As a business, we all know one thing straight – you can’t manage what you don’t know exists. And this goes to asset records as well. Network inventory helps with this. It simply now is not just an operational requirement. But a need, when it comes to IT governance as per Slurp’it.
It helps with tracking all the hardware pieces connected to the network. Be it the core routers, switches, or even smart thermostats – you get to know literally about everything. Wondering how? Let’s understand it all in detail!
So, what exactly is a network inventory?
It is the complete real time catalog of all the devices connected to a network. It also covers all the endpoints, and:
● Routers, switches, firewalls
● Access points and servers
● All the IP cameras, VoIP phones, and even smart devices
● All the laptops, desktops, and mobile devices
● Lastly, virtual machines, cloud assets, and more!
However, there’s a trick here. Many businesses still feel that if they have all the information in a spreadsheet, they have it all. But, in reality, the data is already outdated. Here the only strategy that works is reactive strategy, where one has to wait for problem.
On the other hand, a proactive network inventory strategy actually
● Discovers new devices on a routine basis
● Tracks all the configurations changes
● Updates lifecycle all instantly
● Flags unauthorised devices quickly, and even rogue ones
● Integrates well with almost all IT governance policies
This strategy is smart, scalable, and actually saves businesses from the disasters.
Why is network inventory important in IT governance?
Let us connect the dots first. What really does a good network inventory has to do with IT governance? Answer? Almost everything.
Compliance
No matter which industry you are into, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, or even education, each industry is bound by strict regulations. For example, GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and more.
These regulations don’t simply want your security policies. Infact, they all demand for proof that you know all your IT assets, how you have configured it all, and how all the data flows as per Slurp’it.
Over here, real time inventory helps with
● Information of all the historical logs of devices and configurations
● Automated reports of all the audits
● Instant visibility into most of the non compliant assets
Security
Every untracked device is a possible entry for cyberattacks. On the other hand a proactive inventory allows business to:
● Detect and isolate both rogue devices
● Track all the firmware versions and even patch status
● Apply all the security policies based on the data that’s available
IT Budgeting
There would be many unused devices in your network, as small as some switch. A proactive strategy here helps with:
● Usage analytics of all the assets that’s there
● Alerts for end of life devices
● License tracking and software audits
Lifecycle Management
All the assets in a business goes through a journey. It actually helps businesses with:
● Warranty tracking
● Scheduled maintenance alerts
● Asset redeployment across departments.
What are the major components of a proactive network inventory strategy?
Building a strong network inventory is really important. It must include:
● Automated network discovery tools, because manual tracking in 2025 is nowhere possible. With automated discovery businesses will get information of new devices when it joins the network, all the configuration changes, and more as per Slurp’it.
● Device classification and tagging is also really important. The tagging has to be done based on asset type, department or business unit, or maybe based on location
● Integration with CMDB and ITSM
● Businesses can set policies for firmware updates, license renewals, end of life notifications, and even security patches
Some common challenges and how to overcome them!
Even the best plans face obstacles. The common hurdles you may face in it will be:
● Shadow IT and BYOD concerns
● Constantly changing environments
● Lack of executive buy-ins.
Here's how you can make your inventory strategy agile and scalable:
New technology will always come in. But future proofing is even more important. Hence try modern inventory systems to track cloud VMs, containers, and even serverless agents. Make sure to use AI and predictive analysis whenever you can. And don’t ever treat IT governance like a once a year project. This is something you must look into as your daily operations as per Slurp’it.
Remember, visibility matters!
It allows you to take control, the charge. If your organization is really serious about IT governance, building a proactive network inventory strategy is really important. Make sure to start with visibility. Build on integration. And moreover, scale with automation. Always and always government with confidence!! For more information, contact us at Slurp’it!
