate inefficiencies. Also required is the rigorous self-eNEWCOamination of all processes and decisions on a regular

basis in order to maintain healthy and growing processes that fit the growth and goals

of the organization. Hardware lifecycle management provides both cost savings and increased accuracy, providing the necessary elements for activities such as:

• Catalog and standards development • IT strategic planning and implementation of technology refreshes

• Maintenance and service strategies • Service Management approach for IT operations

• Fixed Asset reporting • TaNEWCOation implications for sales taNEWCO and property taNEWCO • Regulatory compliance that is based on accurate and timely inventory

It is in the software lifecycle management processes where the rubber meets the road in terms of automating, integrating, centralizing and standardizing processes so that they are optimized

to meet the twin goals of cost savings and accountability for compliance. Unlike hardware

lifecycle management, this discipline has the added risks of dealing with nonphysical assets that indeed still move and have uniqueness and value associated with that uniqueness.

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The technical issues of patch management and version control are important aspects for

software management. Following the same “birth to death” view as hardware lifecycle

management, the discipline has many of the same programs as hardware, requiring process evaluation and re-engineering, catalog, standards development, maintenance and service

strategies.

Compliance is a major driver for software management and the lifecycle processes are the underpinnings of a successful software compliance program. The reduction of overall software licensing and support costs are the most significant cost benefits that result from implementing these disciplines.

Key processes for software lifecycle management include:

• Standards and services catalog development • Application inventory management

• Patch management • Packaging and software distribution

• Software de-installation • Usage monitoring

IMAC is an acronym for Installs, Moves, Adds and Changes. The IMAC processes encompass a

set of procedures that are followed for every managed asset. A coordinated IMAC process is integrated with the service desk, configuration management and release management

functions. When hardware and software changes are requested or as new devices enter the environment, changes are requested, tracked and updated with a workflow mechanism that

results in a complete record of the change being recorded in the Asset Repository and/or

change management database (CMDB). Successful implementation of this discipline results in the following benefits:

Process

Area

Process

Area

• Allows tracking of costs to a cost center and better budgeting, chargeback;

• Provides better understanding of the service utilized and the resultant costs; • Provides evaluation data for maintenance agreements, types of equipment, etc.; • Increased accuracy on all asset statistics, resulting in increased compliance;

• Ability to measure service levels for IMAC performance.

IT Acquisition The IT Acquisition Process Area will empower your IT asset program to function in an effective manner while acquiring all IT Assets needed. A mature IT Acquisition Process Area includes the following functional areas: a formalized product review and selection process, IT Asset request, IT Asset Approvals, Requirements and Selection Criteria development and Asset Record Creation.

Legislation The purpose of the Legislation Process Area is to maintain awareness of legislation that may introduce change to the processes and legitimate use of IT assets within

the organization to meet goals external to that organization. This process area includes

development of proactive legislative awareness and an impact analysis for the organization that provides an understanding of non-compliance threats, and recommendations for

avoidance.

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Organizations with a legislative review process will proactively prepare by modifying processes,

add reporting functionality or some other change that can lessen the potentially negative

impact to the organization. Preparatory actions will also include potential benefit analysis from compliance and the comparison of solutions from a cost perspective. Those organizations

without legislative programs are doomed to reactive activities that force realignment of priorities to the detriment of the organization and at great expense. These organizations are

also subject to improper response based on incorrectly publicized or understood proposed legislation.

The legislative discipline must include analysis of the public impact and the coordination with

entities outside of the organization including the media. The core of this process is periodic

review and eNEWCOamination of risk based upon changes. From a strategic negotiation standpoint, important outputs of this process are the standard terms and conditions

provided to the IT Acquisition Process Area.

Process

Area

Vendor Management The Vendor Management Process Area addresses the level of discipline employed in communicating, leveraging and negotiating with your vendors. Strategies for success include:

• Implementing a Vendor Management Office (VMO) capability

• Assigning vendor managers internally • Following a documented communication protocol

• Building a library of best practices for agreements and negotiations. • Developing business strategies for lease versus buy, outsource versus retain

• Initiating global application or vendor consolidations

Benefits Gained by Assessing Your Organization

Assessments can be likened to looking in the mirror. If you were to ask the question: “What level of understanding does your organization have of its current state with respect to ITAM?”,

who would answer? Would the answer vary depending on who was asked? In order to advance in this critical area, it is essential to prioritize your efforts. By understanding the

current state of the organization, you will be able to then define the efforts needed to bridge the gap from current to the defined vision of best practice.

