As you think about implementing Windows 7, there are a series of considerations and challenges. These include compatibility concerns, migration logistics and hardware requirements. All of which can be evaluated – and possibly addressed – through the process of asset management.

To that end, it’s necessary for your enterprise to have an asset management solution that does all the heavy lifting. This solution will be the cornerstone in painting a complete and accurate picture of your software installations and license compliance.  Here are some of the things you’ll want to ensure are on your asset management checklist as you migrate to Windows 7.

Have a solution that creates a clear inventory of hardware and software

Knowing what systems are being used throughout the your enterprise and what software is installed on each system will assist immeasurably as you deploy Windows 7. If possible, get a solution that can reconcile your assets across products, versions, editions and suites. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that you have the right number of licenses so you don’t waste money on unnecessary software—or run the risk of license noncompliance.

Your solution should be able to detect compatibility

A thorough evaluation of RAM, CPU, memory and other specifics can provide you with Windows 7 readiness reports so you can easily identify migration targets. And it will also allow you to easily see your existing leases and contracts so you know which devices are due for a refresh.

Closely examine existing content and applications

Most organizations have plenty of outdated applications and even unnecessary hardware components. Migrating unnecessary components to Windows 7 is a waste of time, money and resources. The best solution is one that can identify machines, software and other assets that might be redundant or due for a hardware refresh—and provide insights into whether you should virtualize applications or rely on traditional installations. Further, by examining your content and applications, you will know which applications you can remove from the network, which applications are good candidates for virtualization and which applications should be installed traditionally.

Group and prep your applications for deployment

With a complete, up-to-date inventory of all your applications—and an informed plan for deploying them—you can begin the process of grouping applications that will be deployed similarly. For example, you may choose to convert and run some applications natively on Windows 7, virtualize others and even run some in XP mode. Ultimately, the move to Windows 7 can be done efficiently and with minimal pain. Taking the time to create a plan will help you accomplish this goal.

If you are interesting in learning more about ways to reduce the pains of migrating to Windows 7, we’re hosting a series of events this spring. Chances are we’re coming to your city and you can get firsthand view of real-world solutions that can help.

As you prepare for a Windows 7 migration, how are you accounting for existing machines, software and compatibility?

Today we are introducing the first podcast in a new series on how to effectively manage corporate endpoints. In this debut podcast, Jack McLaine, VIST Financial vice president of IT, speaks with host Grant Ho, senior solution manager at Novell, about managing assets and achieving compliance.

Based in Pennsylvania, VIST Financial is a diversified financial services company offering banking, insurance, investments, wealth management, and title insurance services. Managing user information across all applications is a daunting task for the IT staff, as is maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements including HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley and GLB. VIST relies on ZENworks Configuration Management to ensure compliance as well as efficiently manage operations and accurately report assets.

Learn more about how the robust functionality of ZENworks Configuration Management can help you manage your assets and simplify compliance here. Stay tuned for future episodes that will discuss topics including cutting risk with sound endpoint security practices and reducing complexity with endpoint configuration management.