Inventory of your devices

A typical inventory in 2015 would include one or more of the following (and a few more items)

 

• Home computer (desktop or laptop), including operating system and pre-installed software
• Other home computers, laptops or notebooks, including operating system and pre-installed software
• Tablet computers, including operating system and pre-installed software
• Smartphones (corporate and personal), including operating system and pre-installed software
• Other software, licensed as well as shareware and freeware
• Backup and other storage devices (disks, USB memory, DVD and data CDs, other)
• Connection and account(s) with an Internet Service Provider
• Wireless and other connectivity devices (home network, routers or switches, )
• Warranties, maintenance contracts, support telephone numbers, etc
• Passwords and password-related devices (e.g. tokens, cards or password generators)

 

Why is this an issue?

Simply because it is the only way to have records to report details such as serial numbers, date of purchase, software license numbers and other information you may need to report loss or damage to the police, insurance company, internet service providers and other parties with which you may need to communicate.

 

What you should do about it

Many items of the equipment and software you own have basic information about them in electronic form, such as serial numbers, product ID and software version. he software packaging or the order confirmation if bought online often includes a Product Key necessary to activate it. You may have many items that do not have such data, for example USB memory devices – it would be however prudent to keep track of them to, at least, be conscious if one or more is lost.

 

While it may laborious, either a word processing, spreadsheet or database package can be used to build a comprehensive list that is easy to keep updated. he following parameters should be recorded:

 

• Hardware: Make, model, serial number, date of purchase, length of warranty
• Software: Name and purpose, version, product ID or serial number, date of purchase
• Services: Name and purpose, access codes and passwords (these should not be in clear text!)
• Networking: Provider, terms of contract, access codes and passwords (these should also not be in clear text!)

 

 

There are several programs, many included with your devices software or available as downloads that simplify this task. Given the wider range of devices, operating systems and utilities each owner has to look for the most appropriate tools for each environment. A search engine can help