IT Asset Management bridges the gap between remote working and cybersecurity
In today’s evolving digital landscape, companies are facing two new paradigm shifts: remote work and its connection to escalating data breaches. For organizations dealing with this, IT Asset Management (ITAM) has quickly become important in bridging the gap between remote work and cybersecurity.
The new reality: remote work and cybersecurity risks
The global shift to remote work has changed the way businesses function. While the model has provided flexibility and saved costs, it has also increased security vulnerabilities. Every remote device now represents a potential entry point for cyber threats, creating new obstacles for IT teams:
More devices: Employees use a combination of company-issued and personal devices, making it difficult to maintain consistent security standards.
Network vulnerabilities: Home and public Wi-Fi networks pose security risks.
Shadow IT: Remote workers sometimes use unauthorized software solutions.
Data protection: Sensitive information is now spread across multiple locations.
At the same time, the financial impact of data breaches increases significantly every year. IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 reports that the average breach now costs $4.88 million – a 10% increase from the previous year. Alarmingly, 40% of these costly breaches involved data spread across multiple environments.
Here’s what this means: The era of remote work has increased cybersecurity threats, costing companies more money every year.
Understanding ITAM: more than just inventory management
IT Asset Management is more than just tracking laptops. It is a strategy to manage an organization’s entire technology ecosystem. This includes:
Asset inventory: Identify and catalog all IT assets, including hardware, software and cloud resources.
Lifecycle management: Tracking assets and software throughout its life cycle, including installation, maintenance and final disposal.
License compliance: Ensuring software license compliance to avoid legal risks.
Reduces costs: Reduce costs by identifying idle assets and negotiating better supplier contracts.
Security standards: Enables IT teams to ensure all assets meet cybersecurity standards.
What it means is this: In the context of remote work and the rising costs of breaches, ITAM serves as a critical link for both operational efficiency and resilient security measures.
The evolution of ITAM in the new normal
As organizations adopt ITAM, it is important to note that the industry is also making some important changes:
Cloud integration: Modern ITAM solutions now monitor physical and cloud-based assets. This is essential as companies move to cloud computing environments.
IoT management: ITAM expands to manage all Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Automation: Standard ITAM processes can now be automated. This allows IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks.
What it means is this: organizations now have the ability to track and optimize a wider range of assets, from traditional hardware to cloud services and IoT devices, ultimately leading to more agile and secure operations.
Implementing effective ITAM: best practices
For organizations looking to leverage ITAM in their overall cybersecurity strategy, the following best practices may be considered:
Establish a clear policy: Develop a clear ITAM policy that addresses remote work environments, including BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) guidelines.
Invest in efficient ITAM tools: Invest in ITAM solutions that track IT equipment and software in real time, automate compliance checks, and integrate with existing security tools.
Prioritize and classify assets: Use ITAM to rank corporate data and equipment based on how sensitive they are.
Conduct regular audits: Perform regular audits of IT assets to maintain inventory accuracy and security policy compliance.
Work in teams: Promote collaboration between IT, security, finance and other departments.
Provide ongoing training: Inform all employees about the importance of good IT asset management and how this contributes to the security of the organization.
This means the following: Organizations can promote safety and security by using ITAM effectively. This can be done by conducting regular audits of IT assets, having clear device policies, encouraging cross-team collaboration, and investing in modern ITAM solutions.
A call to action
In an era where remote working is the norm and the number of data breaches is increasing, ITAM is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, but a ‘must-have’. It is the strategic bridge that connects security measures with cost-saving initiatives, making it necessary for modern organizations.
Organizations that invest in advanced ITAM practices will prosper. They can manage the complexities of distributed work environments, protect their digital assets and build a more secure and efficient future.
The question now is whether organizations can afford to invest in robust ITAM practices, but whether they can afford not to. ITAM is a cornerstone of an effective business strategy, helping companies survive and excel in the digital age.
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