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What is IT management software?

IT management software is software that helps companies manage all aspects of an IT infrastructure. This broad category includes all the software that controls and monitors the performance of all of the applications, devices, servers and networks a company uses.

The quality of an IT department’s software and the ability to quickly identify and fix issues that impede business determines the quality of services a business can offer. Finding the IT management software that fits the unique needs of the business and how the team works will facilitate the flow of business and keep all departments running smoothly.

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Types of IT management software

Many types of IT management software are available today. Each comes with unique features and functionality. As new management software evolves, old ones upgrade almost every day because businesses constantly need the latest and most efficient management software to optimize their businesses and update their services. The types of IT management software listed in this article are a few of the widely used IT management software.

Types of IT management software

How it's used

Asset management softwareFor tracking and managing physical and digital IT assets, including hardware and software.
Business continuity softwareFor the development and implementation of business continuity plans.
Database softwareFor the storage and analysis of business data.
File analysis softwareFor identifying and reporting on potential security vulnerabilities within company files.
Incident response softwareFor mitigating security incidents through the use of automated, pre-configured actions.
IT services management softwareFor planning and managing IT service delivery.
Mobile device management softwareFor tracking, updating and managing mobile assets used by the company.
Networking management softwareFor monitoring and maintaining business networks.
Project management software
For organizing, tracking and analyzing the progress of IT projects.
Remote desktop software

For accessing desktops in another location for provisioning, updating or troubleshooting.
Service desk softwareFor providing support and troubleshooting to business employees who use IT resources.
Task management softwareFor planning, assigning and tracking tasks related to IT projects.
Telecom expense management softwareFor monitoring and analyzing telecom-related expenses.
Ticketing systemsFor storing, prioritizing and managing customer service tickets or requests.

Asset management software

Asset management software is used by IT teams to track and manage a company’s physical and digital IT assets, including hardware and software.

Through asset and inventory management, IT teams ensure each asset is properly maintained and updated as well as decommissioned when required. For example, using asset management software, IT teams can track laptops to ensure they’re being used properly and perform critical security updates to other devices that may prevent a breach.

Popular asset management software vendors include AssetExplorer, Asset Panda, Ivanti, ServiceNow, MMSoft Pulseway and GoCodes.

More about asset management software

Business continuity software

Business continuity plans outline the process a company follows to recover from potential threats, including data breaches and cybercrime. Business continuity software is a tool used to develop and implement business continuity plans across an enterprise.

For IT teams, business continuity software provides a simple way to monitor the effectiveness of continuity plans and uncover risks. This software also ensures business continuity programs comply with various regulations, such as those required by HIPAA for healthcare companies and FINRA for financial companies.

Popular business continuity software vendors include Archer, Arcserve, Fusion Framework System and Oracle Risk Management Cloud.

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Database software

Database software is used to develop databases as well as manage, analyze and search for the data found within them.

Database software saves IT teams critical time when searching through large stores of data. For example, users may simply use queries to find the data they’re looking for. Database software also improves the security posture of a company by protecting its critical data. Users must be authorized to modify data or view it.

A key use of database software is analytics. Companies can pull insights from the data found within the database to solve business problems and look for security risks.

Popular database software vendors include MySQL, Microsoft SQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS and Oracle RDBMS.

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File analysis software

File analysis software is an IT management software used to identify and report on potential security risks within a company’s files. These tools work to analyze and track the file’s content as well as its metadata.

File analysis tools help IT teams locate and manage redundant data. They also help pinpoint which file data contains sensitive information to ensure it’s kept under lock and key. As a result, companies protect their unstructured data and remain in compliance with privacy laws such as the GDPR.

Popular file analysis software vendors include Varonis Data Security Platform, IBM StoredIQ Suite, Spirion and Micro Focus ControlPoint.

More about file analysis software

Incident response software

Incident response software, also known as security information and event management software, is used for mitigating security incidents when they occur through the use of automation and pre-configured actions. These tools help IT teams react to incidents quickly, preventing serious data and resource loss.

Incident response software manages the entire process of response for IT teams. First, it will detect security anomalies, including everything from failed login attempts to sudden increases in network usage. Once detected, the software will automatically begin the response process, which may include logging suspicious activity and alerting security teams.

Popular incident response software vendors include SolarWinds Security Event Manager, LogPoint SIEM and Splunk Enterprise Security.

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IT services management software

IT services management software is used to plan, execute and manage IT service delivery. This software encompasses every aspect of IT service delivery from troubleshooting to managing security incidents.

ITSM software includes components such as a service desk, incident response tools, change management tools and vendor management tools. ITSM software is used most often by IT teams that follow ITSM frameworks such as COBIT and ITIL.

Popular IT services management software vendors include Freshservice, ServiceNow IT Service Management, SolarWinds Service Desk and Jira Service Management.

