Conduct an internet or library search on elements that should be included in an IT asset inventory. Read one or two scholarly articles that you find most interesting.

Part 1
This is a research exercise. You may conduct research using your textbook or resources on the internet.

1. Conduct an internet or library search on elements that should be included in an IT asset inventory. Read one or two scholarly articles that you find most interesting.

2. Identify the article(s) you read about elements of an IT asset inventory, including a link to the scholarly article(s).

3. Summarize the articles you read and list at least five elements that should be included in an organization’s IT asset inventory and why each element is important.

Note: For example, an IT asset inventory should include the manufacturer’s make and model of IT equipment so that an information security professional can quickly determine whether the equipment needs any patches or whether the manufacturer still provides support for the equipment.

Part 2
You have been hired as an information security analyst at a small company called Astounding Appliances, which sells appliances online. Astounding Appliances owns and hosts all of its IT assets and forward-facing web applications onsite. The assets are about 5 years old, and the company is seeking to expand its operations in the next 5 years. In addition to workstations and laptop computers for all employees, cell phones for executives, multifunction printers, and copiers, Astounding Appliances has the following IT assets:
• Web servers
• Routers
• Switches
• Customer databases
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system

Your manager has asked you to help her prepare a basic IT asset inventory. The company has never created a list of its IT assets before and there is no money in the budget to buy IT asset inventory software.

Start preparing the IT asset inventory for the company using the information that you have learned in this exercise. You should prepare a list that includes at least five critical elements that should be included in the organization’s IT asset inventory. Next, identify real-world examples for those critical elements for each of the assets listed above.