Reducing Hidden Operating costs through IT Asset Discovery

Reducing Hidden Operating Costs
Through IT Asset Discovery
Facilitating Asset Management to Support
Tighter Cost-Containment Policies
NetSupport_WP.indd 1
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Executive Summary
Undiscovered IT Assets: An Untapped Source for Meeting Cost-Containment Goals
Situation: Enterprises Are Unable to Accurately Account for All IT Assets on a Routine Basis
Even though most fi nancial experts are unable to predict exactly when business conditions will improve during an
economic downturn, one thing is certain: Periods of slow economic growth and greater business uncertainty will always
With many companies implementing extensive cost-cutting measures, all areas of business operations must now fi nd ways
increase the need to lower operating costs.
to reduce their overall operating costs in an effort to increase bottom-line profi tability. The once protected IT department
can no longer go unscathed by such cost-cutting practices. After reductions in headcount and procurements have been
With many companies implementing extensive cost-cutting practices, there are no longer any "sacred cows," and every
made, cost-cutting strategies are now turning to internal operations, and many IT decision makers are taking a closer look
business department must be more active about fi nding new ways to reduce operating costs in an effort to improve the
at indirect, or "soft," costs within these departments.
bottom line. The once-immune IT department can no longer go unscathed by such cost-cutting policies. After reductions
in headcount and procurements, cost-cutting strategies have now turned to internal operations, and many IT decision
In the past, IT asset management (ITAM) was considered a task necessary only during periods of extensive hardware and
makers are now taking a closer look at areas such as indirect, or soft costs, which include items such as licensing, software
software improvements, such as when deploying new operating systems. Now, IT decision makers are taking a second look
updates, SLAs, and maintenance and support costs.
at ITAM as a way to recoup many of these hidden indirect, or soft costs.
According to industry analyst Gartner, Inc., indirect costs can account for up to 60% of an organization's total outlay on IT.
Problem: Complex ITAM Solutions Fail to Discover All Assets, Increasing IT Costs and Risks
That works out to almost $4,000 to $6,000 per end user.1 With leaner staffs, reducing these soft costs can provide help in
One of the reasons why many small to medium-sized business (SMBs) fail to implement a sound asset management
the cost-cutting battle.
strategy is their reliance on large "all or nothing" ERP-class solutions designed for large enterprise organizations, with
In the past, IT asset management (ITAM) was considered a task necessary only during periods of extensive hardware and
features that will never be used. These large-scale solutions are both resource-intensive and diffi cult to implement and
software upgrades, such as on the occasion of a new operating system release. Now, CIOs are taking a second look at ITAM
manage. As a result, these solutions are not applied to their fullest extent to perform highly effective asset management
as a way to address their high indirect costs and minimize any associated business risks.
within the entire IT infrastructure. This increases the likelihood of higher costs and greater business risks.
For example, a recent survey of 343 CIOs and IT professionals indicated they were letting their licensing compliance policies
For example, if an SMB were unaware that it had exceeded the number of licensed software copies in its site license
lapse. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said they were not confi dent that they were in full
agreement, these breaches could result in thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in combined fi nes and
compliance with their software license agreements, and 67% of the IT executives and
penalties. As a result, SMBs must ensure they are in complete compliance with their software licenses, sparing them any
managers surveyed said their companies haven't taken steps to ensure compliance.
unnecessary and costly liabilities.
Those same managers said they have deployed unlicensed software (60%),
According to
Solution: A Powerful and Simple Asset Management Solution That Generates Signifi cant ROI
and 73% said they are unsure about which software is licensed or not.
Gartner, Inc., indirect
The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution is designed specifi cally with SMBs in mind. It applies a more modular
They also did not feel they would be prepared to undergo an audit by a
approach to asset management, such that smaller fi rms can start with cost-effective, basic functionality and then add
software vendor.2
costs can account for up to
additional features when their business needs them.
If uncovered by software providers, such license agreement breaches
60% of an organization's
With NetSupport DNA, IT managers can "drill down" to any level of detail within their entire IT infrastructure to
could cost fi rms thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in
uncover and manage their IT assets. IT administrators can establish standard hardware, software, Web content, and
combined fi nes and penalties. As a result, SMBs must fi nd new ways to
total outlay on IT. That
security confi gurations, whether by employee, by department, or company-wide. Once the confi gurations are
account for each installation done under their software license contracts
works out to almost
established, modifi cation privileges are restricted, ensuring application and information security throughout the
in an effort to ensure full compliance and spare their organizations any
entire global infrastructure.
unnecessary liabilities, fees, and/or penalties.
$4,000 to $6,000 per
In addition, each department's kilowatt-per-hour use can be compared to an established corporate standard, and any
For these and many other reasons, SMBs need an easy and cost-effective way
end user.
departments that exceed that baseline can be studied in greater detail to determine the areas for cost reduction. If needed,
to account for and manage all IT assets, including software, hardware, and
NetSupport DNA can establish power-down cycles by department or for specifi c workstations in order to meet designated
indirect, or soft, costs. Unfortunately, many existing ITAM solutions have been
energy goals.
designed for large enterprise businesses and rely on complex, resource-intensive tools
that have been either too costly to deploy or too diffi cult to use on an ongoing basis.
Result: Businesses Lower Operating Cost, Lower Risks, and Realize Greater Productivity Gains.
Rather than deploying resource-hungry, enterprise-class asset management solutions, SMBs need a different and more
NetSupport DNA identifi es specifi c areas that are a drain on the IT budget, eliminating waste and recovering costs while
fl exible ITAM model that can be deployed and managed with fewer resources in a more cost-effective manner. Such a
improving asset effi ciency to generate a higher asset ROI. It provides a complete, detailed snapshot of every aspect of the
solution should also allow SMBs to pick and choose the specifi c tools that are best tailored to their specifi c business needs.
entire IT infrastructure, improving security and network performance while maximizing asset utilization and productivity.
