At BlueTally, we’re firm believers in the power of simple, effective asset management. It’s essential for improving the security of your network and ensuring that all IT assets are being used efficiently.
But asset management is only part of the battle—before you manage assets you need to discover them.
In this article, we’ll cover five of the best asset discovery tools for IT asset managers. We’ll look at each tool's features, pricing, and other factors to help you decide which one is right for you.
Ready to get control of your assets? Let’s get started.
What Are Asset Discovery Tools?
Asset discovery tools are aptly named programs that “discover” and catalog all the hardware and software connected to a network.
These tools help IT asset managers keep track of their organization’s IT assets, as well as associated license and maintenance agreements. Without asset discovery tools, it would be almost impossible for IT asset managers to keep tabs on their property—there's just too much to track down.
Asset Discover vs. Asset Management
Asset discovery is all about finding IT assets and learning more about them. But what do you do with all of this information? That’s where asset management comes in.
Asset management is the ongoing process of managing, maintaining, and optimizing IT assets. It includes tracking information like a device’s warranty status, location, owner, and more to make sure everything is accounted for, functioning properly, and secure.
With an IT asset management (ITAM) tool like BlueTally, you can store all of your asset information in one comprehensive system. BlueTally makes it easy to answer important questions about your assets in seconds—questions like:
- Where is this?
- How many of those are left?
- Who has that?
Get started for free and see what BlueTally can do—no credit card required.
Why Are Asset Discovery Tools Important?
Avoid Unnecessary Technology Purchases
Asset discovery tools can help IT asset managers identify equipment that’s already in use, so they can avoid making costly purchases for redundant hardware and software.
Increase Inventory Management Efficiency
Asset discovery tools can help IT asset managers keep track of their organization’s inventory. With the right tool, you can easily analyze and report on your entire IT asset inventory.
Minimize Security Risks
Asset discovery tools can help IT teams keep their networks secure by giving them insight into all the devices connected to their network. With this information, they can quickly identify and mitigate any security risks.
Criteria to Consider When Choosing an Asset Discovery Tool
Not sure which asset discovery tool is right for your organization? Here are some of the criteria you should consider when selecting a program:
- Scope of Discovery: Will the tool be able to discover all of your organization’s IT assets, or just a few? You want to make sure you pick a tool that can handle your organization’s needs.
- Usability: How easy is it to use the tool? You’ll want to pick one that is intuitive, so you don’t waste time trying to figure out how it works.
- Accuracy: How accurate is the tool’s data? The more accurate, the better.
- Integrations: Does the asset discovery tool integrate with any other systems? This can save time and streamline processes.
- Cost: What is the cost of the asset discovery tool? Be sure to consider the cost of implementation, maintenance, and support when making your decision.
5 Best Asset Discovery Tools
It’s almost time for our list of the best asset discovery tools for IT asset managers—first, here's a quick overview:
- Cacti: Best for Businesses on a Budget
- NinjaOne: Best for High-Speed Network Discovery
- SysAid: Best for AI-Powered Asset Discovery
- Invicti: Best for Large Businesses
- Lansweeper: Best for Cross-Platform Asset Discovery#
Ready to dive into the details? Let’s go.
1. Cacti
Best for Businesses on a Budget
Cacti is one of the only free, open-source asset discovery tools on the market—and it's a great (albeit basic) option for businesses on a budget.
It's designed for monitoring and graphing your network infrastructure, including routers, switches, servers, and more. With Cacti's simple interface, you can quickly identify the devices on your network and be confident that you're getting a complete picture of your infrastructure.
Key Features
- Device Templates: Pre-configured templates to easily add devices and graphs.
- Roles & Permissions: Cacti's user management system simplifies permissions-based access.
- Data Collection: Gathers and stores data from devices for comprehensive reporting.
Pricing
Cacti is a 100% free-to-use tool. Just head over to the downloads page and install it on your server.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source and free to use
- Highly customizable and configurable
- Offers detailed network monitoring
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Navigating through its web interface can be difficult
- Lack of support with newer networking protocols and technologies
2. NinjaOne
Best for High-Speed Network Discovery
NinjaOne is a comprehensive asset discovery tool that allows you to quickly and accurately inventory your network infrastructure, including:
- Switches
- Routers
- Firewalls
- Laptops
- Desktops
- Servers
With its fast scan times and intuitive user interface, NinjaOne makes it easy to track down all of your assets in a matter of minutes. Plus, its advanced reporting features allow you to generate detailed reports on the state of your network.
