Managing an IT asset inventory means maintaining a comprehensive, continuously updated record of all systems, data, users, and networks—structured to align with risk and compliance goals. Using CIS Controls v8.1 ensures visibility across cloud, on-prem, and third-party assets.
Many teams still rely on outdated spreadsheets or rigid configuration management databases (CMDBs) that overlook cloud services, admin accounts, and vendor-managed systems. This guide outlines a modern, structured approach using the CIS Controls v8.1 Asset Class Framework.
Each section breaks down a specific class: devices, software, data, users, networks, documentation, and shows how structured inventory supports control validation, risk tracking, and third-party oversight.
Without further ado, let’s learn all about managing your IT asset inventory properly.
What is an IT Asset Inventory?
An IT asset inventory is a centralized list of all devices, software, data, users, networks, and documentation an organization uses. It includes end-user devices, servers, network equipment, Internet of Things (IoT) and non-computing devices, removable media, operating systems, applications, firmware, and other software components.
Simply put, IT asset inventories give security teams a clear picture of everything in their environment that could be exposed to risk.
Security and compliance programs depend on accurate inventories. Without knowing what assets exist and where they reside, organizations can’t effectively manage risk, enforce controls, or respond to incidents.
Every security decision starts with the same question: What exists in the environment?
Without a current, complete asset inventory, risk assessments fall short, controls miss their targets, and audits surface surprises.
Why is an IT Asset Inventory Important for Information Security Risk Management (ISRM)?
An IT asset inventory is the foundation of effective information security risk management. It provides a complete, real-time view of the systems, software, and data an organization must protect. Without this visibility, security teams cannot accurately assess risk, track vulnerabilities, or ensure security controls are applied consistently.
Power Accurate IT Risk Assessments
Every risk assessment starts with a clear understanding of what is in scope. A complete inventory allows teams to identify vulnerable assets, measure exposure, assign risk levels, and prioritize mitigation based on asset importance and the likelihood of threats. Without it, assessments rely on assumptions instead of verified information.
A modern asset inventory includes more than internal infrastructure. It must account for cloud services, SaaS platforms, vendors, and connected APIs. Documenting third-party assets improves vendor risk assessments, highlights operational dependencies, and ensures that external systems follow the same security standards as internal ones.
Accelerate Incident Response
When a security incident occurs, speed and accuracy are critical. A current asset inventory helps teams quickly identify affected systems, responsible owners, and potential areas of impact. This context supports faster isolation of compromised assets, clearer scope validation, and more effective recovery planning.
Using the CIS Controls v8.1 Asset Classes for IT Asset Classification
The CIS Controls v8.1 defines six asset classes: Devices, Software, Data, Users, Network, and Documentation. Each class organizes enterprise assets based on their role, characteristics, and how organizations should protect them.
- Devices: End-user devices (like laptops and smartphones), servers, IoT and non-computing devices, and network infrastructure components
- Software: Operating systems, applications, firmware, services, libraries, and APIs
- Data: Sensitive data, log data and physical records
- Users: Workforce members, service providers, standard user accounts, administrator accounts, and service accounts
- Network: Network infrastructure and architecture
- Documentation: Plans, policies, procedures, and processes
Why Use the CIS Controls v8.1 Asset Classes?
The CIS Controls v8.1 asset classes offer a detailed, operational framework for identifying and categorizing IT assets across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Unlike high-level frameworks such as NIST CSF or ISO 27001, which assume asset visibility without defining it, CIS provides specific classifications that security teams can use to build and maintain accurate inventories.
This model ensures consistency across risk assessments, control mapping, incident response, and vendor oversight. It also integrates easily with other frameworks, making it a practical supplement for organizations that need deeper asset-level structure without replacing their broader compliance approach.
Simply put, CIS asset classes give security teams the clarity they need to operationalize asset management as a foundational step in cybersecurity.
| Asset class |
What it includes |
Common subsets |
Security risk relevance |
| Devices |
Hardware that stores, processes, or transmits data |
End-user devices (desktops, laptops, smartphones); servers; IoT/non-computing devices (printers, smart screens); network devices (firewalls, switches); removable media (USBs, CDs) |
Primary attack surface; common source of vulnerabilities; must be tracked across physical, virtual, and cloud environments |
| Software |
Programs and code that run on devices |
Operating systems, applications, firmware, services, APIs, libraries |
Unpatched or unauthorized software is a major attack vector; must be inventoried to support vulnerability management and software hygiene |
| Data |
Information stored, processed, or transmitted by systems |
Sensitive data (PII, financial, health); log data; physical data (documents, backups) |
Data is the target of most breaches; classification and inventory supports protection, encryption, access control, and compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) |
| Users |
People or accounts authorized to access systems |
Workforce (employees/contractors), service providers, user accounts, administrator accounts, service accounts |
Unmanaged or over-privileged accounts are high-risk; tracking user assets supports least privilege, access reviews, and insider threat mitigation |
| Network |
Infrastructure that enables communication and data flow |
Network infrastructure (hardware/software); network architecture (topology, segmentation, firewall rules) |
Poorly configured networks allow lateral movement and data exfiltration; must be mapped and documented to enforce segmentation and monitor activity |
| Documentation |
Written records governing operations |
Policies, procedures, incident response plans, security diagrams |
Often neglected, but essential for governance, audits, and incident response; documents must be version-controlled, current, and accessible |
Do the CIS Controls v8.1 Asset Classes Work with Other Security Frameworks?
