Alloy Software/February 3, 2026/inBlog/tags:ITSM

IT Asset Discovery Tools: Things to Know in 2026

Everything you need to know to discover and manage your company’s IT assets.

Diagram of devices, servers and network connecting to a central scanner, then to cloud/database on a black background.

What is IT asset discovery?

IT asset discovery is the process of automatically identifying, inventorying, and continuously updating information about all technology assets in an organization’s environment.

Such assets include devices, servers, endpoints, network infrastructure, network equipment, installed software, software licenses, cloud resources and sometimes IoT/OT systems.

Thanks to IT asset discovery, teams can maintain visibility, control, security, cybersecurity, and compliance.

IT asset discovery in Alloy’s products

Our core IT service management and IT asset management product Alloy Navigator approaches IT asset discovery from the POV of ITSM.

A part of the product is the Configuration Management Database, which stores information about the so-called Configuration Items (CIs), infrastructure components necessary for delivering an IT service. Configuration items include hardware and software components such as configurations, computers, hardware, networks, etc.

In this context, IT asset discovery is the process of automatically discovering CIs on the network. Our cloud network inventory tool AlloyScan delivers just that: it collects detailed asset information from across your network.

Alloy Navigator and AlloyScan work together to ensure that the information about IT assets that’s needed for service delivery is automatically collected and continuously maintained.

Benefits of IT asset discovery

IT asset discovery helps IT teams maintain full visibility and control over everything in their environment—especially in mixed, fast-changing networks (Windows/Linux/macOS, on-prem + cloud, remote endpoints).

Instead of relying on manual audits and spreadsheets, discovery tools streamline inventory collection. They automatically detect devices and software, uncover unmanaged endpoints, and help teams spot attack surface expansion and potential vulnerabilities before they become incidents.

Complete, always up-to-date inventory: automatically discovers all IT assets—PCs, servers, printers, routers, switches, VMs, and cloud resources—in minutes, with full hardware, software, and user details per asset.
Fewer blind spots and less manual work: reduces reliance on time-consuming audits by using agentless network scanning across segments, while still allowing offline assets to be added manually (e.g., spare laptops, warehouse devices).
Better understanding of relationships: shows how assets connect and interact, including network topology maps—useful for troubleshooting and impact analysis (e.g., “Which switch is this workstation connected to?”).
Change tracking and control: monitors changes to devices and software over time and helps investigate suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized software installed, unexpected driver changes, missing Windows hotfixes).
Alerts that prevent downtime: sends notifications for critical events like low disk space, low toner levels, or unwanted software installations, enabling proactive response instead of reactive firefighting.
Stronger security posture: improves security by revealing unmanaged assets and enabling faster remediation; supports change control by making all modifications visible and traceable.
Software & license oversight: supports software inventory (Microsoft/Adobe apps, hotfixes, driver versions, etc.) and tracks licenses and expiration dates to reduce compliance risk.
Faster troubleshooting: enables ad-hoc investigations with reliable data (e.g., “Which machines have version X installed?” or “Which endpoints are missing a security patch?”).
Audit and compliance readiness: simplifies audits with structured reporting and exportable, filterable inventory reports in preferred formats.
Lower infrastructure costs: helps optimize infrastructure spend and supports better decisions by giving teams a clear, data-backed understanding of what they own, what is used, and what needs attention.
Improved ITSM/ITAM integration: when connected to ITSM/ITAM platforms (e.g., Alloy Navigator), discovery creates a complete searchable inventory that stays continuously updated, supporting CMDB accuracy and service management.

Best IT asset discovery tool in 2026: AlloyScan

In 2026, AlloyScan stands out as one of the most capable and forward-looking IT asset discovery solutions available.

Designed as a cloud-native platform for comprehensive network scanning and inventory, AlloyScan gives IT teams a real-time, accurate, and continuously updated picture of their entire technology environment—from on-premises devices to remote endpoints and virtual infrastructure.