It also eliminates unauthorized copying of licensed software and controls access to sensitive business or personal informa-
The goal of this white paper is to educate SMB IT decision makers about the benefi ts associated with a sound asset
tion, ensuring that the organization meets its software license requirements and regulatory guidelines, minimizing the risk
management strategy and how the deployment of tools designed specifi cally for the special needs of SMBs can not only
from security breaches, regulatory fi nes, litigation, or lawsuits.
lower IT operating costs but also prevent costly business risks that are associated with a failure to verify the indirect side
of the IT cost ledger.
2
3
1. Source: Gartner, Inc. "Life Cycle Management Underpins IT Asset Management," F. O'Brien, August 6, 2004.
2. Source: TechTarget.com, "Software licensing: CIOs fall behind, survey says," July 2008.
NetSupport_WP.indd 2-3
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Executive Summary
Undiscovered IT Assets: An Untapped Source for Meeting Cost-Containment Goals
Situation: Enterprises Are Unable to Accurately Account for All IT Assets on a Routine Basis
Even though most fi nancial experts are unable to predict exactly when business conditions will improve during an
economic downturn, one thing is certain: Periods of slow economic growth and greater business uncertainty will always
With many companies implementing extensive cost-cutting measures, all areas of business operations must now fi nd ways
increase the need to lower operating costs.
to reduce their overall operating costs in an effort to increase bottom-line profi tability. The once protected IT department
can no longer go unscathed by such cost-cutting practices. After reductions in headcount and procurements have been
With many companies implementing extensive cost-cutting practices, there are no longer any "sacred cows," and every
made, cost-cutting strategies are now turning to internal operations, and many IT decision makers are taking a closer look
business department must be more active about fi nding new ways to reduce operating costs in an effort to improve the
at indirect, or "soft," costs within these departments.
bottom line. The once-immune IT department can no longer go unscathed by such cost-cutting policies. After reductions
in headcount and procurements, cost-cutting strategies have now turned to internal operations, and many IT decision
In the past, IT asset management (ITAM) was considered a task necessary only during periods of extensive hardware and
makers are now taking a closer look at areas such as indirect, or soft costs, which include items such as licensing, software
software improvements, such as when deploying new operating systems. Now, IT decision makers are taking a second look
updates, SLAs, and maintenance and support costs.
at ITAM as a way to recoup many of these hidden indirect, or soft costs.
According to industry analyst Gartner, Inc., indirect costs can account for up to 60% of an organization's total outlay on IT.
Problem: Complex ITAM Solutions Fail to Discover All Assets, Increasing IT Costs and Risks
That works out to almost $4,000 to $6,000 per end user.1 With leaner staffs, reducing these soft costs can provide help in
One of the reasons why many small to medium-sized business (SMBs) fail to implement a sound asset management
the cost-cutting battle.
strategy is their reliance on large "all or nothing" ERP-class solutions designed for large enterprise organizations, with
In the past, IT asset management (ITAM) was considered a task necessary only during periods of extensive hardware and
features that will never be used. These large-scale solutions are both resource-intensive and diffi cult to implement and
software upgrades, such as on the occasion of a new operating system release. Now, CIOs are taking a second look at ITAM
manage. As a result, these solutions are not applied to their fullest extent to perform highly effective asset management
as a way to address their high indirect costs and minimize any associated business risks.
within the entire IT infrastructure. This increases the likelihood of higher costs and greater business risks.
For example, a recent survey of 343 CIOs and IT professionals indicated they were letting their licensing compliance policies
For example, if an SMB were unaware that it had exceeded the number of licensed software copies in its site license
lapse. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said they were not confi dent that they were in full
agreement, these breaches could result in thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in combined fi nes and
compliance with their software license agreements, and 67% of the IT executives and
penalties. As a result, SMBs must ensure they are in complete compliance with their software licenses, sparing them any
managers surveyed said their companies haven't taken steps to ensure compliance.
unnecessary and costly liabilities.
Those same managers said they have deployed unlicensed software (60%),
According to
Solution: A Powerful and Simple Asset Management Solution That Generates Signifi cant ROI
and 73% said they are unsure about which software is licensed or not.
Gartner, Inc., indirect
The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution is designed specifi cally with SMBs in mind. It applies a more modular
They also did not feel they would be prepared to undergo an audit by a
approach to asset management, such that smaller fi rms can start with cost-effective, basic functionality and then add
software vendor.2
costs can account for up to
additional features when their business needs them.
If uncovered by software providers, such license agreement breaches
60% of an organization's
With NetSupport DNA, IT managers can "drill down" to any level of detail within their entire IT infrastructure to
could cost fi rms thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in
uncover and manage their IT assets. IT administrators can establish standard hardware, software, Web content, and
combined fi nes and penalties. As a result, SMBs must fi nd new ways to
total outlay on IT. That
security confi gurations, whether by employee, by department, or company-wide. Once the confi gurations are
account for each installation done under their software license contracts
works out to almost
established, modifi cation privileges are restricted, ensuring application and information security throughout the
in an effort to ensure full compliance and spare their organizations any
entire global infrastructure.
unnecessary liabilities, fees, and/or penalties.
$4,000 to $6,000 per
In addition, each department's kilowatt-per-hour use can be compared to an established corporate standard, and any
For these and many other reasons, SMBs need an easy and cost-effective way
end user.
departments that exceed that baseline can be studied in greater detail to determine the areas for cost reduction. If needed,
to account for and manage all IT assets, including software, hardware, and
NetSupport DNA can establish power-down cycles by department or for specifi c workstations in order to meet designated
indirect, or soft, costs. Unfortunately, many existing ITAM solutions have been
energy goals.
designed for large enterprise businesses and rely on complex, resource-intensive tools
that have been either too costly to deploy or too diffi cult to use on an ongoing basis.
Result: Businesses Lower Operating Cost, Lower Risks, and Realize Greater Productivity Gains.