The CIS Controls v8.1 asset classification model integrates well with several leading security frameworks that emphasize asset management, including:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0: Identify function (ID.AM) covers asset management
- NIST SP 800-171: Requires inventory and protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) assets
- NIST SP 800-53: Includes controls like CM-8 (System Component Inventory) and PM-5 (System Inventory)
- ISO/IEC 27001: Annex A.5 and A.8 focus on asset responsibility and inventory
By aligning with these frameworks, the CIS Controls v8.1 asset classes support both compliance and operational security through a structured, scalable approach to asset inventory and classification.
Step-by-Step Guide to Managing an IT Asset Inventory
Asset discovery is just one step in the broader process of building a reliable IT asset inventory. To support risk management, compliance, and incident response, organizations need a structured system that goes beyond detection. That means applying consistent classifications, assigning ownership, and integrating asset data into ongoing security workflows.
The steps below use the CIS Controls v8.1 asset classes to guide a practical, repeatable approach for managing an IT asset inventory:
- Establish inventory objectives and scope
- Align to the 6 CIS asset classes
- Use automated discovery where possible
- Tag and classify assets
- Assign ownership and responsibilities
- Integrate with risk and control processes
- Use the inventory to guide decisions
Step 1: Establish Inventory Objectives and Scope
Start by defining why the inventory exists. What questions should it answer? What decisions should it inform? This information will help prevent blind spots and ensure the inventory reflects your actual risk surface.
Here’s what to clarify:
- Is the scope enterprise-wide or limited to a business unit?
- Will it include third-party, SaaS, or cloud-hosted assets?
- Is it aligned with frameworks like CIS Controls, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, or CMMC?
- Will it support risk assessments, vulnerability management, access reviews, or audits?
Step 2: Align to the 6 CIS Asset Classes
Use the CIS Controls v8.1 model to structure your inventory and make sure to identify and categorize assets and subsets for each class. For instance, laptops, mobile devices, APIs, log data, service accounts, firewall rules, and incident response plans. This structured taxonomy ensures you capture traditionally overlooked assets like removable media or documentation.
- Devices
- Software
- Data
- Users
- Network
- Documentation
Step 3: Use Automated Discovery Where Possible
Manual inventories quickly become outdated. Automated discovery tools improve accuracy by continuously identifying assets across dynamic environments and reducing inventory drift. These tools are essential for visibility but are only one input into a broader inventory and risk management process.
Where possible, use:
- EDR, MDM, or configuration agents for endpoint and server visibility
- Network scanners and cloud APIs for infrastructure components
- Identity providers (IdPs) and IAM platforms for user and service accounts
- DLP or data classification engines to locate sensitive information
Automated discovery should feed into your inventory process, but it is not a complete solution. Security teams still need to validate, categorize, and manage these assets as part of a structured IT risk management program.
Step 4: Tag and Classify Assets
To make the inventory actionable, apply metadata such as:
- Business owner or department
- Criticality (e.g., high/medium/low)
- Sensitivity (especially for data assets)
- Regulatory impact (e.g., PCI DSS, HIPAA, CMMC)
- Dependencies or third-party involvement
Step 5: Assign Ownership and Responsibilities
Every asset must have a responsible owner because ownership supports consistent patching, review cycles, control enforcement, and decommissioning.
Assign:
- Device custodians
- System and application administrators
- Data stewards
- Network engineers or architects
- Document/process owners
Step 6: Integrate With Risk and Control Processes
Your inventory shouldn’t sit in isolation. Connect it to daily workflows:
- Risk assessments: Which assets house sensitive data or present elevated risk?
- Access reviews: Who has access? Are privileges still appropriate?
- Control validation: Are security safeguards implemented and effective?
- Vendor oversight: Which assets or data involve third parties?
