Introduction
As an MSP, managing and maintaining your clients' IT infrastructure is a critical responsibility. But, with multiple clients and the complexity of data, staying on top of every detail and change can quickly become overwhelming.
If this scenario sounds familiar, we have good news.
Enter MSP asset management software, a specialized platform designed to make your life (a lot) easier. These platforms ensure quality IT services to your clients while helping you run your business smoothly and without stress.
However, not every asset management software is equal. Read on as we list our top picks for the best asset management software for MSPs.
Top MSP asset management software of 2024
- SolarWinds — IT asset management
- ScalePad's Lifecycle Manager — Manage client assets
- Scribe — AI-powered process documents & SOPs
- Atera — All-in-one RMM solution
- ServiceDesk Plus — Integrated software
- Freshservice — Service desk & service management
What is MSP asset management software?
MSP asset management software helps managed service providers (MSPs) track and manage their client's assets, including hardware, software and licenses. It ensures that these assets are being used effectively and provides valuable insights into client IT infrastructures, allowing MSPs to improve operational efficiencies.
What makes asset management software suitable for MSPs? The software typically has several features, such as inventory management, asset tracking, software management and real-time reporting. This makes it easier for MSPs to check and monitor all assets across different locations and clients, ensuring they have active records for every asset they possess and where they are located.
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The importance of asset management for an MSP
Today, MSPs face several challenges related to IT asset management, given the size and variety of client IT infrastructures. Without a robust asset management solution, MSPs may find it difficult to operate at peak efficiency.
In addition, all assets, including software and hardware, can deteriorate and become overly expensive to manage without careful management. Hardware failure and service outages are other worst-case scenarios that may result in severe reputational damage and legal risk.
Let’s not forget poor asset management also compromises your and your client‘s cybersecurity.
Delayed security updates and firmware updates can leave IT infrastructures vulnerable, giving cybercriminals the green light to breach security and attack servers. Case in point — unpatched vulnerabilities caused breaches in 27 percent of organizations.
On the contrary, implementing MSP asset management software can offer several potential benefits to your organization. This includes:
- Automating asset management processes, such as inventory management and software updates, reduces the need for manual intervention and frees up time for MSPs and their teams to focus on more complex tasks.
- A centralized platform for managing all assets results in improved visibility, enabling MSPs to quickly identify and address issues.
- Maintaining accurate records of all assets and providing regular reporting helps MSPs demonstrate the value they provide to clients, improving client satisfaction. These insights are also useful to help clients make informed decisions about their IT infrastructure, preventing security issues before they arise and reducing downtime.
In summary, by adopting MSP asset management software, MSPs can enhance their IT service quality, reduce costs and maintain a secure and reliable IT infrastructure for their clients. This will ultimately improve operational efficiencies and client satisfaction, driving business success. Software plays an important role in business with the help of different software you can create a successful business just like MSP software, trade promotion management software and inventory softwares.
Types of asset management software for an MSP
Below are the most common types of MSP asset management software you can use to track and manage the different assets you're responsible for:
- IT asset management software: This software allows MSPs to track and manage IT assets, such as hardware, software and licenses. Use them to track your client’s IT assets and ensure they are being used optimally.
- Network monitoring software: This software helps MSPs monitor and manage the performance of their client’s networks, including network bandwidth, traffic and performance. Some solutions also send automated notifications to alert you to any issues that arise.
- Patch management software: This software helps MSPs manage the installation of patches and updates, keeping their clients' software up-to-date and secure. With these tools, you can automate the patching process, reducing the risk of human error and security vulnerabilities.
- Backup and recovery software: This software lets you back up data and ensure it can be easily recovered in the event of a data breach or disaster. Use the tool to backup data on local servers or on cloud, plus you can customize it to meet the needs of different clients.
- Mobile device management software: This software helps MSPs manage and secure the mobile devices used by their clients’ employees. It allows you to enforce security policies, monitor device usage and remotely wipe/delete data from lost or stolen devices.
- Inventory management software: This software can be used to track and manage inventory like hardware, software and other assets. Use it to generate reports on asset utilization to identify underutilized resources and track the overall asset lifecycle.
