IT operations rely on asset and configuration management to maintain efficiency, reduce risks, and support strategic decision-making. While these two disciplines are closely related, they serve distinct purposes within an IT organisation.
Asset management tracks and manages IT assets (such as hardware, software, and licenses) throughout their lifecycle.
Configuration management, on the other hand, ensures IT systems are appropriately configured, documenting dependencies and relationships between components to maintain stability and streamline troubleshooting.
Where confusion often arises is that the same physical object can require both asset and configuration management, blurring the lines between the two practices.
This blog explores their differences, how they complement each other, and best practices for implementing them together effectively.
What is IT asset management (ITAM)?
ITAM is the practice of tracking and managing an organisation’s IT assets to ensure they’re used efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively. ITAM covers a wide range of asset types, including:
Hardware: Servers, laptops, desktops, mobile devices, networking equipment.
Software: Installed applications, SaaS subscriptions, licenses.
Cloud resources: Virtual machines, storage, containers.
Peripheral equipment: Printers, external drives, IoT devices.
The primary goals of ITAM include:
Optimising asset utilisation: Ensuring IT assets are deployed where needed most.
Cost control: Managing software licensing, preventing unnecessary purchases.
Compliance and security: Ensuring licenses are up to date and assets meet security standards.
Lifecycle management: Tracking assets from procurement to decommissioning.
How ITAM works in practice
IT asset management involves maintaining a centralised inventory, with a database including details such as:
- Asset ownership.
- Purchase and warranty details.
- Software versions and patch status.
- Asset location and usage history.
With ITAM, organisations can proactively manage their IT investments, reduce waste, and enhance security.
What is configuration management?
Configuration management is the practice of maintaining a structured and up-to-date record of IT system configurations. It ensures IT components such as servers, databases, and applications work together correctly, reducing downtime and operational risks.
The key objectives of configuration management are:
Ensuring system stability: Preventing misconfigurations that could lead to failures.
Improving troubleshooting: Helping IT teams diagnose issues faster by tracking changes.
Enhancing security and compliance: Documenting system configurations to ensure adherence to standards.
Supporting change management: Reducing risk when making updates to IT environments.
How configuration management works
Configuration management relies on a CMDB, which maps relationships between IT components to understand how systems interact. Unlike ITAM, which focuses on tracking assets, configuration management focuses on system dependencies, configurations, and change history.
A strong configuration management process ensures IT teams:
- Maintain baseline configurations to restore services quickly if issues arise.
- Document dependencies between software, hardware, and network components.
- Track configuration changes to identify potential risks before deployment.
Organisations can minimise disruptions and improve service reliability by maintaining detailed configuration records.
Key differences between asset management and configuration management
|
Feature |
Asset management (ITAM) |
Configuration management (CM) |
|
Focus |
Managing IT assets (hardware, software, cloud, etc.) |
Tracking IT system configurations and relationships |
|
Objective |
Optimising asset usage, cost control, compliance |
Ensuring system stability, security, and troubleshooting |
|
Database used |
Asset inventory or ITAM tool |
Configuration management database (CMDB) |
|
Key activities |
Tracking asset ownership, lifecycle, warranties |
Mapping dependencies, maintaining configuration records |
|
Primary benefit |
Cost savings and better asset utilisation |
Reduced downtime and improved IT service reliability |
While ITAM and configuration management have different objectives, they’re closely linked. Effective IT operations require both, as poor asset management can lead to security risks, while weak configuration management can cause service disruptions.
How ITAM and configuration management work together
To achieve operational efficiency, IT teams should integrate ITAM and CM processes. Usually this is achieved by combining your asset database and CMDB into one database of ‘objects’ that stores both asset information and configuration information.
Rather than treating ITAM and Configuration Management as separate practices, businesses can benefit from a unified approach that stores both asset and configuration data in a single system.
For example, a server is both an asset and a configuration item. Knowing which operating system (OS) is installed is important for ITAM, as it helps track software licenses and ensure compliance. At the same time, this OS information is crucial for CM, as it provides visibility into system configurations, dependencies, and potential vulnerabilities.
If ITAM and Configuration Management are managed separately, this data would need to be stored twice, increasing the risk of inconsistencies. If an OS update occurs but is only recorded in one system, IT teams are left with conflicting information, leading to errors, inefficiencies, and potential compliance issues.
At Starhive, we take a unified approach by using objects rather than categorising data as strictly ‘assets’ or ‘configuration items’. This means you define what information to store for each object, ensuring a single source of truth. Whether managing assets or tracking configurations, IT teams always have access to the most accurate, up-to-date data, reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency.
Best practices for managing IT assets and configurations
1. Establish clear policies
Define roles and responsibilities for asset and configuration management, ensuring IT teams follow structured processes for tracking, updating, and auditing IT resources.
2. Use a centralised database
A CMDB should store both asset and configuration data to provide a unified view of IT infrastructure, allowing teams to correlate asset records with system dependencies.
3. Integrate ITAM and configuration management with ITSM
Both ITAM and CM should be linked to IT Service Management (ITSM) processes, ensuring incident, problem, and change management workflows are supported by accurate asset and configuration data.
4. Conduct regular audits
Frequent reviews of IT assets and system configurations help identify risks, compliance gaps, and inefficiencies before they become critical issues.
Choosing the right ITAM and configuration management solution
Selecting the right ITAM and CM solution is crucial for ensuring efficiency, security, and cost control. A flexible, no-code platform like Starhive provides:
Customisable ITAM and CMDB features: To align with your organisation’s needs.
Seamless integration with ITSM tools: For enhanced visibility and automation.
Real-time insights into IT assets and configurations: For proactive decision-making.
While ITAM and configuration management serve distinct purposes, they’re essential for maintaining an efficient and secure IT environment. ITAM ensures assets are optimised and compliant, while configuration management helps maintain system stability and reduces service disruptions.
And remember, to maximise IT performance, organisations should integrate both processes and leverage flexible, automated solutions that enhance visibility and control.
So, are you ready to take your ITAM and configuration management strategy to the next level? Download the Starhive ITSM trends guide to explore the latest best practices and innovations from Starhive’s experts.