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1

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Bronze

Silver

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Platinum

Policy P

Certified Asset Managers P 1 1 2

ENEWCOecutive Sponsorship

Program Management P I I

Change Management P I

Compliance Management P I

Documentation Management P I

Discovery Tool P

Removal Tool P

Software Metering P

Energy Conservation

ITAM Processes Proactive P I

Audit Response Team P

Asset Repository P I

Disposal P I I

Vendor Management

Financial ITAM Charge Back

Coordinated IMACS

Business Continuity

Contract Management

Cost Reduction Program P I

CAPc Certification

The Compliance Audit Process Certification (CAPc) is designed to provide guidance for organizations embarking on a path to improving their IT Asset Management practices and

capabilities. CAPc is about guiding your organization to implement the right disciplines in a

prioritized, program driven manner. A CAPc rating is achieved by conducting a software compliance process assessment for your organizations ITAM initiatives. Specific criteria that

map to the ITAM Best Practice Model are then evaluated in each of the areas. Based on the

collective review of these criteria and evaluation results, ITAM issues a certification for the level of maturity attained.

CAPc™

Certification Level

Legend

P Planning stage complete

I Implementation approved and ongoing

Implementation completed and operational

1-2 Number of certified asset managers

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IAITAM has formalized arrangements with select ITAM Provider Members to conduct Software

Compliance Process Assessments for their customers. The findings of these assessments are

then submitted to ITAM for independent review and certification.

IAITAM trains and certifies the IT Asset Management profession, including service providers.

Working in conjunction with software companies, providers of services and its own direct and extensive experience, ITAM has developed the roadmap reflected in the IBPM. Emphasis is

placed on accomplishing the goal of building a successful software management practice for the client that both maintains compliance and generates savings.

• Have met all IAITAM certification requirements and have extensive field experience.

• Have been trained and certified to implement and administrate asset management tools.

• Are monitored by IAITAM asset management experts to assure continued quality of

service

What You Can Expect from a Software Compliance Process Assessment?

An IAITAM Certified CAPc Provider performs an assessment that evaluates all aspects of your Software Asset Management practices and delivers specific recommendations on how your organization can become an industry leader in software management, exemplified by the Certification by IAITAM of your company’s software practices.

Assessments include:

• Analysis of existing environment focusing on policies, processes, procedures and systems • Gap analysis of current practices

• Development and delivery of specific recommendations that close the gaps while maximising current processes and tools

• External validation of the recommendations by IAITAM

Deliverables:

Your CAPc Provider will provide the following deliverables in connection with the assessment:

• Project initiation workshop onsite • Project plan • Periodic project briefings during the onsite review portion of the Assessment

• Schedule quarterly reviews for compliance and asset management review. • Compliance Audit Process Assessment for IAITAM review

• Final assessment report, including: A summary of the detailed findings and recommendations; a process maturity rating for each process area; and a cost savings analysis.

• Onsite presentation and discussion of the report and recommendations • If CAPc certification is attained, IAITAM CAPc Certification materials including: IAITAM

CAPc Seal of Approval Plaque, IAITAM CAPc Certification Letter; IAITAM website certification visibility, if desired and a press release, also if desired.

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ITAM Program Development Methodology

Using proven “best practices,” ITAM Program Development Services provide solutions that deliver value and can easily adapt to changes in market forces and technologies. Our ITAM Program Development offering consists of a 5-Phase methodology that begins with a comprehensive assessment of an organization’s existing ITAM program, and ends with deployment and activation of a turnkey ITAM program designed, deployed and run using internal resources or as a cloud-enabled managed service.

Phase 1: Current State Assessment

NEWCO Consulting helps your organization determine what you are doing and where you are today with your existing IT Asset Management (ITAM) program through our Current State Assessment. This is the important first phase of a 5-phased ITAM Program Development offering, because in order to determine a future process for managing and optimizing IT assets that truly reduces costs and risks, you first need a clear understanding of where you are today.

