In the complex corporate IT ecosystem, where infrastructures and digital devices multiply at an unprecedented pace, IT asset visibility (“Asset Visibility”, indeed) is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. This applies to companies of any size and in any productive sector. 

Without a clear picture of the IT resources in use, their conditions and their lifecycle, companies risk operational inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities and waste of economic resources. Translation: productivity worsens, employee and collaborator satisfaction worsens, and the relationship with customers deteriorates. And it’s clear that all of this must be avoided. 

But what does Asset Visibility really and concretely mean? What are the direct and indirect benefits that derive from it? And how can a company improve this capability? What are the best solutions and strategies in this regard? What are the best practices? What challenges need to be faced? 

In this article we want to focus on this entire field, with a very practical and operational vision. 

What Is Asset Visibility? 

Let’s start with the basic definitions. The expression “Asset Visibility” refers to a company’s ability to identify, track and monitor all IT assets in use, whether they are hardware devices, software, networks or other digital resources. This visibility allows knowing at any moment which assets are operational, where they are located, who is using them and what is their – so to speak – “health status”. 

But why is it so important? Just look around us, at our workplace. A company can own hundreds, if not thousands, of network-connected devices: computers, servers, printers, mobile devices and IoT systems (the latter field being in continuous and powerful expansion). Without a clear vision of these resources, the risk of inefficiencies, cost overloads or security vulnerabilities increases exponentially. And here we come to our point: with an effective Asset Visibility system, instead, every asset is monitored in real-time, allowing IT teams to have centralized, strategic and proactive resource management. 

Attention, however! It’s not just about knowing how many devices are operational at a given moment, but also understanding their maintenance status, installed software, compliance with company policies, their lifecycle and much more. Having this information allows anticipating problems, avoiding operational interruptions and optimizing IT investments. 

To make a first firm point, in extreme synthesis, before proceeding further: an effective Asset Visibility system is not just a technology (or a set of technologies); it is much more: it is a strategic approach that allows companies to transform asset data into concrete value. Value that translates into improved governance, the possibility of making informed decisions, decisive and constant security improvement, as well as cost reduction. A value, in short, that goes in the direction of full digital maturity. 

The Three Main Benefits of Asset Visibility 

From everything we have emphasized so far, a series of benefits (direct and indirect) that derive from adopting an effective Asset Visibility strategy already emerge. Below we deepen them and put them in order, grouping them into the three main points. 

1. Greater Control and Resource Optimization 

On this fundamental point, we have dwelt since the beginning of the article. It’s worth reiterating it, in a very clear and schematic manner: having a clear vision of all IT assets allows companies to make the best use of their resources (both technological and human). Every device, software and infrastructure can and must be monitored in real-time to guarantee maximum performance, avoid waste, improve the quality of workplace experience. Ultimately, it’s about improving business productivity through more strategic management of digital resources. 

2. Reduction of IT Costs 

This second point is central, for obvious reasons; and is closely related to the first. We have already touched on this above, and below we limit ourselves to reiterating it schematically. Knowing exactly which IT resources are available and how they are used allows companies to avoid superfluous purchases, optimize software licensing contracts and reduce operational costs related to maintenance. How fundamental all this is is evident and intuitive. 

3. Focus on Security and Compliance 

Here we are at the third and final key point. Effective IT asset management helps reduce the risks of cyber attacks and ensure compliance with industry regulations, which are often being updated. In practice: with an Asset Visibility system, companies can identify outdated devices or obsolete software that represent potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, as we know very well, in many sectors organizations must comply with strict security and data protection regulations. Having an effective monitoring system reduces the risk of failed audits or sanctions resulting from non-compliance. 

How to Improve Your Company’s Asset Visibility 

We have understood what Asset Visibility is and why it is so important for a contemporary company. We have seen its main benefits. Now let’s take a further step forward and move to an even more operational level and ask ourselves how to concretely improve our company’s Asset Visibility. 

Attention, as we often reiterate in this blog, there is no universal recipe valid for all types of realities. Every company makes its own history and must start from a lucid and global analysis of its own physiognomy, its own objectives, the context it has around it. 

That said, however, there are some pillars useful in almost all situations. Below we isolate 5 of them. 

1. Establish Governance Policies and Best Practices 

Even before implementing Asset Visibility systems, clear policies on IT asset management must be defined. This is the phase just after the “self-analysis” one we mentioned above. And every company must consciously set its “stakes”. 

2. Implement a Dedicated Software Solution 

Here we are at a perfectly operational point. The use of advanced asset management tools allows monitoring in real-time the status and usage of every IT resource. An example? Solutions like EV Observe offer intuitive dashboards, capable of transforming raw IT data into clear and usable information, useful for embracing a centralized vision of assets. 

3. Integration with IT Service Management (ITSM) 

Speaking of concrete tools: connecting asset management with a solid ITSM allows improving resource traceability, automating support processes and ensuring that every asset is used in the most efficient way. And also in this case the tools offered by EasyVista come to our aid, with the EV Service Manager suite. 

4. The Breakthrough of Automation and Artificial Intelligence 

Here the discussion can become very broad and technical, but this is not the place. Let’s stay on the concrete and operational: the integration of AI technologies allows automatically identifying anomalies in systems, predicting failures and optimizing IT asset management without constant manual interventions. 

5. Continuous Monitoring and Advanced Reporting 

Asset Visibility is not something that is achieved “once and for all”. The adoption of proactive monitoring tools allows collecting real-time data on asset status and generating detailed reports to facilitate strategic decisions. The objective: trigger the spiral of continuous improvement. 

The Challenges in Asset Visibility Management 

We close this article of ours without hiding. Despite the evident benefits, many companies encounter difficulties in effective asset visibility management. Here are some of the main challenges: 

• Lack of a centralized management system: without a unified platform, IT assets are monitored in a fragmented way, with data scattered across different tools and business departments. This makes it difficult to obtain a clear and updated picture of available resources. Hence the importance of relying on effective and customizable tools and suites like those from EasyVista. 
• Disorganized or obsolete data. A point, ultimately, connected to the previous one. If the Asset Visibility system is not updated in real-time, in fact, information can become obsolete or inaccurate, leading to wrong decisions and operational inefficiencies. 
• Untracked Shadow IT assets: companies often have to manage devices and software purchased or used without IT department approval. These “shadow” assets represent a threat to security and compliance. 

Conclusion 

Asset Visibility is not “just” a matter of IT management, but a fundamental pillar for the security, efficiency and economic sustainability of a company. Implementing advanced software tools and proactive monitoring strategies allows improving resource control, reducing risks and optimizing IT investments. It’s a matter of digital maturity. And digital maturity is where most of the challenges of the future…and the present are played out. 

FAQ 

What is Asset Visibility?
The ability to monitor, track and manage in real-time all IT assets of an organization. It includes hardware devices, software, networks and cloud resources, providing a complete and updated picture of IT infrastructure management. 

Why is it so important?
Having an updated inventory of IT assets allows having greater control and optimization of resources, reducing costs, ensuring security and compliance with regulations. 

What are the most common challenges in asset visibility management? 
Lack of a centralized management system; disorganized or obsolete data; untracked shadow IT assets.