What is Inventory?

Understanding Inventory

Complete list of items. In information security, inventory refers to a comprehensive catalog of all assets (hardware, software, data, systems) within an organization's environment. A complete and accurate inventory is fundamental to effective security management, as you cannot protect what you do not know exists. Asset inventory is required by frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, and various regulatory requirements. Organizations maintain inventories through automated discovery tools, configuration management databases (CMDB), asset management systems, and regular reconciliation processes. For example, an enterprise might maintain a hardware inventory that tracks all servers, workstations, and network devices including their location, ownership, configuration, patch status, and security posture to ensure appropriate security controls are applied. Related terms: Asset management, Asset discovery, Configuration management database (CMDB), IT asset management (ITAM), Hardware inventory, Software inventory, Data inventory.