A data center asset audit is the process of physically checking the equipment in a data center to maintain an accurate asset inventory. An auditor records important information about each device such as its make and model, cabinet location, and U position. This information is used to either confirm or update the information in the organization’s asset management database.
What Are the Challenges of Data Center Asset Audits?
The most common challenges of conducting data center asset audits are:
- They are a manual effort. Operators must physically visit each location with a laptop and manually validate the cabinets and their contents such as servers. This process can be time-consuming and take resources away from other, more productive tasks.
- Not enough manpower. Asset audits take a lot of time. Depending on the size of the location, it can take several months to complete one. Most organizations cannot devote enough people to conduct their asset audits quickly.
- Potential for human error. The manual nature of asset audits often results in human error. If devices are missed, the intended purpose of the audit is negated.
- Constantly changing environments. By the time an audit is completed, some of the information recorded may already be inaccurate.
What Are the Benefits of Data Center Asset Audits?
Asset audits must be conducted regularly to:
- Plan moves, adds, and changes. An accurate asset inventory is necessary to understand how much available capacity you have to deploy new equipment.
- Facilitate corporate reporting. The information gained from an asset audit enables more informed management decision-making.
- Ensure compliance. Asset audits are required to comply with regulations and standards such as PCI compliance requirements and FedRAMP compliance requirements.
How to Make Data Center Asset Audits Faster and More Accurately
Modern Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software provides an asset audit feature with built-in logic that enables you to perform audits faster, with fewer people, and more accurately.
Key points about the feature include:
- Only one person is needed. Having just one auditor improves productivity and saves money.
- Barcode or QR code compatible. A handheld scanner is used to quickly scan the codes on equipment.
- Customizable to your processes. The feature is flexible to accommodate your existing procedures.
- Voice response. As the auditor scans equipment, the system provides a voice response about the assets and recommends changes if the scan doesn’t match what’s in the database.
- Improved data accuracy. When an item is in a different cabinet than expected, you can easily update the system without disrupting the audit.
- Maintain an asset audit log. Know who audited what equipment and when.
Want to see how Sunbird’s second-generation DCIM software can help you perform faster and more accurate data center asset audits? Get your free test drive now.