Blackout, is a point in time in the development process when a system becomes unavailable (off-line) by design. The term comes from Electricity “blackouts”when there is a complete electric shut down.
An a19best practice is to take the UAT system off-line when UAT is undergoing maintenance or configuration in preparation for End User Acceptance testing. This is to prevent any unauthorized access by end users that might want to start testing the system before it’s ready, which is never a good idea. After all, you don’t call the building inspector until you’re up to code, right? Leaving UAT available during configuration can be disastrous. Don’t make this rookie ISM mistake, you will thank me later!
Presently only available to android devices, more specifically Android OS Based Bar Scanning Devices, there are two models that have been tested by Ivanti.
Contact us to streamline your asset scanning and overall asset management operating procedures
Note: Enhancement requests have been made to include scanning ability for android smart devices (smartphone, tablet) with APP. There is a workaround for using android smart devices, contact us to find out more.
Ivanti Asset Manager | Asset Scanner UI
Ivanti Asset Manager Android App Asset Scanner UI
Ivanti Asset Manager | Asset Scanner Role Functionality
The Out-of-the-box (OOTB) functionality allows for scanning bar codes and looking up Asset Tags, creating and adding assets, with Asset Type, Sub Type, Asset Name, Serial Number, Location, Assigned Model, and Manufacturer. The “Scan Log” is then attached to the new/updated Configuration Item (CI, now Asset)
Sample Asset Tag and Serial Number Bar Codes
Ivanti Asset Scanner | Best Practice
a19 Consulting has taken the asset scanner to the next level customized the Asset Scanner UI with an asset scanning wizard that after scanning an asset tag walks you through creating a new asset orupdating an asset, plus the ability to scan packing slips for procurement, with pictures of the packing slips, and 1 or more Assets (CI’s) attached to the packing slips, which roll up into the Purchase Order and Invoices for reconciliation.
When you are gathering Ivanti Service Manager (ISM) and Ivanti Asset Manager (IAM) requirements to build your Solution Design Documentation and Scope of Work (SOW) there is one very important best practice. Set Implementation Priorities!
Setting Priorities for your Ivanti Service Manager Project
Scoping is an art of finding the right balance between effort, benefits, and long term gains. Quick Wins should be your 1st Priority (P1) followed by long term gains which are Priority 2 (P2) and have the highest benefits.
For example, on a recent Asset Management implementation the core project team determined that the quickest wins and highest benefits would be asset scanning and a foundation for procurement and assets (hardware and software) that we could built upon on future phases.
ITSM Priorities by Benefit and Effort
That lead us to this high level scope:
P1 – Ivanti Asset Manager | Asset Bar Code Scanning
What this meant was that we would build asset scanning capabilities not only for assets but also packing slips, replace the existing purchase order tracking excel sheets, and vendor inventory tracking sheets from Softchoice and various software vendors, with an Ivanti Service Manager product catalog for hardware and software, utilized the purchase order workspace for sales orders, enabled contracts and entitlements for software inventory, and built a softchoice integration to automatically update invoice and shipping information and functionality to reconcile against packing slips and purchase orders.
These were just our P1’s and P2’s! With further integration to discovery tools, enhancements to assets, and workflow automation for P3. Of course keep in mind that upon project completion some of the other requirements from the parking lot will become P1’s and P2’s and the cycle begings.
Along the way we identified morequick wins that improved overall product usability and project tracking:
Ivanti Service Manager | Administrator Level 2 Role – for limited admin access with dedicated top level tabs to manage assigned validation lists and some configurations without full administration console access
a19 Consulting Tracker– a custom built project tracking tool by a19 Consulting with backlog, artifacts, parking lot, status updates, project dashboard, heat release project and package tracking, to-do list, and many more features
a19 Consulting Change Control with Announcements, Alerts, Notifications, and approval process for User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
a19 Consulting UAT Test Scripts Workspace for ISM Administrators and Consultants to develop test scripts, run test scripts, log defect, pass/fail tests, request enhancements and identify show stoppers, must-haves, and nice-to-haves
a19 Consulting has released the a19 Ivanti Best Practices System for Ivanti Service and Asset Manager
It takes time to develop an overnight successful Ivanti Best Practices System. In our case over 2 decades of HEAT IT Service Management andIvanti Service Manager experience.
Who is a19 Consulting?
Providing HEAT Best Practices and now Ivanti Best Practices, since 1996, with our tested and true implementations and upgrades, and these are just 2 of many Ivanti professional services.
Developing, streamlining, best practices and latest solutions for fortune 500 companies and Frontrange Business Partners (Change Control, Avante Solutions, Kifinti Solutions) and Ivanti Business Partners (Kifinti Solutions, DDS IT), worldwide.
Best Practices for almost every sector, including, but not limited to Government, Financial, Insurance, Communications, Information Technology, Energy, Utilities, Education, Retail, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Medical, Aerospace, Entertainment, Food, Health Care, Transportation, Engineering.
Worldwide Since 1996
From Austria to Brussels, Calgary, Denver, Edmonton, Frankfurt, Georgia, Halifax, Italy, Kelowna, London, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Penticton, Quebec City, Rochester, Sliedrecht, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Yellowknife, Zurich
The result, Ivanti Best Practices and Latest Solutions that will take your ITxM Implementation to the next level, ITIL, ITSM, ITAM, to name just a few.
Contacta19 Consulting – Ivanti Professional Services for more information on the latest solutions& best practices for your Ivanti Service & Asset Manager implementation and upgrades.
a19 Consulting Ivanti Best Practices Ivanti Professional Services for Ivanti Service and Asset Manager (ISM/IAM)
