How Do IT Asset Discovery Tools Work?

IT asset discovery tools automate the identification and cataloging of an organization’s digital assets. These solutions work by gathering information through a combination of network discovery methods (agent-based vs agentless).

IT asset management discovery tools are crucial for modern enterprise cybersecurity, which is marked by an expanding attack surface due to a proliferation of cloud computing, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, and interconnected systems. Operational technology (OT), which used to be isolated in air-gapped networks, has now converged with information technology (IT) systems and introduced new asset visibility and security challenges.

Read the IT/OT convergence playbook for insights on adapting to modern industrial cybersecurity requirements.

Why Do Enterprises Need IT Asset Discovery?

Enterprises need IT asset discovery as a part of the larger IT asset management (ITAM) process that aims to manage and optimize all assets across the enterprise system. Since you can only secure and optimize what you can see, ITAM always starts with discovering assets and gaining comprehensive network visibility.

IT discovery tools have the following benefits for enterprises:

• Improved security: By understanding all assets within an organization’s network through continuous monitoring, security teams can identify and prioritize potential security risks and vulnerabilities. Asset vulnerability management enables them to implement proactive security measures to protect against cyber threats.
• Increased efficiency: Organizations can use the information provided by asset discovery software to optimize resource allocation, reduce downtime, and improve overall efficiency. For example, an IT asset management system can discover unused software licenses and save business from making unnecessary purchases. These solutions also offer a single source of truth for asset data, helping organizations break down silos that may lead to an incomplete asset inventory.
• Enhanced compliance: IT discovery tools help organizations comply with various regulations and standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), by tracking assets and providing audit logs of all their activity.
• Streamlined planning and budgeting: IT asset discovery provides valuable information that organizations can use to plan and budget for future technology initiatives. These tools also help reduce operational costs by discovering overbilled software licenses, underutilized assets, and unauthorized cloud-based resources.