The last couple of weeks I have talked about choosing and deploying devices, but that is just the start. The real challenge begins the moment those laptops and tablets land on the desks in your office or, as is the case now, the settees, bedside tables, home offices and coffee shops around the country.

How do you keep track of them? How do you make sure they’re secure, compliant, and delivering value for the business?

That is what in-life IT asset management is all about. And if you are not doing it well, you’re leaving money—and security—on the table.

 

Why in-life IT asset management it is important

Think about the typical device lifecycle.

After deployment, those assets will need updates, repairs, refreshes, and eventually, retirement. Without a clear strategy, things can get messy fast. Devices go missing. Compliance audits become a nightmare. You end up buying new kit when you’ve got perfectly good laptops sitting in a cupboard.

And then there’s security. An untracked device isn’t just a financial risk—it’s a potential entry point for cyber threats.

The Reality for Most Businesses

Here’s the truth: most organisations struggle with this. Why? Because they’re relying on spreadsheets and manual processes to manage thousands of devices, or they’ve got data scattered across procurement, HR, and IT systems, making it impossible to get a single, accurate view.

The result? IT teams spend more time firefighting than planning. Budgets get blown. And refresh cycles become guesswork instead of strategy.

 

IT asset visibility changes everything

The key to fixing this is visibility. You need to know where every device is, who is using it, what condition it is in, and when it is due for replacement. When you have that information at your fingertips, you can make smarter decisions – to redeploy underused assets, plan refresh cycles, and stay compliant without the stress.

But how do you get that level of control without drowning in admin?

 

V-Track - Your Single Source of Truth

That is where V-Track comes in. I am slightly biased, but V-Track is a platform created and developed in house at InnoVent, designed to take the pain out of in-life asset management. With V-Track, you can see every device in real time—where it is, who’s using it, and the health of the device. You can use the platform to inform future refresh cycles, track warranties, and even spot underutilized assets so you can redeploy them instead of buying new ones.

No more guesswork. No more spreadsheets. Just clear, actionable data.

There is a lot more information on V-Track here and I will write another article on this another week.

Security and Compliance

Managing IT assets isn’t just about knowing where they are, how they are being used etc, it’s also about making sure they’re secure and compliant throughout their lifecycle. I would like to say that V-Track is a one stop shop that covers everything, but I would be lying if I did.

That’s where tools like Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint come into play. Together, they give IT teams the visibility and control needed to protect devices, data, and users.

Microsoft Intune: Centralized Control for Every Device

Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that allows you to enforce security policies, deploy updates, and monitor compliance across your entire device estate. Whether your workforce is in the office, remote, or hybrid, Intune ensures every device meets your organization’s security standards.

With Intune, you can:

• Apply conditional access policies so only compliant devices can access corporate resources.
• Push OS and application updates automatically to reduce vulnerabilities.
• Remotely wipe or lock devices if they’re lost or stolen, protecting sensitive data.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Advanced Threat Protection

While Intune handles configuration and compliance, Microsoft Defender adds an extra layer of security by detecting and responding to threats in real time. It uses AI-driven analytics to identify suspicious activity, isolate compromised devices, and prevent malware or ransomware attacks before they spread.

Key benefits include:

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) for proactive threat hunting.
• Automated investigation and remediation to reduce IT workload.
• Integration with Intune for a unified security posture.

V-Track with Intune and Defender – Better Together

When combined with a platform like V-Track, Intune and Defender give you the full picture:

• V-Track provides asset visibility and lifecycle insights.
• Intune ensures policy compliance and configuration control.
• Defender delivers real-time threat protection.

Together, they create a robust ecosystem where every device is tracked, compliant, and secure—no matter where it is or who’s using it.

The Impact on Your Business

When you manage assets properly, the benefits are huge. You cut costs by making the most of what you already own. You reduce risk by keeping everything secure and compliant. And you give your IT team the time and tools to plan instead of constantly reacting.

In short, in-life management turns IT from a cost centre into a strategic advantage.

For more information, please get in touch with me. I can arrange a FoC trial of V-Track to demonstrate how it can help you and your business take control of your IT Assets.

Lee Gatland
Head of Technology Services