AlloyScan simplifies one of IT’s toughest challenges: keeping track of every asset connected to the network. It automatically discovers hardware such as servers, workstations (Windows, Linux, macOS), printers, switches and routers, as well as virtual machines and hypervisors, and collects detailed software and configuration information for each device. The platform places all this data into a searchable inventory, helping teams uncover shadow IT, ensure compliance, and support risk management.

AlloyScan supports both agentless and agent-based discovery methods, giving organizations flexibility in how they gather data. It also offers powerful analytical tools, including dynamic reports, customizable alerts, and device grouping options that help surface important changes and trends. The intuitive dashboard makes it easy to visualize discovered assets and keep stakeholders informed about the state of the IT environment.

IT asset discovery tools: Roundup

While AlloyScan is our top pick for 2026 thanks to its modern cloud-native discovery focus, other asset discovery software tools are strong contenders depending on your team’s size, environment, and priorities.

SolarWinds Service Desk with integrated network inventory

Short description:

SolarWinds Service Desk offers automated IT asset discovery as part of its IT service management solution. It automatically identifies networked hardware and software across environments, and links asset records directly to helpdesk and ITAM workflows.

Pros:

Broad visibility into assets + service data in one ITSM solution.
Supports automatic and detailed hardware/software scanning via agent and agentless technologies.

Cons:

Discovery is framed as part of the larger ITSM suite and not a standalone deep discovery engine.
May require configuration to maximize inventory detail across complex networks.

Best for teams like:

IT service desk or ITSM teams that want foundational asset discovery tied to service management workflows.

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InvGate Asset Management with integrated network inventory

Short description:

InvGate offers ITAM with discovery capabilities.

Pros:

Provides unified hardware/software visibility when paired with ITAM workflows.
Works well within integrated ITSM/ITAM environments.

Cons:

Focus is more on asset lifecycle and ITAM than on deep asset network scanning.
Feature depth varies relative to standalone discovery tools.

Best for teams like:

ITAM teams seeking integrated discovery with broader lifecycle and compliance tracking.

Lansweeper IT asset discovery

Short description:

Lansweeper’s core functionality revolves around sweeping networks to identify and inventory hardware and software assets. It “maintains an inventory of the hardware assets and software deployed on those assets” with support for multiple OS platforms.

Pros:

Provides a broad coverage of collectible information and identifiable device types.
Generates rich reporting and asset details for inventory management.

Cons:

Standalone nature means ITSM linkage can require integrations rather than built-in workflows.
Requires setup (agents/agentless) depending on environment complexity.

Best for teams like:

IT operations and MSPs needing detailed, scalable network discovery and inventory reporting.

BMC Helix Asset Discovery

Short description:

BMC Helix Discovery is a robust enterprise solution designed for large, complex infrastructures and ITOM/ITSM integration.

Pros:

Suited for large environments with integration into broader IT management suites.

Cons:

Enterprise focus means higher implementation complexity and investment.

Best for teams like:

Large IT organizations that need deep discovery with extensive automation and integration capabilities.

ManageEngine AssetExplorer

Short description:

ManageEngine’s AssetExplorer is positioned as a full ITAM solution that includes network scanning and discovery to support hardware and software inventory. It helps gain full visibility and control over your IT assets.

Pros:

Strong focus on asset lifecycle, license compliance, and visibility.
Works well for structured ITAM workflows tied to discovery.

Cons:

Discovery depth and automation may be less compared to dedicated tools.

Best for teams like:

IT departments needing combined ITAM + discovery with an emphasis on compliance and lifecycle tracking.

SysAid Network Inventory

Short description:

Listed among notable asset discovery/ITAM tools, SysAid offers basic inventory and linking of assets into helpdesk processes.

Pros:

Works well with service desk operations to tie assets to tickets.

Cons:

Discovery features are more basic compared to tools focused exclusively on scanning/inventory.

Best for teams like:

IT support/helpdesk teams that want discovery tied directly into ticketing workflows.

Conclusion

IT asset discovery is the foundation of modern IT operations, helping teams maintain accurate asset information, reduce attack surface, and improve cybersecurity. With automated discovery methods and continuously updated inventories, organizations can streamline IT management, optimize costs, and stay audit-ready. AlloyScan makes it easier to achieve this visibility at scale.