- IT documentation software: Although not directly required to manage IT assets, creating and maintaining accurate documentation of your client’s IT infrastructure. Use it to host internal company documentation, as well as create and share onboarding guides, SOPs and tutorials with your team and customers.
✨ See how an MSP knowledge base can streamline your operations and improve customer service.
Top asset management software for MSPs (2024)
1. SolarWinds — IT asset management
G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Capterra Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
SolarWinds Pricing: Undisclosed; you have to request a custom quote from sales.
SolarWinds Overview:
SolarWinds provides two powerful software tools for IT asset management and monitoring: SolarWinds Service Desk and SolarWinds RMM.
Service Desk is a fully integrated web-based platform that tracks hardware and software inventory, including computers, servers, laptops, mobile devices, networking equipment and other technology assets. RMM offers network discovery, remote access, reports and remote monitoring for various operating systems like Windows, Mac and Linux.
Some of the noteworthy features of SolarWinds asset management software include password management, a documentation manager for standardizing client documentation and remote monitoring for virtual machines, network devices and mobile devices. You can also expect data-driven insights on security, efficiency and site blacklists.
Additionally, SolarWinds has features for security monitoring, alerts and performance, granular roles and permissions, automation and bulk actions.
2. ScalePad's Lifecycle Manager — Manage client assets
G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Capterra Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
ScalePad's Lifecycle Manager Pricing: Free plan, Pro plan
from $149 per month for 250 assets, custom ScalePad Services Marketplace plan.
ScalePad's Lifecycle Manager Overview:
ScalePad's Lifecycle Manager is an essential tool for MSPs who want to streamline their processes, gain greater insight into their clients' assets and generate more revenue. So, it's unsurprising over 10,000 MSPs use it to transform the way they manage their client's assets.
Lifecycle Manager offers engagement tools such as Roadmaps and Scorecards to simplify asset lifecycle management. Use them to distill asset data into actionable insights for proactively addressing issues and communicating with clients. You can also automate the collection of warranty information, deduplicating data and reviewing assets up for renewal to gain comprehensive, 24/7 monitoring capabilities that are useful to deliver an exceptional IT experience to their clients.
Lifecycle Manager also facilitates client collaboration to outline project timelines and uncover hidden sales opportunities. This approach builds trust and shifts the focus to strategic planning, moving away from reactive fixes and sales pitches.
With Lifecycle Manager, MSPs can reduce downtime and increase profitability by streamlining tedious warranty management tasks. Comprehensive warranty coverage ensures uptime and avoids outages while still allowing MSPs to dictate their profit margins and increase revenue.
3. Scribe — AI-powered process documentation & SOPs
G2 rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
Capterra Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Scribe Pricing: Free Basic plan, Pro plan starting at $12 a month, Custom Enterprise plan
Scribe Overview:
Scribe is an innovative extension and desktop app that simplifies the process of documenting workflows. Whether you use it as a Chrome or a standalone desktop tool, Scribe records your screen and generates step-by-step guides and manuals complete with annotated screenshots, text and links.
Here's a Scribe in action:
Moreover, Scribe Pages allows you to embed these manuals inside more comprehensive process documents, along with videos, photographs and other relevant content. Best of all, you won't have to take screenshots or write down instructions manually because Scribe captures your mouse movements and keyboard inputs as you work.
Editing your IT documentation is a breeze since all Scribe edits are universal. Plus, you can store, organize and share your documents as links (with managed security) or export them to PDF. Scribe also allows you to embed your documentation in any of your favorite tools and you can create and combine multiple Scribes for any process.
There's more — with Scribe Pages, you can create your own MSP templates for both internal and external teams quickly. Showcase your branding, outline any processes and make documentation accessible to all stakeholders. Check out our template gallery to see what documentation is already available and start streamlining your workflows today.
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3. Atera — All-in-one RMM solution
G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Atera Pricing: Pro plan at $79 per technician per month, Growth plan at $119 per technician per month, Power plan at $149 per technician per month
Atera Overview:
Atera is an all-in-one RMM solution, built specifically for IT professionals.
