Today, businesses rely on a variety of IT components—hardware (computers, network devices, etc.) as well as software (mobile apps, network software, etc.)—to support and streamline their operations. But tracking and managing these different IT assets can be a complex operation in itself.

That's where IT management software solutions come in. They help businesses effectively track and manage IT assets and operations (including security) from a central location. But choosing the right software for your business can be challenging; options on the market vary by features, deployment, integration capabilities, and more.

In this Buyers Guide, we'll help you better understand this market. Here's what we'll cover:

What is IT management software?
Common features of IT management software
What type of buyer are you?
Benefits of IT management software
Key considerations when buying IT management software

What is IT management software?

IT management software helps track the deployment of an organization's IT assets and manage its operations, such as performance, usage, and security, from a central location.

Dashboard feature in SolarWinds Service Desk

Dashboard feature in SolarWinds Service Desk (Source)

IT management software encompasses a wide range of applications, and its related products are generally available as suite solutions or as stand-alone tools.

Below, we discuss some of the key applications (some of them are also distinct software categories):

IT service management: Design, deliver, and manage all IT services including change management, configuration management, and incident management.
IT asset management: Manage technical, physical, and financial aspects of both software and hardware components, including their purchase, deployment, and disposal.
Network management: Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot network devices; enables administrators with privilege rights; and supports access controls to limit users to a network.
Help desk management: Solve IT incidents or issues by automating ticket assignment to the right support staff and tracking and managing the status.
Data management: Create and enforce policies for systematic storage, update, and retrieval of organizational data.

Common features of IT management software

Some of the common features provided by all types of IT management solutions include:

Alerts	Alert administrators about any unusual activity on networks or devices, any system failures, or deviation from the norm via email or pop-up messages .
Reports	Maintain network and system logs and generate reports that help to track IT system performance.
Dashboard	Provide a centralized view of how IT systems are performing and options to drill down to search for any specific information.
Remote access	Allow administrators to remotely access devices and databases to delete data, install applications, or monitor use.
Inventory management	Track and manage a list of all IT assets within the organization, such as owner details and number of years in use.
Knowledge base	Store and maintain a repository of all organizational IT information.
Self-service portal	Enable users to resolve IT service issues such as password resets without assistance, or create tickets to request services.

What type of buyer are you?

The IT management software you need will depend on the size and nature of your business and operational requirements. In this section, we look at three broad categories of IT management software buyers and some key attributes they should look for in the software.

Small businesses: Small businesses usually don't have full-fledged teams to manage and monitor IT assets and operations. They also don't have large budgets to spare. They should, therefore, consider IT management software that offers core capabilities such as systems monitoring, patch management, and asset management. Small businesses may also look at free and/or open source IT management software to meet their needs.
Midsize and large businesses: Midsize and large businesses with dedicated IT teams should look at purchasing IT management tools that offer centralized dashboards to track changes throughout the organization. Other capabilities that these buyers can consider include remote access, network management, help desk management, and data management.
Managed service providers (MSPs): These are third-party firms that remotely manage customers' IT infrastructure, networks, and/or end-user systems. They'll need to invest in high-end IT management software tools that offer all or most of the application capabilities. Remote monitoring and management, automated maintenance, and dashboards are some of the other features to look out for.

Benefits of IT management software

Using IT management software helps streamline IT operations and get centralized control. Other advantages of using IT management software include:

Better operational efficiency: IT management tools help to track and resolve tickets faster, identify nonperforming IT assets, and monitor systems and networks for any unusual activity.
Improves system reliability: IT management tools help you predict potential IT issues, take preventive actions, and reduce unplanned downtime.
Remote IT management: IT management software allows administrators to access, monitor, and control organizational IT assets from anywhere. This helps troubleshoot issues quickly and cost effectively.

Key considerations when buying IT management software

In this section we discuss some key decisions you'll need to make when buying IT management software.

Cloud-based vs. on-premise software: Cloud-based IT management tools are especially useful for small businesses as they require significantly lower upfront investment—there's no need to procure hosting hardware. Enterprises can choose between cloud-based and on-premise options based on the complexity of their IT ecosystem and security needs. While on-premise tools will grant greater control over network data and are considered more secure, cloud-based solutions will be scalable to match changing requirements.
Suite vs. stand-alone software: When choosing IT management software, you have the choice to decide between suites offering a wide range of IT management capabilities or tools that offer specific capabilities such as monitoring or configuration management. Weigh your different IT management requirements against the cost of the software before making this choice. Suite solutions may cost more than stand-alone software, but they save you the pain of deciding on multiple individual tools and then integrating them.
Integrations: Ensure that the IT management software you choose can integrate with the other tools you use for help desk management, network monitoring, patch management, or endpoint protection. Integrating with these tools will help you get a comprehensive picture of your entire IT operations as well as help you quickly resolve issues.

Note: The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.

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