The Solution: Current State Assessment

The objective of the Current State Assessment is to gain an in-depth understanding of what hardware and software assets are currently in place, the lifecycle of these IT assets, from requisition through retirement, as well as existing processes, policies and the tools to manage them. During the Current State Assessment, NEWCO professionals gather information by conducting interviews and workshops with ITAM sponsors and stakeholders, review and document existing processes, procedures and policies, and evaluate discovery and repository tools currently in use. Specifically, NEWCO discovers and documents:

Organizational hardware and software standards Hardware and software vendors and resellers ITAM lifecycle processes, from requisition through retirement Auto-discovery and repository tools, including functionality and accuracy IT asset discovery and entitlements mapping, if required

Requirements

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To perform the Current State Assessment, NEWCO requires access to historical information such as contracts and purchase agreements from hardware and software vendors and resellers, and documentation on standards, policies and processes with respect to IT assets. NEWCO also needs access to key stakeholders and staff who are knowledgeable about the current ITAM processes, tools and data.

Deliverables

At the conclusion of the Current State Assessment, NEWCO delivers a comprehensive document that provides a detailed picture of the current ITAM program, including:

Current State Assessment process and how all data was gathered Lists of all Master Services Agreements, software contracts and maintenance contracts,

purchase orders, and deployed hardware and software Detailed map of software deployments on each server Data gathering interview questionnaires populated with answers provided by key stakeholders Process document describing the current state ITAM processes, policies and procedures,

including workflow diagrams Systems and data sources currently in place within the environment to support the ITAM

program

Benefits

Upon completion of the home inspection process, you have a clear understanding of the precise state of the house you would like to purchase. Likewise, at the conclusion of the Current State Assessment, your organization will understand in detail the exact state of your “house” with respect to how IT assets are managed, tracked and optimized. This information and knowledge serve as the basis for determining gaps in your ITAM program, where you need to be and how you will get there. The Current State Assessment results form the foundation for the next phase of NEWCO’s ITAM Program Development offering, Analysis and Findings.

PHASE 2: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

After assessing the state of your ITAM maturity in Phase 1 of our 5-phase methodology, an experienced team of NEWCO Consulting experts conducts Analysis and Findings to identify and evaluate the gaps and risks associated with your ITAM program, as well as the impact on your organization. Analysis and Findings is Phase 2 of our 5-phase ITAM Program Development methodology.

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The Solution: Analysis and Findings

The objective of this phase is to gain an in-depth understanding and document the gaps and risks within your organization’s current ITAM program, based on ITAM industry best practices. During Analysis and Findings, NEWCO professionals take a deep dive into the processes, tools and data uncovered during the Current State Assessment and identify inefficiencies, gaps, redundancies and risks. Here are examples of the types of questions that the NEWCO team answers during this phase:

Are the ITAM processes the same in each location within the organization? If not, what is the impact?

Are there too many manual processes? If they are breaking down, what are the causes and consequences?

Does each department order IT assets through the corporate procurement process? If not, what is the impact on the organization?

Does each department order software licenses through the corporate agreements? If not, how does this affect IT spend?

Are the existing tools capturing and processing the right data? Are the tools being used effectively? What are the effects?

Requirements

Phase 2 – Analysis and Findings can begin only after NEWCO has performed a thorough and complete Current State Assessment. Additionally, NEWCO requires historical information such as contracts and purchase agreements from hardware and software vendors and resellers, and documentation on standards, policies and processes with respect to IT assets. NEWCO also needs access to key stakeholders and staff who are knowledgeable about the current ITAM processes, tools and data.

Deliverables

At the conclusion of the Analysis and Findings phase, NEWCO delivers a detailed document that describes current ITAM program shortcomings and the impact on the organization, such as:

Gaps in the current ITAM program Limitations of current ITAM tools and their negative impact Quality and reliability of the data generated through the existing ITAM program

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Potential cost savings and cost avoidance opportunities Compliance risks

Benefits

Upon completion of the home inspection analysis, you have a clear understanding of the safety hazards and shortcomings of the house, as well as causes and effects. Similarly, at the conclusion of the Analysis and Findings phase, your organization will understand in detail where the gaps and risks exist in how IT assets are managed, tracked and optimized. These findings serve as the basis for determining what you will need to do to improve and optimize your ITAM program. The Analysis and Findings results form the foundation for the next phase of NEWCO’s ITAM Program Development methodology, Future State Roadmap or Design.