Rather than deploying resource-hungry, enterprise-class asset management solutions, SMBs need a different and more
NetSupport DNA identifi es specifi c areas that are a drain on the IT budget, eliminating waste and recovering costs while
fl exible ITAM model that can be deployed and managed with fewer resources in a more cost-effective manner. Such a
improving asset effi ciency to generate a higher asset ROI. It provides a complete, detailed snapshot of every aspect of the
solution should also allow SMBs to pick and choose the specifi c tools that are best tailored to their specifi c business needs.
entire IT infrastructure, improving security and network performance while maximizing asset utilization and productivity.
It also eliminates unauthorized copying of licensed software and controls access to sensitive business or personal informa-
The goal of this white paper is to educate SMB IT decision makers about the benefi ts associated with a sound asset
tion, ensuring that the organization meets its software license requirements and regulatory guidelines, minimizing the risk
management strategy and how the deployment of tools designed specifi cally for the special needs of SMBs can not only
from security breaches, regulatory fi nes, litigation, or lawsuits.
lower IT operating costs but also prevent costly business risks that are associated with a failure to verify the indirect side
of the IT cost ledger.
2
3
1. Source: Gartner, Inc. "Life Cycle Management Underpins IT Asset Management," F. O'Brien, August 6, 2004.
2. Source: TechTarget.com, "Software licensing: CIOs fall behind, survey says," July 2008.
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The Four Costly Risks Associated With a Poor Asset Management Strategy
Companies that fail to account for all their IT assets incur higher costs when company-wide events, such as major system
Costly Risk #3: A Greater Number of Licensing, Liability, and Legal Violations
upgrades, are required. These failures not only increase overall operating costs but also degrade existing resources and
The failure of an organization to accurately account for all copies of licensed software, as well as how and where that
lower workplace productivity and profi tability.
software is being used, can result in one or more of three negative and costly outcomes:
Organizations that fail to implement a business-wide asset management strategy incur four costly,
1. Financial Penalties -- Companies that allow unauthorized software copying can be sued by the vendor for copyright
high-risk business chal enges:
infringement, even if management is unaware of an employee's action. Such organizations can incur fi nes that,
According to
Costly Risk #1: The High Cost of Undiscovered IT Assets
according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), can be as much as $150,000 for each program copied. Criminal
IDC, organizations
Shrinking IT budgets during softer economic periods result in fewer IT employees to
prosecution could lead to a fi ne of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to fi ve years.5
perform the ongoing task of routine asset management and discovery. Also, many
2. Brand Impact -- The exposure of sensitive personal or fi nancial information and access to inappropriate online
that practice IT asset
IT managers see the scope of a company-wide asset management project, covering
content can also result in costly negative public relations that can damage a corporate brand and may impact future
management had
hardware, software, and services, as an overwhelmingly daunting task. The failure to
sales and marketing campaigns. In 1998, a female employee brought a sexual harassment lawsuit against Continental
on average a 15% or
perform routine asset management has resulted in the needless procurement of new
Airlines over sexually explicit postings on an internal corporate website.6 While the case is currently under appeal, the
equipment and software for new hires or the replacement of hardware that could
publicity surrounding the case works against Continental brand marketing.
lower total cost of
have performed suffi ciently following a new operating system release.
3. Regulatory Fines -- For certain industries such as healthcare or fi nancial services, failing to secure systems with
operations
It's no wonder that, according to Gartner, Inc., 70% of organizations have a 30%
retrievable personal data, transactions, or account information can violate certain federal regulations and incur severe
(TCO).
discrepancy between planned inventory and actual inventory, and as much as 30% of an
penalties. As a reference, Seattle-based Providence Health & Services, agreed to pay a $100,000 fi ne to Health and
IT budget could have been saved by effective asset management.3
Human Services after failing to properly secure its data backup tapes, disks, and laptop computers. The violation of the
The result: The failure to discover all IT assets results in unnecessary IT expenditures that raise
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 compromised the personal healthcare information of more
procurement, licensing, and operating costs and detract from bottom-line profi tability.
than 386,000 patients.7
The result: Legal actions and penalties that result from an ineffective ITAM strategy can severely impact an
Costly Risk #2: A Negative Impact on Workplace Productivity and ROI
organization's current and future fi nancial performance as well as its corporate brand image.
Businesses that fail to routinely account for all their IT assets incur higher costs when a large-scale asset discovery project
is fi nally performed in support of a required system-wide upgrade. Because the ITAM task has been delayed for so long, the
Costly Risk #4: Higher Energy and Utility Costs and Failure to Support Green IT Initiatives
extensive discovery process shifts valuable IT resources away from revenue-generating projects and delays the resolution
Many organizations waste millions of dollars in energy expenses because they don't have the means to analyze their total
of departmental problems that impact day-to-day business productivity. In fact, IDC determined that organizations that
energy use. For example, leaving desktop systems on at night can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year in wasted
practice ITAM had on average a 15% or lower TCO, with the greatest saving in procurement (160%), disposal (60%), and
electricity. Such practices can also increase the likelihood of a security breach, potentially compromising sensitive business
operations (44%).4
information.
In addition, the lack of a rigorous asset management policy prevents the organization from realizing greater productivity
According to EcomNets.com, one PC consumes approximately 535 kW per year, two-thirds of which is used when that
and ROI improvements.
system is idle. Effective power management practices can save an organization anywhere from $20 to $60 per PC per year,
* Poor Network and IT Infrastructure Performance -- The lack of ITAM practices fails to uncover individuals who are
or $20,000 to $60,000 per 1,000 computers for a typical SMB organization.
sapping network bandwidth by downloading or streaming MP3 fi les, videos, and games, resulting in slower network
From a green standpoint, PCs account for 40% of carbon emissions from all IT devices, servers account for 23%, LANs
performance for the rest of the organization.
account for 7%, and printers account for 6%. SMBs that fail to control when their IT assets are being used8 increase their
* System and Employee Mismatches -- The failure to perform routine ITAM means higher-performance systems are
carbon footprint, compromising their green IT initiatives and negatively impacting brand image.
not placed with power users, reducing productivity. On the other hand, the latest technology might be wasted on new
The result: Any organization that fails to implement an effective ITAM strategy to control when and how assets are used
employees as a result of ongoing procurement practices, as those employees might not necessarily be able to take
also incurs higher energy costs, has less secure networks, and works against green IT initiatives.
advantage of those features.
