Network inventory management software, including asset configuration information and change management, is an essential component of a robust network management architecture. In addition, software tools that provide planning, design, and life cycle management for network assets should prominently appear on enterprise radar screens. IT executives should evaluate network inventory systems that provide actionable information that administrators can use to improve network management performance and help develop effective network asset control processes.

Business Imperatives:

• Typical network operations rely on physical network management that identifies element failures. However, additional key information is missing, such as device location, connectivity, and affected users. IT executives should ask the technical staff to evaluate asset management software that provides a physical and logical network view for all fault conditions, including affected network assets.
• Automated device discovery is important to catalog accurately and to update what the network actually contains. This information should be available in a central database repository with easy user access. The ability to access up-to-date network information is essential to high-reliability environments. IT executives should look for inventory management tools that report the proper level of detail as a step towards improving their network management infrastructures.
• Most networks already employ network management systems for fault detection. However, network inventory management is often missing because of network complexity and a lack of integration time. The network is an important business asset that requires ongoing tracking and management. IT executives should consider asset management tools that can integrate into the existing infrastructure, while also providing the necessary planning, design, and life cycle management capabilities.