PHASE 3: FUTURE STATE ROADMAP OR DESIGN

Once the gaps and risks in your existing program have been identified, it is time to develop a plan describing how you will resolve these issues and move forward. In Phase 3 of our ITAM Program Development methodology, Future State Roadmap or Design, the experts at NEWCO Consulting develop the ITAM roadmap or a detailed design that best fits the requirements of your organization.

The Solution: Future State Roadmap or Design

The objective of this phase is to provide an in-depth understanding of how to close the gaps and eliminate the risks to achieve the desired future state ITAM program. NEWCO leverages current best practices and technologies to reduce overall program costs and minimize impact on day-to-day operations. NEWCO’s ITAM Program Development methodology includes a choice of two options for Phase 3: Future State Roadmap or Design, depending on how much detail your organization requires. Future State Roadmap: If your company simply requires an outline to use as a guide for internal design and development of a complete ITAM program, NEWCO provides the Future State Roadmap. The roadmap consists of recommendations on the processes, tools, organization and data that should be put in place to fill in the missing links identified in Phase 2. Future State Design: If your company requires more detailed instructions on how to build a complete ITAM program, NEWCO provides the Future State Design. The design consists of a playbook that describes

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specific process workflows, tools and organizational recommendations, providing a “play-by-play” on how to close the gaps identified in Phase 2 to achieve your desired ITAM program. Which option is right for your organization? While the Future State Roadmap paves the way for your organization to develop a plan in-house, the Future State Design provides a much richer and more detailed blueprint. A NEWCO Future State Design incorporates a set of ITAM best practices developed and honed during more than 12 years spent overcoming nearly every conceivable ITAM challenge. This unmatched level of expertise ensures that your organization benefits from a more robust and effective program, designed and implemented faster than doing it internally. You realize a greater return in a shorter time frame – lower costs, lower risk, and the confidence you need to make better decisions throughout the IT asset life cycle.

Requirements

NEWCO uses the results of Phase 2, Analysis and Findings, as the basis for the Future State Roadmap or Design. Additionally, NEWCO requires access to historical information such as contracts and purchase agreements from hardware and software vendors and resellers, and documentation on standards, policies and processes with respect to IT assets. NEWCO also needs access to key stakeholders and staff who are knowledgeable about existing ITAM processes, tools and data.

Deliverables

At the conclusion of the Future State Roadmap or Design phase, NEWCO delivers a document that includes the following information. Future State Roadmap Recommendations for:

Processes that need to be improved, such as procurement, asset disposal, true-up and audit Tools that need to be enhanced, better integrated or utilized, such as procurement, discovery,

software license management and asset repository Organizational recommendations including roles, responsibilities and training

Future State Design

Process workflows for new and modified processes such as full lifecycle IT asset management, including request, procure, receive, deploy, IMAC, retire and dispose

Tools recommendations, including best-of-breed solutions to meet organizational requirements

Resource requirements, including the appropriate skill sets required to ensure success of the future ITAM program

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Benefits

NEWCO delivers a Future State Roadmap or Design that documents what your organization needs to achieve a more robust and effective ITAM program. While the Future State Roadmap sets the stage for your organization to design a plan in-house, the Future State Design provides a detailed playbook for implementing the solution and serves as the foundation for Phase 4 of NEWCO’s ITAM Program Development methodology: Solution Deployment. Another benefit of the Future State Design option is that NEWCO identifies cost savings opportunities within your existing ITAM program. Just as spending money for home improvements today often saves money over time, such as sealing windows to conserve on heating costs, or eradicating termites before structural damage worsens, investing in an improved ITAM program always results in savings. In fact, the Gartner Group predicts that the introduction of an effective ITAM program will reduce your company’s cost per asset by as much as 30% the first year, and then 5-10% annually for the next 5 years.