To enable more cost-effective asset management practices, SMBs need an easier-to-use, fl exible, and cost-effective
* Unauthorized Use of Open Source Software -- An ineffective ITAM policy fails to discover the use of unauthorized
solution that is tailored to their specifi c day-to-day business needs and helps them lower their overall operating costs.
open source freeware that may violate existing software license agreements. The incompatibilities of such software
NetSupport DNA Asset Management can address all these risks and aid in achieving the business goal of lowering
place an undue burden on the support organization and degrade internal employee communications.
overall IT operating costs.
The result: Failed ITAM policies result in poor worker productivity and slower performance that increase operating costs
and rob IT infrastructure of ROI.
5. Source: The Business Software Alliance, "Software Piracy and the Law," 2006.
4
6. Source: Wikipedia.org, "Blakey vs. Continental Airlines," 2000.
5
3. Source: Gartner, Inc. "Life Cycle Management Underpins IT Asset Management," F. O'Brien, August 6, 2004.
7. Source: FierceHealthIT.com, "Seattle system will pay $100K HIPAA fi ne after repeated breaches," July 2008.
4 Source: IDC. "Asset Management Lowers TCO," August 31, 2004.
8. Source: EcomNet.com, "PC Power Management," September 2009.
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The Four Costly Risks Associated With a Poor Asset Management Strategy
Companies that fail to account for all their IT assets incur higher costs when company-wide events, such as major system
Costly Risk #3: A Greater Number of Licensing, Liability, and Legal Violations
upgrades, are required. These failures not only increase overall operating costs but also degrade existing resources and
The failure of an organization to accurately account for all copies of licensed software, as well as how and where that
lower workplace productivity and profi tability.
software is being used, can result in one or more of three negative and costly outcomes:
Organizations that fail to implement a business-wide asset management strategy incur four costly,
1. Financial Penalties -- Companies that allow unauthorized software copying can be sued by the vendor for copyright
high-risk business chal enges:
infringement, even if management is unaware of an employee's action. Such organizations can incur fi nes that,
According to
Costly Risk #1: The High Cost of Undiscovered IT Assets
according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), can be as much as $150,000 for each program copied. Criminal
IDC, organizations
Shrinking IT budgets during softer economic periods result in fewer IT employees to
prosecution could lead to a fi ne of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to fi ve years.5
perform the ongoing task of routine asset management and discovery. Also, many
2. Brand Impact -- The exposure of sensitive personal or fi nancial information and access to inappropriate online
that practice IT asset
IT managers see the scope of a company-wide asset management project, covering
content can also result in costly negative public relations that can damage a corporate brand and may impact future
management had
hardware, software, and services, as an overwhelmingly daunting task. The failure to
sales and marketing campaigns. In 1998, a female employee brought a sexual harassment lawsuit against Continental
on average a 15% or
perform routine asset management has resulted in the needless procurement of new
Airlines over sexually explicit postings on an internal corporate website.6 While the case is currently under appeal, the
equipment and software for new hires or the replacement of hardware that could
publicity surrounding the case works against Continental brand marketing.
lower total cost of
have performed suffi ciently following a new operating system release.
3. Regulatory Fines -- For certain industries such as healthcare or fi nancial services, failing to secure systems with
operations
It's no wonder that, according to Gartner, Inc., 70% of organizations have a 30%
retrievable personal data, transactions, or account information can violate certain federal regulations and incur severe
(TCO).
discrepancy between planned inventory and actual inventory, and as much as 30% of an
penalties. As a reference, Seattle-based Providence Health & Services, agreed to pay a $100,000 fi ne to Health and
IT budget could have been saved by effective asset management.3
Human Services after failing to properly secure its data backup tapes, disks, and laptop computers. The violation of the
The result: The failure to discover all IT assets results in unnecessary IT expenditures that raise
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 compromised the personal healthcare information of more
procurement, licensing, and operating costs and detract from bottom-line profi tability.
than 386,000 patients.7
The result: Legal actions and penalties that result from an ineffective ITAM strategy can severely impact an
Costly Risk #2: A Negative Impact on Workplace Productivity and ROI
organization's current and future fi nancial performance as well as its corporate brand image.
Businesses that fail to routinely account for all their IT assets incur higher costs when a large-scale asset discovery project
is fi nally performed in support of a required system-wide upgrade. Because the ITAM task has been delayed for so long, the
Costly Risk #4: Higher Energy and Utility Costs and Failure to Support Green IT Initiatives
extensive discovery process shifts valuable IT resources away from revenue-generating projects and delays the resolution
Many organizations waste millions of dollars in energy expenses because they don't have the means to analyze their total
of departmental problems that impact day-to-day business productivity. In fact, IDC determined that organizations that
energy use. For example, leaving desktop systems on at night can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year in wasted
practice ITAM had on average a 15% or lower TCO, with the greatest saving in procurement (160%), disposal (60%), and
electricity. Such practices can also increase the likelihood of a security breach, potentially compromising sensitive business
operations (44%).4
information.