It offers a range of tools, including Remote Monitoring and Management, Remote Access, Helpdesk, Billing and Reporting solutions to streamline your workflow and make your work life easier. Onboarding is also a breeze, thanks to Atera's intuitive design and user-friendly interface.
There's also a reporting suite for patch management to give you a detailed view of your patching posture. With three powerful reports — Patch Search and Deploy, Patch Status Summary and Patch Automation Feedback — you can easily install missing patches from within the reports, search based on client, knowledge base, description or agent as well as get an up-to-date list of agents and missing patches.
Atera also takes the burden of busywork off your plate with the platform's IT automation rules, shared script library and exclusive patch management software. These tools give you more time and space to focus on your business's bigger picture without being weighed down by busywork.
4. ServiceDesk Plus —Integrated software
G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Capterra Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
ServiceDesk Plus Pricing: Undisclosed; you have to request a custom quote from sales.
ServiceDesk Plus Overview:
ServiceDesk Plus offers a suite of features that can help IT professionals take control of their asset management tasks.
Its asset management module provides you with multiple methods for scanning assets, including agent-based scans, barcode scans and network scans. This comprehensive approach ensures that every hardware asset is imported and accounted for in the asset database.
In addition to discovering and managing hardware assets, you get access to its integrated software license management capabilities that ensure compliance with licensing agreements. By seamlessly integrating with other ITSM processes, such as incident, problem and change management, ServiceDesk Plus enables IT teams to track all tickets associated with assets.
One standout feature of ServiceDesk Plus is its ability to map asset relationships using the Configuration Management Database (CMDB).
By building relationships between people, assets and other Configuration Items (CI), you can gain a better understanding of their IT environment and create a high level of synergy. The software also provides pre-defined and custom relationship types, allowing you to get a visual view of asset relationships and enable effective problem and change management planning.
There's also a software governance module to monitor software usage and manage software licenses for every software installation across the enterprise. Use it to track software usage, number of installations, license types, compliance status and license expiration to ulti manage your software assets effectively.
5. Freshservice — Service desk & service management
G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Capterra Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Freshservice Pricing: Starter plan at $19, Growth plan at $49, Pro plan at $95, Enterprise plan at $119
Freshservice Overview:
Freshservice, a cloud-based service desk and IT service management (ITSM) solution trusted by experienced MSPs worldwide has a customer base spanning SMBs, mid-market companies and enterprises. Built with ITIL best practices, this platform offers a user-friendly interface, ease of customization and quick setup to help IT departments deliver exceptional service and improve customer satisfaction.
Part of the Freshworks product family, Freshservice's flagship customer support solution is Freshdesk. Freshservice distinguishes itself from Freshdesk by offering a broader range of IT-specific features and capabilities, including incident management handling, change, problem and release management, asset management, software license management and contract and project management.
In short, it has all the critical parts needed to handle hardware and software deployments where users might have issues that they need to report and require full-service solutions.
While typically used as an internal requirement for big companies, Freshservice is also suitable for external businesses supporting software contracts. You can use it to manage support requests and track the speed of response to demands.
Freshservice can also easily integrate with other business and IT systems, as well as offers native integrations with several cloud services, including Google Apps, Dropbox, AWS and Bomgar, which speeds up deployment and improves reach.
Choose the right MSP asset management tool
Selecting the perfect IT asset management software for your organization can be daunting given the number of options available in the market. However, there are a few important factors to consider before making your final decision.
To start, assess the size and nature of your company's operations. The right asset software solution should be scalable enough to accommodate the many devices used across your organization and offers end-to-end lifecycle management. Be sure to choose a plan that fully aligns with your operational needs.
Next, you'll want to establish your budget and prioritize which features are essential for running your business more effectively. Consider aspects like ease of setup, customer support, mobility and other essential functions based on client requirements to guide your decision.
Last but not least, don't forget to integrate a reliable IT documentation tool like Scribe into your IT stack. This can help optimize your team's productivity by allowing them to work more efficiently, as well as assist your clients in troubleshooting issues.