PHASE 4: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Once NEWCO produces the Future State Design document in Phase 3, deployment of the solution can begin. In Phase 4 of our ITAM Program Development methodology, Solution Deployment, NEWCO Consulting experts execute the detailed plan.

The Solution: Solution Deployment The objective of Solution Deployment is to implement the ITAM program blueprint detailed in the Future State Design playbook. During this phase, NEWCO professionals:

Implement new and revised processes Execute recommendations on use of tools Transfer knowledge and train on processes and tools Implement organizational and staffing recommendations Communicate ITAM program and new processes to organization Promote cost savings initiatives

If your organization lacks the available resources, expertise and funding to run the ITAM program in-house,

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you may choose to outsource to NEWCO through our Managed Services offering. You can outsource your entire program or specific processes and integration points, which NEWCO will run within a secure private cloud.

Requirements

NEWCO uses the results of Phase 3, Future State Design, as the basis for Solution Deployment. Additionally, NEWCO requires access to historical information such as contracts and purchase agreements from hardware and software vendors and resellers, and documentation on standards, policies and processes with respect to IT assets. NEWCO also needs access to key stakeholders and staff who are knowledgeable about existing ITAM processes, tools and data.

Deliverables

At the conclusion of the Solution Deployment phase, your ITAM program will be up and running in pilot mode. The desired organizational structure will be in place, and the ITAM team will be following processes, utilizing tools, gathering and analyzing data and turning it into valuable business intelligence and analytics. This information will help your company make important decisions that will impact the financial health of your business.

Benefits

Repairing the defects in a house prepares you to move in. Repairing the issues within your ITAM processes, technologies and resources prepares your organization to go live with its ITAM program. Upon completion of Phase 4 Solution Deployment, your organization will be up and running in test mode. By executing the Future State Design plan for you in Phase 4, NEWCO takes away the pain of doing it yourself. Your organization saves time and resources by outsourcing the implementation to a team of experts. If you have chosen the Managed Services option, NEWCO will administer your ITAM program within a private cloud, as specified in the outsourcing agreement. With NEWCO Managed Services, your organization will realize significant cost savings in people, process and technology. More importantly, your contracts will be optimized and spending on software and hardware will be reduced. Solution Deployment serves as the foundation for the final phase of NEWCO’s ITAM Program Development offering, Steady State Operations.

PHASE 5: STEADY STATE OPERATION

Once your ITAM solution has been deployed and tested, a careful planning and program development process is nearly complete. You are ready to turn on the lights and go live with the program. In Phase 5 of our ITAM Program Development methodology, Steady State Operations, NEWCO Consulting experts ensure that your ITAM program is turned on, and runs as designed.

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The Solution: Steady State Operations

The objective of the final phase of our ITAM Program Development methodology is to ensure that your ITAM program is deployed properly, all procedures are being followed and all processes are running smoothly. During this phase, NEWCO professionals:

Test processes from beginning to end to ensure they are being adopted and not breaking down

Oversee the use of tools to ensure they are functioning properly and producing the required output

Evaluate IT asset data for accuracy and completeness Review reports to ensure they are meeting Expectations of the stakeholders Ensure organizational changes are functioning as designed Communicate any necessary adjustments to process and tools workflows

If your organization has chosen to run the ITAM program on premise, NEWCO will work with you for 30 days in “steady state” mode, and also perform quarterly health checks. If your organization has chosen the Managed Services option, NEWCO will be involved in your steady state operations on a continuous basis during the life of the Managed Services Agreement.

Requirements

NEWCO uses the results of Phase 4, Solution Deployment, as the foundation for Steady State Operations. Additionally, NEWCO requires access to historical information such as contracts and purchase agreements from hardware and software vendors and resellers, and documentation on standards, policies and processes with respect to IT assets. NEWCO also needs access to key stakeholders and staff who are knowledgeable about existing ITAM processes, tools and data.