In addition, the lack of a rigorous asset management policy prevents the organization from realizing greater productivity
According to EcomNets.com, one PC consumes approximately 535 kW per year, two-thirds of which is used when that
and ROI improvements.
system is idle. Effective power management practices can save an organization anywhere from $20 to $60 per PC per year,
* Poor Network and IT Infrastructure Performance -- The lack of ITAM practices fails to uncover individuals who are
or $20,000 to $60,000 per 1,000 computers for a typical SMB organization.
sapping network bandwidth by downloading or streaming MP3 fi les, videos, and games, resulting in slower network
From a green standpoint, PCs account for 40% of carbon emissions from all IT devices, servers account for 23%, LANs
performance for the rest of the organization.
account for 7%, and printers account for 6%. SMBs that fail to control when their IT assets are being used8 increase their
* System and Employee Mismatches -- The failure to perform routine ITAM means higher-performance systems are
carbon footprint, compromising their green IT initiatives and negatively impacting brand image.
not placed with power users, reducing productivity. On the other hand, the latest technology might be wasted on new
The result: Any organization that fails to implement an effective ITAM strategy to control when and how assets are used
employees as a result of ongoing procurement practices, as those employees might not necessarily be able to take
also incurs higher energy costs, has less secure networks, and works against green IT initiatives.
advantage of those features.
To enable more cost-effective asset management practices, SMBs need an easier-to-use, fl exible, and cost-effective
* Unauthorized Use of Open Source Software -- An ineffective ITAM policy fails to discover the use of unauthorized
solution that is tailored to their specifi c day-to-day business needs and helps them lower their overall operating costs.
open source freeware that may violate existing software license agreements. The incompatibilities of such software
NetSupport DNA Asset Management can address all these risks and aid in achieving the business goal of lowering
place an undue burden on the support organization and degrade internal employee communications.
overall IT operating costs.
The result: Failed ITAM policies result in poor worker productivity and slower performance that increase operating costs
and rob IT infrastructure of ROI.
5. Source: The Business Software Alliance, "Software Piracy and the Law," 2006.
4
6. Source: Wikipedia.org, "Blakey vs. Continental Airlines," 2000.
5
3. Source: Gartner, Inc. "Life Cycle Management Underpins IT Asset Management," F. O'Brien, August 6, 2004.
7. Source: FierceHealthIT.com, "Seattle system will pay $100K HIPAA fi ne after repeated breaches," July 2008.
4 Source: IDC. "Asset Management Lowers TCO," August 31, 2004.
8. Source: EcomNet.com, "PC Power Management," September 2009.
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The Modular Approach to a More Effective IT Asset Management Strategy
Information is key. Without it, informed, cost-effective decisions with regard to IT asset upgrades and the rol out of new
Robust Capabilities That Prevent Security Risks
technology cannot be made. From a purely cost-saving standpoint, knowing the inventory of IT assets is critical when
NetSupport DNA Asset Management enables a highly secure business environment in the following ways:
deciding whether to purchase additional assets, redistribute existing ones, or retire them completely, along with their costly
1. Robust Access Privileges -- The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution allows IT administrators to establish
maintenance contracts and renewal fees.
hardware, software, Web content, and security confi guration standards, whether by employee, by department, or
The IT asset management function is the primary point of accountability for the life-cycle
globally and via Active Directory. NetSupport DNA also allows changes to be tracked by asset or by owner. Once the
One of the
management of information technology assets throughout the organization. Included in
confi guration is altered an alert will be triggered. For example, if an employee inserts a USB device to copy licensed
this function are development and maintenance of policies,
software, the employee would be unable to perform this action and an alert would notify the administrator of this
reasons why many
standards, processes, systems, and measurements that enable the organization to
activity including the detail of the machine name, the name of the user that logged in, and the location of the asset
SMBs fail with asset
manage the IT asset portfolio with respect
and the date/time the action took place. With such access privileges, NetSupport DNA helps to establish and enforce
to risk, cost, control, compliance, and business performance objectives as
management is the
security policies to prevent users from changing their standard confi gurations.
established by the business.
reliance on large "all or
Access privileges can also extend to Web content to minimize the risk from viewing unauthorized or inappropriate
One of the reasons why many SMBs fail in their asset management goals is the
content. Keywords can be established that will allow viewing of approved websites while blocking unapproved
nothing" enterprise-class
reliance on large "al or nothing" enterprise-class solutions that contain features
websites.
solutions that contain
they wil never use. These large-scale solutions are both resource-intensive and
2. Application Metering -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management allows administrators to designate certain periods
diffi cult to implement, manage, and use. As a result they are not applied to their
features they will
when licensed applications or systems can be used. For example, specifi c individuals can be given access to IT
ful est extent to account for every asset within an entire IT infrastructure.
never use.
resources after the workday or on weekends, as part of a specifi c work-related project. NetSupport DNA allows
Given the trend toward increased cost-containment policies, SMBs need a more
restricted access to applications, thereby adhering to End User License Agreements, which allows department
cost-effective, modular approach to asset management, which wil al ow them to pick and
purchases to be applied effectively and accurately.
choose the tools that best fi t the size and scope of their IT asset management needs.
3. Software Updates and Alerting -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management includes a software distribution tool that
A Modular Approach
can push out software packages to every user or alert and direct users to a central network location where they can
update their applications at a time that is best-suited to their work schedule. NetSupport DNA also includes a ware-
The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution is designed specifi cally with SMBs in mind. It applies a more modular
house function that enables a software package to be stored on a local desktop within the department and then
approach to asset management, so that SMBs can start with basic functionality (with features such as User Management,
pushed out to each user. This minimizes the impact on network performance for other users and departments.
Hardware and Software Inventory, Alerting, and Energy Monitor) and subsequently add additional ITAM modules (such as
Administrators can receive detailed reports on the employees who have downloaded the update, along with warnings
PC Remote Control) when business needs warrant it.
when applications reach their license limits.
Two benefi ts are associated with the NetSupport DNA modular approach to asset management:
How NetSupport DNA Solves Asset Management Challenges
1. Greater Cost Effi ciencies -- With a modular ITAM design, SMBs can accomplish their existing asset management
goals within current budget requirements without sacrifi cing overall effectiveness.
