The Best IT Asset Management Certifications

Becoming certified in IT asset management can be extremely helpful in building the essential skills to manage hardware, software, cloud assets, as well as the overall asset management lifecycle.

Below, we’ll unpack the top seven asset management training certifications based on role and experience level. 

IT Asset Management Certifications Comparison

Top ITAM Certifications

• Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP)
• Certified Hardware Asset Management Professional (CHAMP)
• Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM)
• Certified Asset Management Security Expert (CAMSE)
• Certified IT Asset Disposition (CITAD)
• Certified Mobile Asset Management (CMAM)
• Certified IT Asset Manager (CITAM)

Best IT Asset Management Certifications Compared

1. Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP)

If you’re looking to build a solid foundation in asset management training where you start with the basics, this is the gold standard for ITAM certification. 

Certified Asset Management Professional certification serves as an entry point with a broad introduction to core topics including:

• Core functional areas
• Software asset management
• Hardware asset management
• Cloud asset management
• Project management
• Vendor management
• Documentation management
• Asset discovery
• Asset tracking
• Managing asset records
• Working with asset management software
• IT asset management best practices

Rather than zeroing in on individual asset management topics, CAMP is designed to provide an overarching asset management foundation. You can think of it as a 101-level certification where you learn the fundamentals before diving into more specialized areas of asset management. 

If you’re an IT professional with little to no previous experience, this will quickly get you acquainted with the ins and outs of asset management training and provide the building blocks to help you thrive at all stages of the asset lifecycle. 

And if you’re interested in expanding upon your knowledge later on, this asset management foundation certification will leave you perfectly positioned to do so. 

2. Certified Hardware Asset Management Professional (CHAMP)

As its name implies, Certified Hardware Asset Management Professional certification focuses specifically on the hardware side of things, with examples being desktops, laptops, mobile devices, servers, and general equipment. 

“Formulated to tackle the myriad challenges faced by professionals in overseeing hardware assets, this course by IAITAM goes beyond the conventional cradle-to-grave analogy.” 

“It delves into the comprehensive lifecycle of IT hardware assets, exploring business practices that optimize efficient and cost-effective management.”

Given how much impact hardware information asset management has on a company’s bottom line, with it affecting device performance, lifespan, security, compliance, and ROI, this can be a valuable IAITAM certification to have. 

Not only can it improve your efficiency with hardware procurement, deployment, management, and retrieval, it also drives home the underlying strategy needed to get the most from your hardware assets. 

Note that there are no prerequisites for this asset management certificate, and you can enroll with minimal hardware asset management knowledge. That said, it’s helpful to have a baseline understanding of ITAM processes and the lifecycle of hardware assets. 

3. Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM)

While CHAMP specializes in the hardware side of IT, the Certified Software Asset Manager course is all about software asset management. 

For instance, some areas that CSAM tackles include: 

• Software license management
• License documentation
• Contracts
• Software spending
• Compliance
• Managing software subscriptions
• Audits

While hardware asset management is often the main focal point for many companies, software asset management is also vitally important and shouldn’t be overlooked. 

With this course, you learn the essential business methodologies needed to improve software utilization, maintain asset visibility, and optimize the overall software ecosystem. 

Pursuing an IAM certificate here is all about establishing a foundation for managing software assets, while helping companies become more efficient, secure, compliant, and cost-effective with their spending. 

As the IAITAM says, “The demand for at least one dedicated individual within an organization, equipped with focused training and expertise in software management, has never been greater.”

So if there’s someone in your company taking on the role of a software asset manager where they’re specializing specifically in software rather than general ITAM, this certification can be incredibly helpful. 

4. Certified Asset Management Security Expert (CAMSE)

Any time an organization uses a high volume of devices with sensitive company information, security is a major concern. 

This is true even in tightly controlled on-site environments. But it’s especially critical for companies with a heavy remote/hybrid workforce and for those implementing BYOD policies. 

The Certified Asset Management Security Expert course is specifically designed to help modern organizations maximize both information and physical security to prevent asset data from ending up in the wrong hands. 

