It's 3 a.m.: Do You Know Where Your Laptop Is? Federal Agencies are Getting a Grip on IT Asset Management, CDW-G Reports
Nearly three-quarters of agencies can account for all IT equipment, but asset management cost and complexity are concerns
HERNDON, Va. - July 21, 2008 - CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation and leading source of Information Technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators, today announced the findings of its study on Federal IT asset management. While 70 percent of Federal IT asset tracking programs are just three years old or younger, 73 percent of agencies can account for all IT equipment, according to the survey of Federal government IT decision makers.
"Cyber security, lifecycle management, consolidation - virtually every IT management process starts with an understanding of what assets you have," said Andy Lausch, senior director of federal sales for CDW-G. "Comprehensive asset management is essential to the IT infrastructure, especially as the Federal workforce becomes more mobile. Small investments in better asset management processes can reap significant returns for agencies."
"Get a Grip: The CDW-G Federal IT Asset Management Report" indicates that IT asset management has improved information security for 41 percent of agencies and has reduced theft of IT equipment for 39 percent. Other benefits cited include more efficient IT upgrades and patch management, as well as overall IT budget savings.
While the information security and cost efficiency improvements are significant, IT decision makers also pointed to significant challenges associated with the unfunded asset management mandate. Fifty-one percent said the cost of asset management was a top concern, followed by obtaining an initial inventory of assets (38 percent) and the potential for removal of radio frequency identification tags and bar codes from IT equipment (31 percent).
Further, IT decision makers noted considerable inefficiencies in IT asset tracking processes that prevent agencies from realizing the full benefits of asset management. Many are using technology tools to track assets - 57 percent are using bar codes, for example - but 30 percent of agencies said they manually enter data on every asset into standard spreadsheets, and more than 30 percent said they cannot pull a full asset inventory report on the first day of a cyber attack. The majority do not share asset inventory data with other agency functions that could use the information to improve agency business processes such as budgeting and planning. For example, more than half of IT decision makers said the finance department does not have access to asset inventory information, and two-thirds said they do not share this information with the procurement department.
"Agencies are embracing IT asset tracking with the inherent benefits top of mind," Lausch said. "Agencies have made strong progress, even as they face considerable challenges. Better asset tracking processes and tools, as well as budgetary support, are important next steps."
CDW-G surveyed 154 Federal IT executives in civilian, defense and intelligence agencies. The margin of error for the survey is ±6.64 percent at a 90 percent confidence level.
For more information on the CDW-G IT Asset Management Report or to download a copy, please visit www.cdwg.com/ITasset.
About CDW-G
A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation, ranked No. 39 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies, CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) is a leading provider of technology solutions for federal, state and local government agencies, as well as educational institutions at all levels. The company features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs. The company's technology specialists and engineers offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.
For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call 1.800.808.4239, email cdwgsales@cdwg.com or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.
|
|
|
