Topic starter
12/06/2026 1:06 am
TL;DR: IT asset management metrics help organisations measure utilisation, compliance, and lifecycle control across hardware and software, while highlighting how shadow IT and unused licences undermine governance, according to Zluri. The real test is whether ITAM data is wired into identity, onboarding, offboarding, and renewal decisions rather than treated as a reporting exercise.
Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by Zluri: “Key Metrics Every IT Asset Manager Should Track (ITAM KPIs)”.
Key questions
Q: How should security teams govern access across SaaS sprawl?
A: Security teams should govern SaaS sprawl with one inventory, one policy model, and one review process that covers both human and non-human access.
Q: Why does licence compliance break down when usage data is missing?
A: Because compliance without usage context can only confirm what was purchased, not what is still needed.
Q: What are the signs that ITAM controls are not working?
A: Common signs include duplicate applications, expired licences still assigned, high numbers of unused seats, poor asset utilisation, and hardware that stays in maintenance too long.
Practitioner guidance
- Link software licence data to joiner-mover-leaver workflows Use employee role, department, and status changes to trigger licence assignment, removal, and review so software access stays aligned with actual need.
- Measure utilisation before renewing major applications Review active use, duplicate apps, and entitlement counts ahead of renewal windows so renewal decisions reflect consumption rather than contract inertia.
- Create a central software inventory for compliance checks Maintain one inventory of approved, blacklisted, expired, and active software so compliance teams can validate entitlements against current use.
Bottom line: ITAM KPIs expose whether software and hardware are actually being governed through their lifecycle, not merely recorded in an inventory.
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This topic was modified 4 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group
12/06/2026 10:48 am
SaaS lifecycle control is now an identity governance issue, not just an ITAM issue. The article’s core value is that asset metrics only matter when they inform entitlement decisions, offboarding, and renewal governance. Unused licences and shadow IT are symptoms of disconnected operational ownership, not merely inefficient procurement. Practitioners should treat SaaS inventory as part of access governance, not a separate reporting stack.
A question worth separating out:
Q: What should organisations do when software access is tied to role changes?
A: They should treat role changes as governance triggers, not administrative updates. When a person moves teams, changes seniority, or leaves, software entitlements should be reviewed and adjusted in the same workflow. That prevents access from persisting after need has changed and helps reclaim licences at the same time.
👉 Read our full editorial: IT asset lifecycle metrics expose the governance gap in SaaS control
This post was modified 4 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group