Key Features
- Real-Time Monitoring: Monitor your assets in real-time for better asset management.
- Network Discovery: Quickly identify all the assets on your network—from switches and routers to servers and laptops.
- Endpoint Task Automation: Automates tasks and processes like app installs, patching, and more.
Pricing
You'll need to contact sales for a quote.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive and quick remote monitoring and management capabilities
- User-friendly interface and easy to set up
- Scalable and can manage multiple clients and endpoints from a single dashboard
Cons
- Some users have reported a lack of granular control over user permissions
- The reporting and analytics features could be improved
- User management can be clunky, particularly with larger teams
3. SysAid
Best for AI-Powered Asset Discovery
SysAid is an AI-powered asset discovery tool that makes it easy to scan, monitor, and manage all of your assets in one place.
It's designed to help IT teams quickly identify all of their assets—including both software and hardware—and track them in an organized, efficient way. Plus, its AI-powered scanning technology ensures that all of your assets are consistently monitored and managed.
Key Features
- Agentless Scanning: Automatically scan and identify assets without the need for manual intervention.
- AI-Powered Discovery: Leverage AI technology to detect and classify assets quickly and accurately.
- Robust Reporting: Generate detailed reports on asset analytics and usage trends.
Pricing
You'll need to talk to sales for a quote.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- User-friendly and customizable interface
- AI-powered asset discovery
- Offers more ITSM features than competitors
Cons
- Setup process can be difficult and time-consuming
- Reporting tools could be improved
- Mobile app is buggy
4. Invicti
Best for Large Businesses
Invicti is a comprehensive asset discovery designed for large businesses that need enterprise-grade tools.
It offers powerful scanning and reporting capabilities that make it easy to identify and track all of your assets. Plus, its user-friendly interface makes it simple for IT teams to manage their inventory in one place.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Scanning: IAST + DAST scanning capabilities to quickly identify and track assets on your network.
- Easy-to-Configure Authentication: Configure authentication settings for all your assets in one place.
- Continuous Web Asset Discovery: Automatically detect and monitor web assets to ensure continuous inventory scanning.
Pricing
You'll need to contact sales for a quote.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- Comprehensive scanning capabilities
- Strong reporting and analytics features
Cons
- Some users report that customer support can be slow to respond
- Pricing can be expensive for smaller businesses
- Lack of integrations with other security tools
5. Lansweeper
Best for Cross-Platform Asset Discovery
Lansweeper is a popular asset discovery tool designed to help IT teams easily scan, track, and manage all of their assets—IT, IoT, and more—across all platforms.
It provides an intuitive user interface and powerful scanning capabilities that make it easy to track down all of your assets in minutes. Plus, its comprehensive reporting features allow you to generate detailed reports on the state of your network.
Key Features
- Agentless Discovery: Automatically scan and identify assets without manual intervention.
- Credential-Free Device Recognition: Automatically identify and inventory devices without the need for credentials.
- Cross-Platform Support: Supports a wide range of assets including Windows, Linux, Mac devices, routers, printers, switches, ports, virtual computers, and mobile devices.
Pricing
Lansweeper's Free plan includes 100 assets and unlimited users.
Lansweeper also has three paid plans—Starter ($2,500+/year), Pro ($3,500+/year), and Enterprise (custom). All plans scale based on the number of assets you want to discover.
If you're looking for advanced features like OT discovery and SSO, you'll need to go for Pro or higher.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides detailed inventory and network discovery capabilities
- User-friendly interface and easy to install
- Cost-effective with pricing that scales with the size of an organization
Cons
- Asset management features are limited compared to other ITAM tools
- Customer support can be slow to respond
- Reporting and analytics features could be improved
Get Control of Your Assets With BlueTally
Asset discovery is an essential part of IT asset management. With the right tool, you can quickly and easily get an accurate picture of the assets in your organization.
Once you discovered your organization’s assets, BlueTally’s cloud-based IT asset management software can help you track, monitor and manage them. We provide a comprehensive view of your IT assets with up-to-date asset information.
Get started with a free account today and take control of your organization's IT assets.
