A key aspect of an asset management program is maintaining an inventory of assets. This inventory covers which categories?

• A. Hardware, software and information assets
• B. Only hardware assets
• C. Only software assets
• D. Only information assets

Answer: (A)

A complete asset inventory in an asset management program should cover hardware, software, and information assets. This broad scope ensures you know what devices exist and where they are (hardware), what applications and licenses you’re running (software), and what data or information those assets handle (information assets). Tracking all three helps manage risk, compliance, and lifecycle effectively. If you only inventory one category, gaps open up—untracked software can lead to licensing or security risks, untracked data can cause privacy or intellectual property concerns, and untracked hardware can result in loss or improper disposal. Keeping a three-part inventory gives you a true, actionable picture of your assets and their protections.