IT asset management is a crucial component of IT asset lifecycle management. You must understand where your assets are in their life cycles as an asset manager. IT asset lifecycle management aids in decision-making about IT requirements and services, which boosts company productivity. You may make wiser purchase selections by considering different resources and the various stages of their life cycle. You have greater lead time to order and replenish if you already have an asset in your inventory that is about to retire or expire. If not, you know that the lead time is considerably shorter, and you must issue a PO as soon as possible. 

Hardware Lifecycle Management 101

A comprehensive strategy for controlling the whole usable life of IT infrastructure that maximizes return on investment is known as hardware lifecycle management. It can be challenging to track where each piece of hardware is in its lifespan because most firms accumulate IT assets over time. 

To increase the lifespan of your infrastructure, it is crucial to manage and monitor the equipment throughout its existence. But remember that managing the hardware lifespan is a multi-step process that needs your undivided attention. 

Advantages of Robust Hardware Lifecycle Management

The advantages of lifetime management for IT assets should be carefully considered by organizations. The landscape of a company and the value of IT assets can be drastically changed by effectively implementing lifecycle management, which can also result in cost savings and increased productivity. 

The following are some notable advantages of hardware lifecycle management: 

• saves money on maintenance
• increases device longevity 
• maximization of hardware value 
• enables flexibility for more frequent or better upgrades 
• improved performance 
• eliminates idle assets 
• builds a useful inventory 

In addition to these outstanding accomplishments, many firms also report high satisfaction levels from IT staff members and device end users. 

Stages Of IT Hardware Lifecycle Stages

Procuring Relevant Hardware

Acquiring the hardware itself is the first stage in any hardware lifecycle. However, it’s crucial to consider factors besides cost and effectiveness. The demands of an organization, both present and future, should be considered while making purchases. If extra capacity will be required before the end of a server’s anticipated lifecycle, it makes little sense to purchase a cheap, underpowered server that is “good enough” for today. 

Organizations should avoid wasting money by overestimating their capacity for growth, in any case. Observe current best practices for IT procurement, and consider how the supply chain can affect your plan.

Deployment & Installation On Site

After purchasing the necessary hardware, it must be installed and integrated with current systems. Because a poorly optimized deployment can negatively affect performance and lifetime, the IT deployment phase is crucial. 

Consider a server placed in a dusty, congested area with poor air circulation. This server will surely operate hotter than usual and put more strain on its parts, which will cause them to wear out more quickly. 

Monitoring & Maintenance

Assets must be properly monitored and maintained over time, making it possible that this is the most crucial stage in managing hardware lifetime. Never treat a piece of equipment as a “set it and forget it” asset. 

To ensure that hardware is running efficiently and performance isn’t declining, routine inspections must be conducted, whether manually or with a data center hardware monitoring system. 

Necessary Upgrades

Hardware requires continual support through updates throughout their lifespan and maintenance. Conduct routine audits to determine what upgrades are required. To prevent them from getting back up and shortening the devices’ lifespan, keeping a regular audit plan in the lifecycle management process is best. 

Hardware Sell & Purchase Cycles

For data center specialists wishing to retire equipment, the chance to safely sell secondhand servers, routers, switches, or backup tape is a fantastic safe choice. When working with a seasoned hardware lifecycle management provider, you can relax knowing that any previously owned devices will be thoroughly erased and safely disposed of or reused. 

Paving Way For New Hardware

Disposing of old hardware in favor of new is the final step of the lifecycle management process. Sadly, even properly cared for and frequently updated machinery eventually needs to be replaced or reaches a point where the risk of failure is too high to ignore. Hardware lifecycle management aims to replace and dispose of assets before they become a burden. Additionally, if a company has been managing its hardware well, the disposal phase shouldn’t ever be unexpected. 

Concluding Remarks

The majority of organizations must think about the investment in IT gear. Knowing that every piece of equipment has a lifecycle and how to manage it will help your firm avoid unplanned downtime, which can result in a loss of revenue. You can ensure you’re getting the most out of your new IT hardware by following these assessments, planning, deployment, maintenance, and updating processes. 

Even though it may seem like much effort, a reputable colocation data center can make it easier for you to complete each step and ensure you’re getting the most out of your new IT hardware.