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Mobile device management software

Mobile device management software supports IT teams with the management of mobile assets used by internal employees. This includes tasks such as mobile device configuration, deprovisioning and maintenance.

In today’s remote workforce, daily business tasks are often completed by mobile devices. And with the rise of BYOD, IT teams need a simple way to secure devices and protect company data. Mobile device management is the solution, enabling IT teams to manage mobile devices such as phones and tablets from one centralized location.

Popular mobile device management software vendors including Citrix Endpoint Management, ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus, Jamf Now and SimplySecure.

More about mobile device management software

Networking management software

Networking management software is an IT management software used to monitor and maintain a company’s on-premise and cloud-based networks. This process includes monitoring networks for security risks, provisioning networks and performing network maintenance.

Network management software enables IT teams to perform networking tasks on multiple systems from a centralized location. This is a crucial capability for IT teams tasked with managing large networks across multiple locations.

In addition, through network management tools, IT teams gain critical visibility into their networks, allowing them to quickly mitigate security risks.

Popular networking management software vendors include Datadog, NinjaOne and SolarWinds.

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Project management software

Project management software is used for organizing, tracking and analyzing the progress of IT projects. For IT teams, project management software improves the management of projects involving software development and deployment, website maintenance and hardware updates.

Project management software enables IT teams to collaborate on tasks and projects in a centralized location. These tools also allow teams to customize their workflows through views. For example, Agile and Scrum teams can use Gantt charts or Kanban boards to visualize projects.

Project management tools provide additional benefits such as the ability to effectively manage IT resources, easily report on project statuses and simplify the tracking of IT tickets.

Popular project management software vendors include Smartsheet, monday.com, ClickUp, Teamwork, Wrike, Asana and Jira.

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Remote desktop software

Remote desktop software is used by IT teams to access desktops in other locations locally to make updates, provision new software and troubleshoot hardware.

Remote desktop software enables a user to connect to and control a remote device located anywhere. As a result, IT teams can resolve technical issues, install apps and mitigate security risks without traveling to another location. This process reduces business downtime and improves IT productivity.

Popular remote desktop software vendors include TeamViewer, Zoho Assist, Splashtop, LogMeIn Pro, Chrome Remote Desktop and AnyDesk.

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Service desk software

Service desk software is used by IT teams to provide support to internal employees who must use IT resources such as networks and hardware to complete tasks.

Employees use service desk tools to submit questions or requests to the IT team. The service desk software then organizes these requests, enabling teams to provide efficient support. Many service desk tools also provide change management features, allowing IT teams to modify systems to improve IT services on behalf of employees.

Popular service desk software vendors include Freshservice, ServiceNow IT, SolarWinds Service Desk and Jira Service Management.

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Task management software

Task management software helps IT teams plan, assign and track tasks related to IT projects. By effectively managing tasks, teams can move projects forward in a timely manner, improve resource utilization and easily report on project progress.

IT teams also use task management software to collaborate from anywhere, a critical capability in today’s distributed workforce. Many task management tools also offer automation to help teams create tasks and move them through the pipeline without human intervention, saving time and effort.

Popular task management software vendors include Asana, ClickUp, monday.com, ProofHub and Todoist.

More about task management software

Telecom expense management software

Telecom expense management software is a tool used to track all of an IT team’s telecom expenses in one place, resulting in simplified monitoring, analysis and decision-making.

IT teams can use telecom expense management software to track the cost and usage of communication tools such as voice, IoT and the cloud.

Using telecom expense management software, teams gain a better understanding of where their spending should be reduced or increased. Teams can also use these tools to prepare cost audits and ensure vendors are charging appropriately.

Popular telecom expense management software vendors include Sakon, Tangoe, RadiusPoint, Network Control, One Source and brightfin.

More about ticketing systems

Ticketing systems

Ticketing systems are a subset of IT management tools that support IT teams in prioritizing and managing customer service tickets or requests. Using software and automation, tickets are created, routed to the appropriate individual or team and then resolved.

The process of ticketing involves assigning a unique identifier to each event or request. As a result, tickets are easily tracked to ensure they’re resolved, improving the customer experience. Ticketing systems also improve a team’s productivity, as tickets are centralized and kept up-to-date with each customer interaction.

Popular ticketing system vendors include HubSpot Help Desk and Ticketing, SolarWinds Ticketing System, Jira Service Desk and Zendesk.

More about ticketing systems

Which IT management software do you need?

IT management software is an ever-growing market. Technology keeps evolving, and for businesses to thrive in the competitive market, they need to constantly upgrade their software for better services. Businesses cannot leave their upgrading system to chance but must be at the top of their game in the product and services they offer.

Many businesses use cloud-based software to minimize the risk of data loss or theft, while others choose to outsource their IT management tasks to a third-party provider. Some systems also offer forecasting capabilities so you can keep an eye on the future health of your company’s infrastructure. The best IT management software will help you simplify your business processes by automating routine processes like hardware procurement, network maintenance and server maintenance.

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