Step 7: Use the Inventory to Guide Decisions
Use the inventory to empower decision-making across teams:
- Prioritize vulnerabilities and scope patches
- Enable faster, more accurate incident response
- Inform resource allocation and budget planning
- Support audit prep and control traceability
- Evaluate and monitor third-party risk
Isora GRC for IT Asset Management
Isora GRC helps security teams manage IT assets by linking them to the core elements of information security risk management, including assessments, controls, ownership, compliance requirements, and vendor oversight. As the GRC Assessment Platform™, Isora represents a new category of IT GRC software that does not perform asset discovery but instead structures and contextualizes data from existing tools like EDR, MDM, and CMDBs. It transforms raw asset information into an organized, accountable inventory that supports risk analysis, control validation, audit tracking, and informed security decisions across the organization.
What Isora enables:
- Asset inventories built and maintained through assessments, questionnaires, and structured data collection
- Metadata tagging by business unit, system role, data type, sensitivity, and compliance relevance
- Ownership and user accountability assigned to real individuals and teams
- Direct connections between assets and risk assessments, compliance requirements, controls, audit findings, and policies
- Third-party asset visibility aligned with vendor inventories, shared systems, and inherited risk
Check out our interactive demo below—or request a personalized demo to see Isora GRC in action.
IT Asset Management FAQs
What should be in an IT asset inventory?
An IT asset inventory should include devices, software, data, user accounts, networks, and documentation. Each asset should be tagged with ownership, risk level, and compliance relevance.
How do you manage IT assets?
Managing IT assets involves more than tracking hardware. It includes assigning ownership, classifying risk, mapping dependencies, and aligning assets with control objectives using tools like endpoint agents, APIs, and GRC platforms.
How do you make an IT inventory?
To make an IT inventory, begin by defining the inventory’s purpose. Identify asset types and environments, gather data from tools and stakeholders, then classify assets by function and risk. Assign ownership and use the results to inform risk and audit readiness.
What is the IT asset management process?
The IT asset management process includes scoping, discovery, classification, and ownership assignment. Assets should be integrated into risk, patch, and access workflows to keep inventories current and aligned with compliance and security goals.
What’s the difference between an IT asset inventory and a CMDB?
A CMDB, or configuration management database, focuses on configuration items tied to IT operations and service management. In contrast, an IT asset inventory builds a full picture of devices, software, data, identities, networks, and documentation across environments, including third-party platforms and cloud resources. This broader scope supports security, risk, and compliance initiatives beyond infrastructure operations.
Why do traditional asset inventories miss critical risks?
Spreadsheets and rigid CMDBs often overlook cloud services, unmanaged endpoints, admin accounts, and integrations owned by external vendors. These gaps limit visibility into systems that handle sensitive data or provide critical access, leaving organizations vulnerable during audits or incident response.
How often should I update my IT asset inventory?
Inventory maintenance works best as a continuous process. Automated discovery tools provide a current view across devices, users, and services, while periodic reviews catch classification errors or business changes. Align inventory updates with key lifecycle events such as onboarding, offboarding, patch cycles, or vendor onboarding.
What do the CIS Controls v8.1 asset classes include?
CIS Controls v8.1 groups assets into six classes, including devices, software, data, users, networks, and documentation. Devices cover endpoints, servers, and hardware infrastructure. Software refers to operating systems, applications, firmware, APIs, and code libraries. Data spans everything from personal information and logs to backups and physical media. Users include accounts for staff, admins, service identities, and external partners. The network describes physical and virtual infrastructure, including firewall configurations and segmentation. Documentation encompasses policies, response plans, and procedures that govern technical operations.
Does IT asset inventory help with compliance?
Accurate, structured inventories provide the foundation for nearly every modern framework, from NIST CSF and ISO 27001 to HIPAA and CMMC. Classification and tagging allow for automated control scoping, audit readiness, and efficient evidence collection. Without visibility into what exists, organizations can’t prove what’s protected.
How does asset inventory support incident response?
During a security incident, responders need fast answers on what’s affected, who owns it, and where sensitive data resides. A current inventory speeds containment and helps trace lateral movement or unauthorized access. Without this baseline, response plans stall and risk spreads.
How do you handle third-party and cloud-based assets?
Modern inventories must include cloud-native services, vendor-managed platforms, and externally hosted APIs. Tagging assets with business owners, compliance requirements, and shared responsibility models allows teams to manage external risks as part of their internal security lifecycle.
Who should own the IT asset inventory?
Ownership often spans multiple functions. IT manages discovery and infrastructure tagging, while security teams drive classification and risk context. GRC, on the other hand, manages reporting and compliance alignment. Business units contribute system knowledge and validate accuracy. Clear accountability transforms the inventory from documentation into a strategic resource.
What makes an asset inventory actionable?
An inventory becomes operational when it supports decision-making across functions. That means it reflects real-time status, includes metadata like risk exposure and business impact, and links to systems that manage controls and respond to threats. Without structure, inventories become outdated checklists. With purpose, they guide response, investment, and compliance.
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