(TSA) Technology Service and Asset Inventory Course

Upon completion of this course, you will have learned how to:

• Describe what a comprehensive technology service and asset inventory is, and explain why it is essential for cost control, compliance, and performance across telecom, mobile, cloud, and IT environments.
• Identify the core data elements required for each service and asset record, and map relationships among services, assets, locations, users, vendors, and contracts to create a single, connected inventory model.
• Apply a structured discovery and validation process to build and maintain accurate inventory for broadband, VoIP, UC, mobile, cloud, and IT assets using documents, portals, and field validation techniques.
• Construct and use invoice, cost, and contract catalogs linked to inventory records to support accurate billing validation, cost allocation, and audit readiness.
• Implement controls, MACD processes, and automation practices that keep the inventory current over time and enable ongoing optimization, budgeting, and decision support.

This course includes six micro-learning modules (8 to 10 minutes each), with downloadable reference materials:

Module 1: Inventory Fundamentals

This module covers:

• Defining technology inventory as records of services (e.g., voice lines, cloud subscriptions) and assets (e.g., phones, servers).
• Distinguishing services (subscriptions/connections) from assets (physical/virtual enablers) via interactive classification.
• Explaining benefits like better negotiations, error recovery, waste elimination, and compliance through case studies.

Module 2: Core Data Elements

This module covers:

• Identifying essential fields (e.g., ID, type, location, owner, vendor, costs, dates) for services and assets.
• Mapping relationships between services, assets, accounts, contracts, and users for connected data models.
• Sourcing data from invoices, CMDB, portals, and normalizing data for a single source of truth.

Module 3: Broadband, VoIP, UC Inventory

This module covers:

• Cataloging broadband (e.g., fiber, speeds, demarc points), VoIP (e.g., SIP trunks, DIDs, E911), and UC (e.g., Teams licenses, devices).
• Documenting dependencies like VoIP on broadband and validating via speed tests, call checks, and usage reports.
• Using provider-specific fields and interactive diagrams for accurate tracking.

Module 4: Mobile and Cloud Inventory

This module covers:

• Tracking mobile devices/services (e.g., IMEI, plans, MDM data) and reconciling with invoices/HR to find orphans.
• Inventorying cloud IaaS/PaaS/SaaS (e.g., VMs, subscriptions) via consoles/APIs, addressing shadow IT and sprawl.
• Implementing tagging, audits, and governance for dynamic environments.

Module 5: IT Assets and Catalogs

This module covers:

• Inventorying hardware (e.g., servers, ownership status) and software/licenses (e.g., compliance gaps).
• Building invoice catalogs (line items linked to inventory) and cost/contract catalogs (e.g., charges, SLAs).
• Enabling billing validation, allocation, and audits through structured repositories.

Module 6: Maintenance and Application

This module covers:

• Managing MACD (Moves, Adds, Changes, Disconnects) with validation workflows.
• Establishing governance, ownership, metrics, and automation (e.g., API integrations).
• Applying inventory for optimization, budgeting, negotiations, and savings via real-world use cases.