“Through 2003, enterprises that fail to integrate software usage and inventory data to manage their software assets will over-buy licences for 60% of their portfolio and will be out of compliance on 30%.”
GartnerGroup

AUDIT is typically used in support of other projects where electronic and/or physical IT asset data is needed in a fairly short timeframe and ongoing change control is not required.

IT audits often involve the use of specialised software to ‘discover’ assets over a LAN/WAN, as well as physical visits, if need be, to each machine. Asset tracking software is used to ‘discover’ and track hardware and software assets over a network using a variety of techniques.

Used properly this technology provides crucial business support information and can feed management information systems and change control processes. It also acts as a powerful source of configuration information for helpdesk, deskside support and break/fix maintenance activities.

Asset tracking technology is related to systems and network management technology. However, asset tracking tools are typically much faster and easier to deploy, easier to use, they have more advanced software recognition algorithms and much more comprehensive reporting capabilities.