Safe IT asset management: How to shield yourself from cyberattacks

If you look closely at your cutting-edge IT, you might find it’s part of a double-edged sword. The more you rely on information technology, the more vulnerable your organization becomes to cyber threats.  It’s a scary thought, but it’s the reality we live in. Shoring up defenses often means turning to IT asset management (ITAM), a critical component of a strong cybersecurity framework that involves continuously tracking, managing, and optimizing your organization’s IT assets throughout their lifecycles. Regularly reviewing and improving your ITAM practices is crucial to keeping up with evolving threats, such as increased vulnerability, compliance issues, inefficiencies, and sub-optimal incident response. But it’s not easy work, especially if you’re doing it alone. Find out how the right ITAM partner can help you transform that double-edged sword into a solid shield against cyberattacks.

Preventing security vulnerabilities

The best part about the shield? It’s proactive. A robust ITAM system can keep threats at bay by ensuring that all IT assets are properly accounted for and protected. After all, any gaps in your management can leave critical assets vulnerable. This is why conducting regular audits of IT assets is paramount in this defense strategy. These ensure that all systems are up-to-date and secure, reducing the risk of cyberattacks. For instance, a failure to track and update software inventory can result in overlooking crucial security patches, leaving systems susceptible to known exploits. However, leveraging ITAM software tools that provide real-time insights, automate processes, and reduce chances of human errors can keep your organization free from breaches.

Compliance issues

The digital battlefield is governed by a complex array of regulations and standards designed to safeguard sensitive information. Inefficient ITAM not only poses a risk within an organization, but also extends to external partnerships. On this front, it is crucial for your organization to ensure that your vendors adhere to good ITAM practices, maintaining assets that are compliant with your security and regulatory requirements. The consequences of overlooking this aspect can be severe, potentially exposing organizations to legal repercussions and undermining trust with customers and partners. Non-compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific standards, whether on the part of the organization or its vendors, can lead to financial and reputational damage. There is a crucial interconnected nature to ITAM practices, which makes it all the more necessary to extend high standards to vendor relationships. Only then can you have comprehensive cybersecurity.

Impact on incident response

In the event of a security breach, a well-managed ITAM system can significantly expedite incident response efforts, which means it’s important to have a robust strategy. The right plan enables organizations to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing potential damage. Coupled with an up-to-date asset inventory from ITAM, a strong battleplan enables responders to swiftly identify affected systems and take targeted remedial actions. This synergy ensures a more agile and coordinated reaction to security incidents. When ITAM is under-protected, it can hamper any incident response, contributing to prolonged system disruptions and data leaks. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, invest in both a well-defined incident response plan and an effective ITAM system. As you weigh the costs, it can pay to imagine the aftermath. When all is said and done, and your heartrate comes down, there’s no better feeling than knowing a blatant attack has been navigated and ultimately mitigated.

Ensure your protection

The risks associated with absent or inefficient ITAM are multifaceted and far-reaching to say the least. Remember that ITAM is a continuous process, which means you can regularly review and improve your practices to keep up with evolving cybersecurity threats and your business needs.

But before you rest easy, make sure you’re doing security right. SHI helps you armor up with tailored advice and top solutions. With our process consulting, you can improve your ITAM practices and develop a robust system that suits your organization’s needs. Hundreds of organizations like yours agree: SHI’s expertise means protection and peace of mind. Reach out to our experts today to learn more.