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IT asset management software

Your systems are the bedrock of your operations, so keeping them running smoothly is critical. The PDQ software suite simplifies information technology asset management (ITAM), allowing you to implement, maintain, monitor, and track your information technology assets throughout the full asset lifecycle. With PDQ, you can optimize performance, maximize the value of investments, and improve your cybersecurity posture — all while maintaining compliance.

woman thinking at desktop computer
woman thinking at desktop computer

Must-have IT asset management features

A high-quality ITAM tool, like PDQ, has robust features that simplify inventorying, updating, and tracking hardware and software assets.

Visibility

IT asset management demands a high degree of visibility for effective decision-making and asset lifecycle management.

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PDQ UI showing machines based on Dynamic Collection featurePDQ UI showing machines based on Dynamic Collection feature

Asset discovery

Scan computers to gather asset data on your device fleet.

Collections & groups

Use prebuilt collections or organize machines into custom groups to monitor assets at a glance.

Up-to-the-minute records

Maintain a current, detailed inventory of your environment’s software and hardware assets.

Reporting

ITAM software should include reporting features so that you can show what’s in your environment, prove compliance, and provide your boss with all the cool reports they’ve always wanted.

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Report UI in PDQ Inventory with chart iconReport UI in PDQ Inventory with chart icon

Custom and prebuilt reports

Prepare documentation on devices, software, deployments, and more.

Automated reporting

In PDQ Inventory, automatically run reports on a regular cadence to monitor assets over time.

Flexibility

Advanced asset management features give you the flexibility to fine-tune processes for your unique environment.

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PDQ Deploy UI showing prebuilt tools feature with decorative custom iconPDQ Deploy UI showing prebuilt tools feature with decorative custom icon

PowerShell scripting

Bring in data with custom PowerShell scripts.

App uninstallation

Remove unwanted apps from machines to simplify software asset management.

Active Directory sync

In PDQ Inventory, automatically add new computers to your asset inventory by syncing with Active Directory. In PDQ Connect, scan devices for AD information and groups.

What are the benefits of IT asset management?

Skillful IT asset management offers many potential benefits to your organization. Control and visibility are the main selling points for ITAM, but these factors support several other advantages. Effective ITAM with the PDQ suite can enhance performance, budgeting, and business insight. With oversight of the full IT asset lifecycle, you can also proactively manage risks, costs, and efficiency. Thanks to its far-reaching effects, ITAM provides value for end users, IT leaders, and the organization as a whole.

  • Improve patch management  

  • Provide real-time visibility  

  • Reduce information security risks 

  • Support compliance efforts 

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Deploy and Inventory Management illustrationDeploy and Inventory Management illustration

IT asset management for remote devices

Use our agent-based solution, PDQ Connect, to keep your fleet up to date and secure via the cloud. View real-time data, deploy software using custom or prebuilt packages, and automate IT tasks — from one platform to any internet-connected Windows device.

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PDQ Connect homepagePDQ Connect homepage

PDQ vs. leading IT asset management competitors

PDQ Deploy & Inventory’s IT asset management solution

PDQ Connect’s IT asset management solution

Leading competitors

Agentless local IT asset management

yes

no

no

Agent-based remote IT asset management

no

yes

no

Highly customizable features 

yes

yes

no

Integrated patch & inventory management 

yes

yes

no

PowerShell Scanner

yes

no

no

Easy setup and use

yes

yes

no

Comprehensive knowledge base

yes

yes

no

Support from sysadmins

yes

yes

no

IT asset management FAQs

What is IT asset management?

IT asset management (ITAM) is a system of tracking hardware and software technology asset information to enhance the value to the organization. The average business uses 130 SaaS applications, and that number is steadily increasing. In addition, an environment can quickly become a tangled web of laptops, desktops, network devices, and other hardware. Juggling licenses, installations, and updates requires a powerful solution, like PDQ Deploy & Inventory or PDQ Connect.

What is an IT asset management process?