In the IAITAM’s own words, “This course integrates security strategies across ITAM policies, processes, and procedures, thereby leveraging ITAM to augment the security program and enhance applicable governance.”

It also “sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between IT asset management and security initiatives.”

By having a team member pass this certification exam, they can act as the bridge between your IT department and corporate security to keep your company safe in an age of ever-present security threats. 

Besides that, it can complement service management, where having strong security can create a better employee experience and give you better control of the technology you utilize. 

5. Certified IT Asset Disposition (CITAD)

The final stage of the asset management lifecycle is disposition, where you retrieve a device and either reuse, resell, recycle, or dispose of it. But there’s a lot more to it than simply having an employee give you their device back. 

You have to take into account shipping logistics for remote employees returning equipment. And in some cases, you’ll have to deal with employees not returning a device when they’re supposed to.

Also, security is a massive concern, as failing to properly remove or transfer sensitive data can put your company at risk and create compliance issues. 

The Certified IT Asset Disposition course aims to provide a team member with the skills and knowledge to safely, responsibly, and efficiently navigate the asset disposal process from start to finish. 

It focuses on areas like policy management, data security, and establishes a logical chain of command to protect sensitive data while drastically reducing your odds of compliance violations that could lead to penalties or fines. 

So if security is a main focal point for your company — as it should be — CITAD can be a great choice. 

6. Certified Mobile Asset Management (CMAM)

Whether company provided or part of BYOD initiatives, mobile devices like tablets, smartphones, and wearables make up a considerable portion of assets for many organizations. 

As such, developing a framework for safely managing mobile devices is extremely important, both for performance and security. 

The Certified Mobile Asset Management course exists to help companies oversee all of the mobile devices within their IT asset inventory, while maximizing visibility and control every step of the way. 

As the IAITAM explains, “This course provides participants with the essential knowledge to navigate through personnel, policies, and processes, which constitute the core pillars of organizational IT management.”

Some key areas of focus include creating and enforcing mobile device policies, mitigating risk, improving ROI, and managing these assets throughout the duration of their lifecycle. 

After learning these principles, your team should be better positioned to use platforms like InvGate Asset Management and ManageEngine AssetExplorer. 

And if you have a large number of work-at-home employees, you can run your business operations with greater confidence that remote tasks will be done efficiently with a consistently high level of security. 

Not to mention, it should lead to better communication between your company and employees when it comes to mobile device management. 

If mobile devices account for a large percentage of your IT inventory, this certification can be highly beneficial for your company’s IT asset lifecycle management. 

7. Certified IT Asset Manager (CITAM)

While the CAMP certification is more foundational and the other asset management certification courses are more focused on single areas of the ITAM process, the Certified IT Asset Manager course is far more comprehensive. 

It’s built specifically for higher-ups like IT asset managers and leaders who need an exhaustive end-to-end knowledge of ITAM rather than specializing in a narrower segment. 

In this course, participants will learn everything needed to build, manage, and perpetually optimize your company’s ITAM program and develop the leadership needed to thrive in even the most complex IT environments.

There’s a strong emphasis on real-world scenarios and gaining the ability to coordinate asset management activities across different departments within an organization. 

And leaders that reach this level should be capable of using enterprise-level platforms like ServiceNow IT Asset Management, as well as a configuration management database to sync asset records with wide-scale IT operations. 

If you’re looking to go well beyond ITAM 101 and equip someone for an ITAM leadership position, this is the perfect course for doing so.

Which IT Asset Management Certification is Right for You?

As you can see, each asset management certification zeroes in on different areas of ITAM. 

Choosing the right course largely depends on your specific goals, which aspects of the ITAM lifecycle you’re focusing on, and what level of credentials you need. 

Also, note that if you need help with your asset management lifecycle, whether it be procurement, deployment, management, storage, or retrieval, allwhere is an asset management solution that should definitely be on your radar.

We streamline all aspects of asset management, including logistics and communication, to help you take control of your assets while allowing you to effortlessly monitor everything from a single dashboard. 

Learn more about our IT asset management services and software, and get started today.