Asset History
Every edit made to an asset record is logged, creating a complete audit trail of changes over the asset's lifecycle. This page explains how to view and filter the history for a specific asset.
Viewing Asset History
- Find the asset you want to inspect (search by name, serial number, or asset tag)
- Open the asset editing screen by clicking its blue link
- Click the History link on the left-hand navigation panel
TODO Screenshot:
ClickMenu "Asset List" | ClickItem "tr.drow:first-child td a" | ClickItem "a[href*=History]" | PrintScreen "itam-change-reporting-asset-history"
What the History Shows
Each history entry records:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Date/Time | When the change was made |
| Field Name | Which field was modified |
| Old Value | The value before the change |
| New Value | The value after the change |
| Changed By | The user or process that made the change (e.g., a user name for manual edits, or "Discovery" for changes detected by network scanning) |
Filtering History
Use the Filter by Field Name drop-down to focus on a specific field. This is useful when you want to see, for example:
- All location changes for a specific asset
- When the operating system was last upgraded
- The history of custodian assignments
Without a filter, the history shows all fields, which can be very long for assets that have been in the database for years.
Common Uses
| Use Case | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | Check when a hardware or software change occurred that might correlate with a reported issue |
| Audit | Demonstrate the complete lifecycle of an asset from creation to disposal |
| Dispute resolution | Verify when an asset was moved or reassigned, and by whom |
| Discovery verification | Confirm that discovery is detecting changes correctly by comparing history entries with known modifications |
Tips
- History records are created automatically -- no configuration is needed
- History is retained indefinitely by default. For large databases, discuss archival policies with your administrator
- Both manual edits (through the web interface) and automated changes (from discovery or integrations) are recorded
- If you notice unexpected changes in the history, investigate whether they came from a discovery scan or a user edit
Related Articles
- Additions and Changes — reporting on changes across all assets
- IMAC Reporting — structured change reporting
- Email Notifications — getting alerted about specific changes