An IT asset management process incorporates every major stage of the device lifecycle:  

  • Asset planning and procurement 

  • Deployment 

  • Maintenance 

  • Asset tracking 

  • Asset disposal 

It might help to think of the process as ongoing project management for your assets.

What types of assets does IT asset management oversee?

IT asset management focuses on several categories:  

  • Hardware assets: Physical equipment, such as workstations, phones, laptops, servers, etc. 

  • Software assets: Software and solutions, including applications and operating systems. 

  • Cloud assets: Anything residing in the cloud, such as cloud-based databases, SaaS applications, and other cloud services. 

  • Digital assets: Multimedia content, including documents, images, and videos.

What other functions are related to IT asset management?

In IT, pretty much everything is interconnected in some way or another. So it’s no surprise that IT asset management carries with it several adjacent processes:  

  • Patch management 

  • Software inventory management 

  • Hardware asset management 

  • Vendor management 

  • Software license management 

  • Configuration management 

  • Change management 

  • Financial management 

  • Service desk management 

  • Compliance management 

  • Asset utilization management 

  • Capacity management 

  • Vulnerability management 

A high-quality IT asset management software, such as PDQ Deploy & Inventory or PDQ Connect, can also help support all these functions.

How do you incorporate IT asset management software?

Implementing IT asset management takes time, consideration, and the right tools. Ideally, you should account for your business needs, goals, and existing systems to find a seamless fit. The following steps can help you develop an IT asset management system that works for your company:   

  • Designate an IT asset manager and asset management team 

  • Determine critical physical assets and software assets 

  • Create an asset inventory 

  • Follow a lifecycle-based approach that includes planning, procurement, deployment, maintenance, and retirement 

  • Track each software license to confirm software compliance 

  • Make the ITAM process proactive and ongoing 

While incorporating a high-quality IT asset management program takes some time up-front, it can ultimately save you effort, money, and long hours toiling over spreadsheets. PDQ Deploy & Inventory and PDQ Connect are easy to set up and make IT asset management simple and painless.  

What are IT asset management best practices?

Applying IT asset management best practices can help you optimize your ITAM program. Keys to effective IT asset management include these steps:  

  • Do routine asset discovery and asset tracking 

  • Implement asset inventory management of each existing asset, including tangible assets and intangible assets 

  • Automate processes with IT asset management software, such as PDQ Deploy & Inventory or PDQ Connect 

  • Collect financial data 

  • Document contractual data 

  • Maintain license compliance information 

IT asset management directly relates to IT service management (ITSM), IT operations management (ITOM), IT business management (ITBM), and software asset management (SAM). To get the most out of your ITAM program, make sure it’s part of a larger information technology management landscape. 

How do you choose the right IT asset management software?

Choosing the right IT asset management tool requires understanding your goals and envisioning how software aligns with them. Knowing your assets and processes is critical, potentially making it easier to find a solution that can grow with your organization. Here’s what to do before selecting an ITAM tool:  

  • Compile an asset inventory 

  • Look for automated features 

  • Consider features that enable collaboration 

  • Set your budget 

  • Assess the solution’s customer service and support 

  • Read customer success stories and reviews 

Even if it’s not ultimately the right ITAM software for you, a free PDQ trial can give you a better idea of your existing assets and how to maintain them.  

How do you manage remote IT assets?

The easiest way to manage remote IT assets is with an agent-based solution, like PDQ Connect. Once the agent is installed on the target Windows device, Connect gives you access to robust data and functionality. You have the visibility and control over your fleet necessary for an effective ITAM program. 

Alternatively, you can use an agentless solution, such as PDQ Deploy & Inventory. While an agentless solution makes it easy to manage local machines, remote devices must connect to your VPN for you to oversee them. If you’re one of the lucky few sysadmins with highly compliant users, this might be a breeze. But we expect some users to get a little feisty. 

In some scenarios, a combination of ITAM management tools gives you the most flexibility and control.

Sound too good to be true? Try it for yourself.