Developments that will shape asset management

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DENNIS DROGSETH ON NETWORK/SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
10/17/05
Today's focus: Developments that will shape asset management

Dear security.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Service quality, cost and demand give rise to asset
performance management
* Links related to Network/Systems Management
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Developments that will shape asset management

By Dennis Drogseth

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the confluence of asset
management and service management in an area EMA calls asset
performance management http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8702.
This is where the parameters of service quality, cost and demand
are brought together. I believe that the requirements to do this
well will help to define the next decade or so of enterprise
management.

I also think the requirements are linked to other existing
trends such as the IT Infrastructure Library's Configuration
Management Database (CMDB), Business Service Management and even
autonomic or on-demand computing. The reasons for my bullishness
are simple: a dynamic and historical mapping of cost, quality
and demand is at the very heart of IT's evolution from a black
hole of guilt to an empowered business partner.

Since writing that column in August, HP announced plans to
acquire Peregrine http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8703 for what
HP considers its rich resources in asset management. Peregrine's
two main portfolios include asset and service management, and
needless to say Peregrine is not blind towards the
interdependencies between the two. Although it is premature to
demand a roadmap from HP - companies are typically silent on
roadmaps before acquisitions are finalized and sometimes for
many months afterwards - I have every reason to believe that HP
is aware of many of these interconnections, as well.

And there is much activity brewing in the area of asset
management. Far from being a staid and siloed discipline that's
driven by people in love with spreadsheets, asset performance
management is emerging as an area of intense innovation as the
relationships between asset management and other management
disciplines are becoming more apparent. Moreover, the
non-traditional asset management sector has become more complex
and diverse.

Below are a few examples of areas to watch with some company
examples. I should make clear that this column is far too short
in scope to be comprehensive, nor is it meant to be a Consumer
Report culling out only the best for you IT buyers. The vendors
mentioned here are only meant to highlight areas of innovation,
but are not explicitly meant as personal recommendations:

* Discovery and inventory: Here, I am going to back off and
??mention no vendors, simply because the list of examples is far
??too long. This category warrants not only a column but also a
??full report in itself. This group includes network fault and
??performance vendors that have evolved superior discovery systems
??to establish excellent baselines for inventory. It also includes
??network and systems configuration vendors that provide more
??details on software and configuration inventory and records.
??Also included are vendors primarily focused on discovery,
??ranging from application component ecosystems to network change
??management vendors. Effective and dynamic inventory and
??discovery in all of its facets are a core foundation for asset
??management and the high level of activity here is one of the
??reasons why asset management is on the rise.

* Frameworks or platforms: Call them what you like but the "big
??vendors" in the market are beginning to pay more and more
??attention to asset management. We talked about HP (and
??Peregrine), but BMC and Computer Associates are both
??aggressively building architected approaches to asset management
??that integrate it with other management disciplines. In CA's
??case, the focus through its Business Service Optimization
??organization is on asset and service management. At BMC, it's on
??change, configuration and capacity management as they're
??integrated with asset management.

* Mid-tier asset management plays: These are coming from vendors
??such as Altiris and NetWatch Solutions, which are bringing to
??mid-tier buyers structured approaches to asset management,
??including CMDB support.

* Service accounting vendors: Most notably Evident Software,
??these vendors are moving into broader asset management
??portfolios. This is an especially exciting area to watch as
??service accounting and chargeback bring insights into how, and
??how much, assets are used, which is so critical in making
??informed financial and capacity planning decisions.

* Service desk vendors: Players such as Axios Systems, MRO
??Software and Unipress Software have been traditional centers for
??asset management support but with the activities surrounding
??CMDB implementations, these capabilities should be able to
??expand towards more multi-dimensional asset views.

* Service Catalog Vendors: Developers such as Centrata combine
??asset awareness with service modeling and operational
??requirements.

* Telecommunications resource management: Vendors such as
??Rivermine, with its strongly architected (and CMDB-compatible)
??approach to asset management, and vendors that combine service
??and software such as Avotus, with its auction-for-best-cost
??capability - are also areas to watch. Traditionally separate in
??tool sets, directions and function, telecommunications resource
??investments are getting far beyond reconciling invoices to
??becoming dynamic and integrated components of an asset
??management strategy.

As usual, I welcome your comments and insights. Are there
categories where asset management and "mainstream management"
are coming together that you feel I've missed? What are your
own experiences with asset management deployments? Write to me
at mailto:drogseth@emausa.com

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine has serious bug
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8484
2. New WLAN group shakes up standards process
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8770
3. Windows 2000 vulnerability could lead to new outbreak
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8771
4. You won't find this book on Oprah's list
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8486
5. IETF effort promises fewer net failures
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm8485

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dennis Drogseth

Dennis Drogseth is a vice president with Enterprise Management
Associates http://www.enterprisemanagement.com/, a leading
analyst, market research and IT consulting firm based in
Boulder, Colorado, focusing exclusively on all aspects of
enterprise management. Dennis has extensive experience in
service level management and network management platforms and
products. He is actively researching trends in management
software and changing IT roles internationally. His 22-plus
years of experience in high-tech includes positions at IBM and
Cabletron. He is widely quoted in the press and is a speaker at
many industry events. E-mail him
mailto:drogseth@enterprisemanagement.com.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avaya
Network World Executive Guide: Making the Most of Mobility

As the demand for wireless access grows so does the need for
timely information about this technology. The editors of Network
World have put together the following Executive Guide so IT
professionals can take a clear look at mobile standards,
security, what's happening in the field and where mobility is
headed.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117611
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