Deliverables

At the conclusion of the Steady State Operations phase, your ITAM program will be up and running in full production mode. The desired organizational structure will be in place, and the ITAM team will be following processes, utilizing tools, gathering and analyzing data, and turning it into valuable business intelligence and analytics that will help your company make important business decisions throughout the life cycle of each

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asset. If you have selected the Managed Services option, NEWCO will run your ITAM processes within a secure private cloud on an ongoing basis. You will have access to NEWCO’s fully integrated ITAM Requisition and Repository System, which provides real-time data about your IT assets. A team of NEWCO analysts will be assigned to oversee the day-to-day functioning of your ITAM program, using the data gathered to provide valuable business intelligence, such as trending analyses. They will ensure that your contracts are optimized, standards and processes are followed and licensing requirements are met.

Benefits

When you move into a new house, you need to be certain that the defects have been repaired and every aspect of the home is in excellent condition. Likewise, when you flip the switch and go live with your ITAM program, you need to make sure that the program is functioning as designed. NEWCO experts will be there to ensure that everything is running smoothly and make any necessary adjustments to processes as required. If you have chosen the Managed Services option, NEWCO will administer your entire ITAM program, as specified in the outsourcing agreement, in “steady state” mode. Your organization will realize significant cost savings in people, process and technology. In addition, your organization will benefit from NEWCO’s expert analysis of the business intelligence from our ITAM Requisition and Repository Systems. All asset requests will be validated and standards will be meticulously followed. NEWCO will optimize the value of your software and hardware contracts. As an added benefit, most of our clients choose to engage NEWCO’s Contract Advisory Services which involves contract negotiations, audit preparation and response, and contract optimization as part of their Managed Services agreement. Upon completion of Phase 5 Steady State Operations, your ITAM program will be up and running in full production mode.

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In Summary

• IT organizations will experience increasing demand for services as the economy picks

up. And, they will continue to be expected to provide their services at increasing levels of efficiency and lower costs. A mature ITAM program will be one of the most

powerful weapons in your arsenal for managing cost.

• Manage your ITAM initiatives as a coordinated program of prioritized efforts. The ITAM Program should be carefully defined to ensure the best fit within existing organizational management processes and structure. ITAM initiatives should be aligned and prioritized in order to maximize positive impact on enterprise strategy and overall profitability drivers, not simply cost reduction.

• Focus on outcomes of each initiative first and then apply a process oriented approach to

implementation. Apply technology wisely and do not confuse the tools with the solution.

• Align your ITAM strategy to the overall information technology needs of your organization. Seek ways to offer business performance gains for the corporation as a whole and balance this by providing tangible cost-savings. Your ITAM program should be dynamic and adaptive to changing corporate and technological requirements. Regular communication and senior management involvement is a must.

• If you are just getting started, seek expert guidance and develop an objective, fact-

based business case up-front. Prioritize your proposed plans based on achieving the biggest gains and/or addressing the most compelling risks first.

• IT Asset Management requires cooperation, coordination and a serious look at how to

make the organization run more smoothly. Ultimately, IT assets and services provide

the enabling infrastructure required to operate a competitive enterprise. Organizations that postpone deploying proactive IT Asset Management will bear the brunt of

inefficiency, unnecessary expense and undue risk.

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About IAITAM

IAITAM™, an independent consumer membership organization of technology software and

hardware asset managers, is devoted to professional growth and optimizing corporate information technology investments. IAITAM goals include creating a common understanding

of the benefits, pitfalls and best practices for both software and hardware asset management.

To accomplish this goal, the association serves the professionals performing these duties and the corporations that are astutely pursuing the cost savings and risk reduction that can be

found through IT asset management.

ITAM has been an industry resource since 2002. ITAM focuses on providing guidance,

knowledge and advisory services requested by IT Asset Managers who recognize the need for a centralized organization devoted to educating and codifying information within the IT Hardware & Software Asset Management fields. ITAM services include:

• Advanced training programs, offering formal certification and professional recognition; • Easy access to vendor neutral answers and product reviews;

• Providing a secure area for peer to peer discussions;

• Guiding IT Executive management to an understanding of the benefits of IT asset

management practices and of the qualified IT asset manager; • Pushing the envelope on what practices work, where the savings are and the choices

that lead to compliance • Assistance with Best Practices

• Evaluating impact of current legislative trends

• Knowledge exchange through conferences and the Information Technology Asset Knowledge (ITAK) magazine.

To inquire on how your organization can become CAPc certified, contact IAITAM at

[email protected].

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