How do you audit and optimize your remote users' hardware and software performance and usage?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start auditing, you need to define what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. For example, you may want to improve the speed, security, or compatibility of your remote users' devices and applications. You may also want to reduce costs, waste, or risks associated with outdated or unauthorized hardware and software. Based on your goals, you can set some key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarks to evaluate your current and desired state.

2 Choose your tools

To audit and optimize your remote users' hardware and software, you need to use some tools that can collect, analyze, and report data from their devices. There are many options available, depending on your budget, preferences, and needs. Some examples are Spiceworks, Lansweeper, ManageEngine, or SolarWinds. These tools can scan your network, inventory your assets, monitor your usage, and generate reports. You can also use some built-in tools like Windows PowerShell or MacOS Terminal to run commands and scripts.

3 Conduct your audit

Once you have your tools ready, you can start auditing your remote users' hardware and software. Depending on the scope and frequency of your audit, you may need to schedule it in advance, inform your users, and get their consent. You can then run your tools and collect data such as device model, serial number, operating system, processor, memory, disk space, software name, version, license, usage, and performance. You can also check for any issues, errors, or anomalies that may affect your goals.

4 Analyze your data

After you have gathered your data, you need to analyze it and compare it with your KPIs and benchmarks. This will help you identify any gaps, opportunities, or problems that need to be addressed. For example, you may find out that some of your users have low disk space, outdated software, or unauthorized applications. You may also discover that some of your users have high CPU or RAM usage, slow network speed, or frequent crashes. You can use your tools or other software like Excel or Power BI to create charts, tables, or dashboards to visualize your data.

5 Implement your actions

Based on your analysis, you can decide what actions you need to take to optimize your remote users' hardware and software performance and usage. For example, you may need to upgrade, replace, or retire some devices or applications. You may also need to install, update, or uninstall some software or patches. You may also need to configure, optimize, or secure some settings or policies. You can use your tools or other methods like remote desktop, VPN, or cloud services to implement your actions.

6 Review your results

The last step is to review your results and see if you have achieved your goals. You can use your tools or other methods to measure your KPIs and benchmarks again and see if there is any improvement or change. You can also get feedback from your users and see if they are satisfied or have any issues or suggestions. You can then document your findings, report your outcomes, and celebrate your successes. You can also plan your next audit and optimization cycle and make any adjustments or improvements.