Managing IT assets effectively requires monitoring of both hardware and software components. This article walks you through creating and utilizing these insights to keep software assets aligned with standards and security protocols.
The importance of Software Asset Management
Software management is crucial in asset lifecycle management, particularly in ensuring that necessary software, such as Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools or specific endpoint protection, is installed and up-to-date. Additionally, it's equally important to manage the presence of outdated or unsupported software that could pose security risks.
Creating Personalized Software Insights
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Identify installed software:
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Insight Creation: You can create an insight to detect software installed on devices, transforming how you manage these assets. For instance, you might set an insight to flag all workstations running Windows 8.1, which is considered outdated.
- Immediate Action: This allows for quick identification and remediation plans, such as upgrading to a supported operating system or removing risky software.
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Insight Creation: You can create an insight to detect software installed on devices, transforming how you manage these assets. For instance, you might set an insight to flag all workstations running Windows 8.1, which is considered outdated.
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Identify non-installed software:
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Insight for Required Software: Similarly, you can set insights to identify critical security software that is not installed but should be. For example, creating an insight to detect servers without the Huntress Agent installed ensures that endpoint security measures are in place.
- Strategic Deployment: These insights ensure that no device goes unprotected due to missing software, allowing for immediate corrective action.
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Insight for Required Software: Similarly, you can set insights to identify critical security software that is not installed but should be. For example, creating an insight to detect servers without the Huntress Agent installed ensures that endpoint security measures are in place.
Managing Software Compliance and Risks
Personalized Software Insights also cater to compliance and risk management by allowing you to ensure that certain software is not installed on machines where it poses a security risk or incurs unnecessary licensing fees.
- Risk Management: For instance, if a piece of software known for vulnerabilities or high maintenance costs is detected, an insight can flag it for review or removal.
- Compliance Checks: Ensuring that software licenses are used appropriately and that only approved software is installed prevents compliance issues and potential legal risks.
Utilizing Insights on the Strategy Dashboard
Once set up, your personalized software insights will appear in the "Your Insights" section of the Insights Dashboard. This centralization allows for easy monitoring and management:
- Dashboard Overview: View all insights related to software across all client devices from a single pane, reducing the time and effort required to search for this information.
- Actionable Intelligence: Each insight provides actionable data, enabling you to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. Whether it's upgrading software, deploying missing applications, or removing unauthorized installations, you have the necessary information at your fingertips.
If you have connected your RMM tool and would like us to add support for a key software provider, please navigate to Product Ideas and let us know the software provider or tool you would like to see supported. The Navigating the Iceberg: Understanding the Product Ideas Process article outlines the product idea submission process.