Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

July 2023

IT Financial Management (ITFM) Framework And Best Practices

IT Financial Management or ITFM is the practice of managing IT costs throughout an organization. Done well, it can effectively balance costs against effective service delivery. The goal is to combine both high quality IT operations and smart economical solutions. In this sense, IT Asset Management (ITAM) becomes a close ally to have detailed information on your IT investments, helping you make sure everything is aligned and supports your business efficiency and performance.

The Basics of Cloud Infrastructure Management

Cloud Infrastructure Management is the most efficient way to manage your IT resources in a flexible and decentralized way. This type of IT infrastructure provides the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness required to meet the dynamic demands of organizations of all sizes. Because of this, many business in today's work environment opt for this model.

Norway's Government Agencies Breached by Zero-Day Attack (CVE-2023-35078)

In a recent cyber attack that sent shockwaves through the security community, a group of hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2023-35078, in Ivanti's Mobile Endpoint Management software (EPMM), compromising several Norwegian government agencies. The breach, which targeted twelve government ministries, has raised concerns about the potential risks faced by thousands of other organizations that might be vulnerable to similar attacks. Keep reading to understand the extent of the exploit.

The Definitive Guide to Software Asset Management

Software Asset Management, or SAM, is one of the most important IT Asset Management (ITAM) practices you can introduce to your organization to control costs and reduce risks. SAM is the set of processes that enables IT departments to manage their software assets at an enterprise level. An effective SAM practice can help you manage, protect, and control your IT ecosystem while supporting effective IT service delivery.

Asset Management RFP Template [Guide and Free Download]

An Asset Management Request for Proposal (RFP) template sets out the guidelines to help you compare the multiple alternatives to acquire a tool that fits your expectations and needs. When searching for an IT Asset Management (ITAM) solution, each vendor offers particular packages and benefits, and it’s common to get confused as to what everything means.

What is a Request For Proposal (RFP), And How to Write One?

A Request For Proposal or RFP is one of the most important documents you will have to write if you're looking to make a significant purchase. It helps organizations set out their requirements and engage with potential suppliers in a transparent, structured, and fair way. If you’re completely new to the topic, or you just want to boost your knowledge before starting the procurement process, you have come to the right place.

iOS Device Management: How to Manage iOS Devices

If your organization works with Apple assets, it’s time to put iOS Device Management into action. Under the scope of Mobile Device Management, this practice should be included in your IT Asset Management (ITAM) strategy. The challenge here relies on the specifics of this Operational System (OS). As you surely know, Apple is very strict about its devices, privacy policies, and overall information management.

What is Unified Service Management (USM)?

Unified Service Management or USM is a method (as in a set of practices, procedures, and principles) to simplify and standardize service delivery across organizations. As the world of Service Management has its eye on Enterprise Service Management, this holistic approach stands to shine. So, if you’re looking for an all-round system designed to boost your whole organization’s service operations, you’re in the right place.

Android Device Management: How to Manage Android Devices

Phones and tablets are a big part of our everyday functions. So, it’s no surprise businesses have incorporated them to carry out their tasks. In the realm of IT Asset Management (ITAM), Android Device Management emerges to make sure these types of assets are correctly managed and protected across businesses. This includes different activities that go from enforcing security policies to deploying applications and ensuring data protection.

InvGate Enters a New Era: Our First Institutional Funding Round

Fourteen years after it all started – and with several previous phases or "eras" on our backs – we're entering what is probably (up to now, at least) the most promising stage of InvGate. After much thought and deliberation, I'm proud to announce that we have found the right partner to help us take InvGate to the next level.

An Introduction to The Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0

The Microsoft Operations Framework or MOF is a framework that can complement your IT Service Management (ITSM) offerings. It was specifically built to support Microsoft products. Hence, when used efficiently, it improves service quality within your Microsoft environment. Because the MOF has this clearly defined scope within the ITSM landscape, it works really well when combined with other frameworks, such as ITIL or COBIT.

ITAM Software Comparison: Top 5 IT Asset Management Tool Alternatives

If you stopped by this article, you're most likely searching for an IT Asset Management (ITAM) solution. And since we know that the research process might be a bit overwhelming, we put together this ITAM software comparison to give you an overview of the best alternatives in the market. Overall, an ITAM tool should provide an easy and comprehensive way to manage your organization's IT assets during their lifecycle, including mainly hardware, software, and cloud-based assets.

How to Build a CMDB And Map Your Entire IT Infrastructure

A Configuration Management Database (CMDB) is a database that stores all the information related to your company's IT infrastructure. This includes hardware, software, applications, contracts, users, and the relationships between them. It can also capture information such as configurations or baselines, making it easier for agents to track changes in that environment.

Governance, Risk, And Compliance (GRC): A Deep Dive Into The Framework

Governance, Risk, and Compliance or GRC are the measures we put in place to protect our organization and its people. As its name implies, it goes beyond just Risk Management. GRC builds a broader framework by incorporating governance and compliance requirements to keep organizations globally protected. Done well, it ensures we have the proper guardrails in place, meet our expected responsibilities, and protect the business from internal and external threats.

The Basics of The IT Infrastructure: Definition, Components, And Types

As IT evolves alongside both the physical and – now more common – digital workplace, so too does the IT infrastructure that sustains it. Basically, the IT infrastructure of an organization includes the whole set of IT assets that keep it operating. And, in recent years, we’ve seen a significant migration from mostly traditional infrastructure (i.e. servers and storage devices) to the more cost-effective cloud infrastructure.

10 Steps to Create a Risk Management Plan

It’s always nice to know the theory behind the practice, but sadly that’s not enough. A Risk Management plan is what will make you truly effective at avoiding risks and keeping your organization safe. Having a set of guidelines will help you map your activities, ensure the right people are held accountable, and avoid possible disruptions or fines. Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry!