Guide: Asset and Inventory Management for CompTIA A+ Operational Procedures
Asset and Inventory Management is a crucial part of any IT operations and prominently featured in the CompTIA A+ operational procedures section.
Importance: It helps an organization have a clear understanding of the equipments they possess, their values, their lifespan, etc., which assists in the efficient and economical usage of the assets. This could prevent unexpected costs and downtime in the IT department.
What it is: Asset and inventory management involves knowing what IT assets a company owns (hardware, software, data), where they are located, how they are used, and when changes were made to them. It also involves tracking these assets through their lifecycle.
How it works: Effective management involves the use of software tools to keep track of asset details, monitor usage and ensure software license compliance. It also involves implementing procedures for auditing and reporting.
In an exam context, questions may revolve around:
- The importance and purpose of asset and inventory management
- The different types of assets to consider in inventory tracking
- Best practices for asset and inventory management
- Considerations for disposal and recycling of assets
Exam Tips:- Understand the lifecycle of an asset: procurement, deployment, maintenance, decommission and disposal.
- Understand the importance of accurate inventory for budgeting, planning, and auditing purposes.
- Pay attention to the importance of asset recycling and proper disposal in terms of ethical and legal compliance.