NetSupport DNA Asset Management solves the costly risks associated with traditional asset management techniques in the
following ways:
2. Increased Use Due to Ease of Use -- Modular ITAM functionality is simpler, allowing tasks to be accomplished
within the scope of day-to-day routines without requiring costly, dedicated resources that take time and attention away
* Lowers IT Operating Costs and Improves Asset Discovery -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management provides a
from more important profi t-generating IT projects. As a result, modular ITAM is performed on a more scheduled basis.
snapshot of the entire IT asset infrastructure, enabling better and more cost-effective decision-making. For example,
new employees can be assigned unused or underused systems located in a different department rather than
Easy-to-Use yet Powerful Design
automatically purchasing new systems. Administrators can match software-licensing costs to real-time employee needs,
eliminating unnecessary software expenditures. Employees using excessive bandwidth due to streaming and sharing
What sets NetSupport DNA Asset Management apart from other solutions is its ability to report on SMB assets no matter
multimedia content can be identifi ed thus improving network performance and avoiding potentially costly legal issues.
where they are, going beyond just a local- or wide-area network. The NetSupport framework technology provides a stable
This also lowers procurement costs instead of purchasing additional network assets to improve network performance.
and secure method for tracking assets that may ordinarily be "hidden" on a remote network or behind fi rewalls.
* Minimizes Liability Risks -- The NetSupport DNA alerting capabilities restrict access to high-risk-content websites
With NetSupport DNA, IT managers can "drill down" to any level of detail necessary to manage their IT assets, whether
and data/application copying, preventing fi nes, penalties, and risk from employee and vendor litigation.
that is on a global, organizational, departmental, or individual basis. For example, administrators can inspect all employee
systems to determine which confi gurations are able to run an operating system upgrade with acceptable performance.
* Increases Worker Productivity and ROI -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management recoups underutilized hardware and
software, matching hardware performance to user and departmental needs and improving company-wide performance.
6
7
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The Modular Approach to a More Effective IT Asset Management Strategy
Information is key. Without it, informed, cost-effective decisions with regard to IT asset upgrades and the rol out of new
Robust Capabilities That Prevent Security Risks
technology cannot be made. From a purely cost-saving standpoint, knowing the inventory of IT assets is critical when
NetSupport DNA Asset Management enables a highly secure business environment in the following ways:
deciding whether to purchase additional assets, redistribute existing ones, or retire them completely, along with their costly
1. Robust Access Privileges -- The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution allows IT administrators to establish
maintenance contracts and renewal fees.
hardware, software, Web content, and security confi guration standards, whether by employee, by department, or
The IT asset management function is the primary point of accountability for the life-cycle
globally and via Active Directory. NetSupport DNA also allows changes to be tracked by asset or by owner. Once the
One of the
management of information technology assets throughout the organization. Included in
confi guration is altered an alert will be triggered. For example, if an employee inserts a USB device to copy licensed
this function are development and maintenance of policies,
software, the employee would be unable to perform this action and an alert would notify the administrator of this
reasons why many
standards, processes, systems, and measurements that enable the organization to
activity including the detail of the machine name, the name of the user that logged in, and the location of the asset
SMBs fail with asset
manage the IT asset portfolio with respect
and the date/time the action took place. With such access privileges, NetSupport DNA helps to establish and enforce
to risk, cost, control, compliance, and business performance objectives as
management is the
security policies to prevent users from changing their standard confi gurations.
established by the business.
reliance on large "all or
Access privileges can also extend to Web content to minimize the risk from viewing unauthorized or inappropriate
One of the reasons why many SMBs fail in their asset management goals is the
content. Keywords can be established that will allow viewing of approved websites while blocking unapproved
nothing" enterprise-class
reliance on large "al or nothing" enterprise-class solutions that contain features
websites.
solutions that contain
they wil never use. These large-scale solutions are both resource-intensive and
2. Application Metering -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management allows administrators to designate certain periods
diffi cult to implement, manage, and use. As a result they are not applied to their
features they will
when licensed applications or systems can be used. For example, specifi c individuals can be given access to IT
ful est extent to account for every asset within an entire IT infrastructure.
never use.
resources after the workday or on weekends, as part of a specifi c work-related project. NetSupport DNA allows
Given the trend toward increased cost-containment policies, SMBs need a more
restricted access to applications, thereby adhering to End User License Agreements, which allows department
cost-effective, modular approach to asset management, which wil al ow them to pick and
purchases to be applied effectively and accurately.
choose the tools that best fi t the size and scope of their IT asset management needs.
3. Software Updates and Alerting -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management includes a software distribution tool that
A Modular Approach
can push out software packages to every user or alert and direct users to a central network location where they can
update their applications at a time that is best-suited to their work schedule. NetSupport DNA also includes a ware-
The NetSupport DNA Asset Management solution is designed specifi cally with SMBs in mind. It applies a more modular
house function that enables a software package to be stored on a local desktop within the department and then
approach to asset management, so that SMBs can start with basic functionality (with features such as User Management,
pushed out to each user. This minimizes the impact on network performance for other users and departments.
Hardware and Software Inventory, Alerting, and Energy Monitor) and subsequently add additional ITAM modules (such as
Administrators can receive detailed reports on the employees who have downloaded the update, along with warnings
PC Remote Control) when business needs warrant it.
when applications reach their license limits.
Two benefi ts are associated with the NetSupport DNA modular approach to asset management:
How NetSupport DNA Solves Asset Management Challenges
1. Greater Cost Effi ciencies -- With a modular ITAM design, SMBs can accomplish their existing asset management
goals within current budget requirements without sacrifi cing overall effectiveness.
NetSupport DNA Asset Management solves the costly risks associated with traditional asset management techniques in the
following ways:
2. Increased Use Due to Ease of Use -- Modular ITAM functionality is simpler, allowing tasks to be accomplished
within the scope of day-to-day routines without requiring costly, dedicated resources that take time and attention away
* Lowers IT Operating Costs and Improves Asset Discovery -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management provides a
from more important profi t-generating IT projects. As a result, modular ITAM is performed on a more scheduled basis.
snapshot of the entire IT asset infrastructure, enabling better and more cost-effective decision-making. For example,
new employees can be assigned unused or underused systems located in a different department rather than
Easy-to-Use yet Powerful Design
automatically purchasing new systems. Administrators can match software-licensing costs to real-time employee needs,
eliminating unnecessary software expenditures. Employees using excessive bandwidth due to streaming and sharing
What sets NetSupport DNA Asset Management apart from other solutions is its ability to report on SMB assets no matter
multimedia content can be identifi ed thus improving network performance and avoiding potentially costly legal issues.
where they are, going beyond just a local- or wide-area network. The NetSupport framework technology provides a stable
This also lowers procurement costs instead of purchasing additional network assets to improve network performance.
and secure method for tracking assets that may ordinarily be "hidden" on a remote network or behind fi rewalls.
* Minimizes Liability Risks -- The NetSupport DNA alerting capabilities restrict access to high-risk-content websites
With NetSupport DNA, IT managers can "drill down" to any level of detail necessary to manage their IT assets, whether
and data/application copying, preventing fi nes, penalties, and risk from employee and vendor litigation.
that is on a global, organizational, departmental, or individual basis. For example, administrators can inspect all employee
systems to determine which confi gurations are able to run an operating system upgrade with acceptable performance.
* Increases Worker Productivity and ROI -- NetSupport DNA Asset Management recoups underutilized hardware and
software, matching hardware performance to user and departmental needs and improving company-wide performance.
6
7
NetSupport_WP.indd 6-7
9/7/11 9:56 PM

---

NetSupport DNA Ease of Use Saves Valuable Time and Resources at Delivra Inc.
Background and Evaluation
Ease of Use Extends IT Effectiveness
When you're running an IT department for a small Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) organization, the old truism of time and
NetSupport DNA software has also allowed Delivra to save time and extend their productivity, especially with new
money becomes extremely apparent. For Delivra, Inc., a privately held, Indianapolis-based B2B email marketing service
employees. A process that used to take several hours determining software and hardware confi gurations has now been
organization experiencing conservative levels of growth, time was a valuable asset that could not be wasted on activities
reduced to a matter of minutes. According to Director Nelson, "The time to confi gure is ridiculously small. The reporting
that did not yield the greatest payback.
function allows me to setup confi guration models for each department, and within minutes we're up and running. We are
Working with a compact amount of machines and a handful of servers, one would think that asset management would be
now confi dent that based on those reports the employee has everything they need from the start."

a breeze, but for Delivra's IT Director, Chris Nelson it was a "dreaded and horrible task". For
In addition, adding peripherals has now become an equally easy process. From System Analyst Holmes perspective,
Nelson, the week-long annual process of accounting for all their IT assets involved
"when we need to add an external monitor or additional memory to a computer, I can see the model and serial numbers,
"The time
researching invoices, searching for paperwork, writing down serial numbers,
as well as the number of open memory slots all from within NetSupport DNA. What used to be a painful, manual process is
and interrupting employees at their desk in order to enter information in
now a snap."
required to collect
spreadsheet fi les about their hardware and software confi gurations. As
asset information went
Nelson put it, "If we missed something on our fi rst go-around, we had to
A Sample of the NetSupport DNA Asset Summary Screen
go back and get the additional information from their computer, robbing
from several days to
both their and our productive time."
several minutes. With a few
With additional headcount and growth looming on the horizon, it was
mouse clicks, I had all the
clear that Delivra needed a better way to manage their IT assets. While
information I needed. That
Nelson was familiar with the issue of asset management, he had a
somewhat negative perception of the category based on the traditional
alone made NetSupport
ERP model of complex, hard to use/deploy, and resource-intensive
DNA worth it for me."
solutions.
--Chris Nelson, Director
After researching several solutions online, and evaluating their free software
of IT Delivra, Inc.
demo, Delivra decided on NetSupport DNA. "I was skeptical when the NetSupport
sales person told me how easy it was to use, but after trying their evaluation version,

I was amazed at how easy the software was to use and deploy. It was a game changer for
me. Based on that, there was no question that NetSupport DNA was the solution we needed."
The NetSupport DNA Proactive Approach Generates Measurable ROI
After deploying NetSupport, Delivra saw an immediate payback within the fi rst year. According to Chris Nelson, "The time
required to collect asset information went from several days to several minutes. With a few mouse clicks, I had all the asset
information I needed. I got my time back. That alone made NetSupport DNA worth it for me."
The ROI from NetSupport DNA also was seen in several other areas of the Delivra IT organization, especially when it came
to accounting for costly software licenses and the renewals of related maintenance agreements. According to IT System
Analyst, Kyle Holmes, Delivra had several departments using specialized software applications that were originally
purchased outside of the formal IT acquisition process. As a result, the IT department never received renewal notices when
those agreements expired. According to Holmes, "There's nothing worse than fi nding out one week before the software
runs out that you'll have to buy a new piece of expensive software because you missed the deadline. With NetSupport DNA,
The Bottom Line
that won't happen again. We now make more informed decisions and become more proactive versus reactive."
From Chris Nelson's perspective there is no doubt that NetSupport DNA was a sound investment for Delivra. "NetSupport
NetSupport DNA has also allowed Delivra to eliminate costly software maintenance agreements that are no longer needed.
DNA is remarkably easy and effi cient. I believe that there are many unintended benefi ts beyond the asset management
Previously, the accounts payable department would automatically renew many of software agreements originally purchased
function that can streamline the operation of an IT organization and make things much easier. It's so rare for an
outside of the IT department. NetSupport DNA has allowed Delivra to determine whether that agreement is needed, and if
organization to make good on the claims of their products. NetSupport proved to be a far better solution than what their
not, allow them to expire. According to IT Director Nelson, "this alone has saved us tens of thousands of dollars".
salesperson originally told me."
