Modern enterprises face a growing challenge in managing thousands of devices, applications, and identities across increasingly complex IT environments. Unmanaged assets, shadow IT, and inconsistent processes can quietly create security gaps that expose organisations to significant risk.

In this episode of Security Strategist, Syed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EZO, joins host Chris Steffen to discuss how IT asset management (ITAM) and deterministic automation provide the visibility and control organizations need to secure their digital landscapes.

“There are risks lying around in the organization,” Ali explains. “A good ITAM solution helps identify them and forms the foundation for maturing IT operations.” His insights are drawn from years of experience as both an IT practitioner and entrepreneur, offering practical lessons for IT leaders and security professionals alike.

Strengthening Cybersecurity and Risk Management with ITAM

Effective ITAM solutions are more than just inventory tools; they are central to reducing cybersecurity risk. By automating asset discovery, monitoring, and reporting, organizations gain accurate, up-to-date visibility into every device, software, and identity across their networks.

“Automation runs in IT; it has always run in IT,” Ali notes. Deterministic automation ensures processes are consistent and predictable, allowing IT teams to spot vulnerabilities, reduce the likelihood of human error, and respond quickly to emerging threats. This approach also makes data reliable for decision-making, supporting procurement, patch management, and risk mitigation strategies.

Unmanaged assets, he warns, can “come back to bite us,” particularly when organizations lack visibility into endpoints, applications, and shadow identities. Implementing ITAM proactively rather than reactively is crucial for organizations that want to minimize risk rather than simply meet compliance requirements.

Future ITAM Trends

Looking forward, agentic AI and identity-aware assets are shaping the future of ITAM. While AI introduces powerful capabilities, keeping it separate from deterministic automation ensures organizations maintain control while enhancing visibility and security.

Investing in effective ITAM and automation is an enduring strategy for securing assets, reducing risk, and enabling informed decision-making. As Syed explains, “The system is meant to work for you, but that only happens if there’s discipline and awareness in identifying risks. The danger of not having a solid item in place is very real. I also understand that an understaffed IT team, constantly reacting to issues, can’t always prioritise these risks effectively. Unfortunately, that’s the reality we’re dealing with.”

To learn more about effective ITAM solutions, visit EZO.

Takeaways

  • IT asset management is crucial for reducing cybersecurity risks.
  • Automation in IT has always been a fundamental practice.
  • Unmanaged assets pose significant risks to organizations.
  • Effective ITAM solutions provide reliable data for decision-making.
  • Organizations often implement ITAM reactively after incidents occur.
  • IT departments face challenges of being understaffed and prioritizing tasks.
  • Organizational maturity influences readiness for advanced ITAM tools.
  • Future ITAM trends include identity-aware items and usage-based pricing models.
  • A good ITAM solution helps identify risks faster and more effectively.
  • CISOs should focus on managing unmanaged assets and shadow identities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to IT Asset Management and Automation

07:59 The Importance of Deterministic Control in IT Management

13:06 Cybersecurity Risks and IT Asset Visibility

15:05 Challenges in Implementing IT Asset Management

19:11 Organizational Maturity and Tooling Readiness

21:27 Future Trends in IT Asset Management

About EZO

EZO began as EZ Web Enterprises in 2011 with a mission to build easy-to-use yet powerful cloud-based applications for organizations worldwide. Our team is passionate about delivering consistently amazing user experiences with best-in-class functionality and enterprise scalability. EZO’s products help thousands of organizations around the globe streamline operations in many key areas, including physical asset management with EZOfficeInventory, IT asset management with EZO AssetSonar, equipment maintenance management with EZO CMMS and rental business management with EZRentOut.