Why audit IT assets?

March 23, 2021

As the IT infrastructure of the typical company has grown, so has the need for regular information system audits. These audits examine whether a business’s IT controls protect company assets, ensure information accuracy and further the company’s business goals adequately and efficiently. For data centers, these audit processes are even more essential to operations.

The importance of an information system audit lies in its ability to boost an organization’s profitability — both by increasing procedure efficiency and reducing liability. However, for your company to fully benefit from an IT audit, you need to have a complete understanding of all your IT assets, including hardware and software used throughout the organization.

What Is an IT Asset Audit?

Every business maintains various software and hardware that comprise its technological infrastructure. IT asset auditing involves analyzing technological components for adequacy and effectiveness. The process asks, is this technology serving a specific need? How efficiently is it meeting the demand it’s intended to fulfill? Asking these questions allows businesses to find opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Asset auditing takes two forms — internal and external. Internal auditing occurs when a company conducts its own analysis of its systems. External auditing is when an enterprise outsources analysis to another organization. While IT asset auditing can be both an internal and external process, it can be beneficial to have a third party analyze a business’s operations.

In large companies with expansive inventories and multiple locations, it can be challenging to track every asset. Therefore, effective inventory management becomes critical during the auditing process. Here’s why.

The Purpose of Auditing IT Assets for Inventory Management

If you don’t have a reliable asset inventory, completing an information system audit becomes extremely difficult. After all, if you don’t understand where your assets are and how they’re connected, you can’t determine whether they’re working together securely and effectively.

You also need to keep an inventory of your IT assets if you hope to minimize risk through the auditing process. If you know the status of all your IT assets, you can keep hardware and software up to date across the organization, create disaster recovery plans and plan for large-scale IT projects. Essentially, auditing your IT assets will help you make improvements more efficiently.

How to Conduct an Information System Audit

Conducting an IT audit usually requires you to enlist the help of an internal or external auditor. This person will plan the audit, study and evaluate your company’s IT controls, test those controls and report any problems they identify. After that, they may follow up with you to see how the problems were addressed.

Because of the sheer number of steps required, an information system audit can be time-consuming. If you use an auditor from within your organization, they may also need to conduct research and undergo extensive training before beginning the auditing process. This will be especially true if you don’t have an accurate asset inventory available for reference.

Preparing for an information system audit on your own can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help. Before your next audit, consider reaching out to DataSpan for assistance.

Why Hire a Professional for IT Asset Audits?

Conducting an IT asset audit will ensure your business’s efficiency, but accurate results require extensive work with close attention to detail. Hiring a professional for your audit will help your business get the most from the process. Work with professionals like DataSpan to:

  • Save time: Manual audits require numerous paid hours from employees, and without proper training, it’s possible to make mistakes that force workers to start from scratch.
  • Receive comprehensive service: Professional auditors will provide the best service for your investment, connecting your business with the best IT for your needs and offering assistance from qualified representatives.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance: Professionals understand relevant regulations and will make sure your software is authorized for your industry, saving you from financial penalties.
  • Manage depreciation: Software loses value over time. Professionals can help businesses understand depreciation rates, find ways to make the most of their assets and avoid paying for assets they don’t need.

Let DataSpan Assist You With the IT Auditing Process

At DataSpan, we have 50 years of experience working with data center assets, which makes us uniquely qualified to assist with inventory management in preparation for an IT audit. In the past, we’ve helped businesses and data centers reduce costs through better asset visibility, improved productivity, audit automation and more.

When you work with us, you’ll have access to knowledgeable professionals who operate as an extension of your staff. We can provide flexible solutions to help you:

  • Identify the location and configuration of all your IT assets.
  • Create an effective asset inventory for use in the auditing process.
  • Stage assets for disaster recovery.
  • Conduct preliminary planning for IT migrations.
  • Correlate IT assets with financial records for reduced liability.

With DataSpan, an IT audit doesn’t have to be a source of stress. It’s easy to get started. Simply find your local representative or contact us today to learn more.

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