8
9
NetSupport_WP.indd 8-9
9/7/11 9:56 PM

---

NetSupport DNA Ease of Use Saves Valuable Time and Resources at Delivra Inc.
Background and Evaluation
Ease of Use Extends IT Effectiveness
When you're running an IT department for a small Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) organization, the old truism of time and
NetSupport DNA software has also allowed Delivra to save time and extend their productivity, especially with new
money becomes extremely apparent. For Delivra, Inc., a privately held, Indianapolis-based B2B email marketing service
employees. A process that used to take several hours determining software and hardware confi gurations has now been
organization experiencing conservative levels of growth, time was a valuable asset that could not be wasted on activities
reduced to a matter of minutes. According to Director Nelson, "The time to confi gure is ridiculously small. The reporting
that did not yield the greatest payback.
function allows me to setup confi guration models for each department, and within minutes we're up and running. We are
Working with a compact amount of machines and a handful of servers, one would think that asset management would be
now confi dent that based on those reports the employee has everything they need from the start."

a breeze, but for Delivra's IT Director, Chris Nelson it was a "dreaded and horrible task". For
In addition, adding peripherals has now become an equally easy process. From System Analyst Holmes perspective,
Nelson, the week-long annual process of accounting for all their IT assets involved
"when we need to add an external monitor or additional memory to a computer, I can see the model and serial numbers,
"The time
researching invoices, searching for paperwork, writing down serial numbers,
as well as the number of open memory slots all from within NetSupport DNA. What used to be a painful, manual process is
and interrupting employees at their desk in order to enter information in
now a snap."
required to collect
spreadsheet fi les about their hardware and software confi gurations. As
asset information went
Nelson put it, "If we missed something on our fi rst go-around, we had to
A Sample of the NetSupport DNA Asset Summary Screen
go back and get the additional information from their computer, robbing
from several days to
both their and our productive time."
several minutes. With a few
With additional headcount and growth looming on the horizon, it was
mouse clicks, I had all the
clear that Delivra needed a better way to manage their IT assets. While
information I needed. That
Nelson was familiar with the issue of asset management, he had a
somewhat negative perception of the category based on the traditional
alone made NetSupport
ERP model of complex, hard to use/deploy, and resource-intensive
DNA worth it for me."
solutions.
--Chris Nelson, Director
After researching several solutions online, and evaluating their free software
of IT Delivra, Inc.
demo, Delivra decided on NetSupport DNA. "I was skeptical when the NetSupport
sales person told me how easy it was to use, but after trying their evaluation version,

I was amazed at how easy the software was to use and deploy. It was a game changer for
me. Based on that, there was no question that NetSupport DNA was the solution we needed."
The NetSupport DNA Proactive Approach Generates Measurable ROI
After deploying NetSupport, Delivra saw an immediate payback within the fi rst year. According to Chris Nelson, "The time
required to collect asset information went from several days to several minutes. With a few mouse clicks, I had all the asset
information I needed. I got my time back. That alone made NetSupport DNA worth it for me."
The ROI from NetSupport DNA also was seen in several other areas of the Delivra IT organization, especially when it came
to accounting for costly software licenses and the renewals of related maintenance agreements. According to IT System
Analyst, Kyle Holmes, Delivra had several departments using specialized software applications that were originally
purchased outside of the formal IT acquisition process. As a result, the IT department never received renewal notices when
those agreements expired. According to Holmes, "There's nothing worse than fi nding out one week before the software
runs out that you'll have to buy a new piece of expensive software because you missed the deadline. With NetSupport DNA,
The Bottom Line
that won't happen again. We now make more informed decisions and become more proactive versus reactive."
From Chris Nelson's perspective there is no doubt that NetSupport DNA was a sound investment for Delivra. "NetSupport
NetSupport DNA has also allowed Delivra to eliminate costly software maintenance agreements that are no longer needed.
DNA is remarkably easy and effi cient. I believe that there are many unintended benefi ts beyond the asset management
Previously, the accounts payable department would automatically renew many of software agreements originally purchased
function that can streamline the operation of an IT organization and make things much easier. It's so rare for an
outside of the IT department. NetSupport DNA has allowed Delivra to determine whether that agreement is needed, and if
organization to make good on the claims of their products. NetSupport proved to be a far better solution than what their
not, allow them to expire. According to IT Director Nelson, "this alone has saved us tens of thousands of dollars".
salesperson originally told me."
8
9
NetSupport_WP.indd 8-9
9/7/11 9:56 PM

---

Conclusion
In business, there are two ways to meet bottom-line fi nancial goals: increase sales or reduce costs.
During periods of economic uncertainty when increasing revenue becomes more diffi cult, enterprises must look to every cost
center in an effort to reduce unnecessary operating costs and meet bottom-line business and fi nancial goals.
Smal to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can no longer ignore IT asset management as a potential source for further cost
reductions, but to accomplish it effectively requires the use of superior tools that address the unique needs of the SMB. Such
tools must provide the highest level of detail on every aspect of IT assets, whether hardware, software, or soft costs, in order
to generate the greatest cost reductions and the most informed asset management policies.
The modular design of NetSupport DNA Asset Management provides IT decision makers, managers, and administrators with
an easy-to-use asset management tool, enabling the most effective cost-reduction decision making possible.
In summary, NetSupport DNA Asset Management provides SMBs with fi ve strategic business advantages:
* Greater Cost Savings -- NetSupport DNA identifi es the asset areas that are a drain on the IT budget, eliminating
waste and recovering costs that improve effi ciency and generate higher asset ROI.
* Complete Infrastructure Awareness -- NetSupport DNA provides a complete, detailed snapshot of every aspect of
the entire IT infrastructure, improving security and network performance while maximizing asset utilization.
* Increased Ease of Use and Productivity -- The information prov