Are your various device inventory repositories in synch?

Does your organisation have a number of different device inventory repositories?
Hint: You might even be surprised by how many you have.

Examples include:

  • Physical network inventory
  • Logical network inventory
  • DNS records
  • CMDB (Config Management DB)
  • IPAM (IP Address Management)
  • EMS (Element Management Systems)
  • SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
  • Desktop / server management
  • not to mention the management information base on the devices themselves (the only true primary data source)

Have you recently checked how in-synch they are? As a starting point, are device counts aligned (noting that different repositories perhaps only cover subsets of device ranges)? If not, how many cross-match between repositories?

If they’re out of synch, do you have a routine process for triangulating / reconciling / cleansing? Even better, do you have an automated, closed-loop process for ensuring synchronisation across the different repositories?

Would anyone like to offer some thoughts on the many reasons why it’s important to have inventory alignment?

I’ll give a few little hints:

  • Security
  • Assurance
  • Activations
  • Integrations
  • Asset lifecycle management
  • Financial management (ie asset depreciation)

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