What Is Lansweeper? Pros and Cons of This IT Asset Management Tool
- Lansweeper is an IT Asset Management (ITAM) tool that helps businesses discover, track, and manage IT assets.
- Pros:
- Automated network and device discovery.
- Integration with ITSM and cybersecurity tools.
- Customizable reports and dashboards.
- Cons:
- No built-in patch management.
- Requires setup and customization.
What Is Lansweeper? Pros and Cons of This IT Asset Management Tool
Lansweeper is a powerful IT Asset Management (ITAM) tool designed to help organizations discover, monitor, and manage their IT infrastructure. It provides complete visibility into software and hardware assets, enabling IT teams to track inventory, detect vulnerabilities, and optimize asset utilization.
Lansweeper automates asset tracking to help organizations minimize manual IT inventory tasks and improve compliance with internal and external regulations.
With agentless network scanning, Lansweeper can automatically detect and catalog devices connected to a network, from servers and workstations to routers, IoT devices, and cloud assets. This capability allows IT administrators to maintain an up-to-date inventory of all IT assets without installing software agents on each machine.
Lansweeper integrates with IT Service Management (ITSM) platforms, security tools, and Software Asset Management (SAM) systems, making it a versatile choice for organizations looking to streamline IT operations.
Beyond asset tracking, Lansweeper offers security insights by identifying outdated software, unpatched systems, and unauthorized applications that may pose a cybersecurity risk. It helps organizations reduce downtime by proactively identifying potential IT failures before they occur.
Read about another SAM tool, USU.
Key Features of Lansweeper
- Automated Asset Discovery – Scans networks to detect all connected devices and software installations, ensuring an accurate IT inventory.
- IT Inventory Management – Centralizes hardware and software asset tracking across multiple locations and departments.
- License Management – Monitors software licenses to help prevent non-compliance, overspending, and underutilization of purchased software.
- Vulnerability Detection – Identifies outdated software, security misconfigurations, and other IT risks that could impact cybersecurity.
- Integration Capabilities – Connects with ITSM, SAM, and cybersecurity tools for seamless workflows and unified IT management.
- Custom Reporting & Dashboards – Generates in-depth reports on asset usage, compliance, security vulnerabilities, and software distribution.
- Remote Access & Control—This feature enables IT teams to troubleshoot and manage devices remotely, reducing onsite IT support efforts.
- Cloud and Virtual Asset Tracking – Supports hybrid IT environments by discovering cloud-based resources and virtual machines.
- Automated Network Mapping – Visualizes network topology, showing how devices are connected and flagging unauthorized connections.
Pros of Lansweeper
✅ Comprehensive IT Asset Discovery
Lansweeper automatically scans networks for all connected devices, eliminating manual asset tracking and ensuring a complete IT inventory, including physical and virtual environments.
✅ Agentless Network Scanning
Unlike some ITAM tools that require local agents, Lansweeper provides agentless discovery, reducing deployment complexity and ensuring broad network coverage.
✅ Customizable Reports & Dashboards
Users can create tailored reports to analyze asset data, track software usage, and identify potential security risks, making compliance and auditing easier.
✅ Integration with Third-Party Tools
Lansweeper connects with ITSM platforms like ServiceNow, SAM tools, and cybersecurity solutions, improving IT visibility and automation.
✅ Cost Savings & License Optimization
Lansweeper tracks software installations and usage to help organizations reduce licensing costs, avoid unnecessary purchases, and ensure compliance with software vendors.
✅ Vulnerability Detection & Security Insights
The tool identifies outdated software, misconfigurations, and unpatched systems, helping IT teams proactively address security risks before they become major threats.
✅ Cloud and Hybrid IT Asset Management
With growing cloud adoption, Lansweeper allows organizations to track cloud-based applications and virtual infrastructure, ensuring visibility across hybrid IT environments.
✅ User & Role-Based Access Control
Lansweeper enables granular permissions, allowing organizations to restrict access to specific IT assets and reports based on job roles.
Read about Eracent.
Cons of Lansweeper
❌ Limited Software License Compliance Features
While it tracks software installations, it lacks advanced SAM capabilities for in-depth compliance monitoring, requiring additional SAM tools for full license governance.
❌ No Built-In Patch Management
Lansweeper detects vulnerabilities but does not include automated patching, meaning organizations must integrate it with external patch management solutions.
❌ Steep Learning Curve for Customization
While powerful, custom reporting and advanced configurations may require technical expertise, making the tool more challenging for non-technical users.
❌ Cloud-Based Functionality Is Limited
The on-premise version of Lansweeper is more feature-rich, whereas the cloud version lacks some advanced asset discovery and reporting capabilities.
❌ Agent-Based Scanning Needed for Certain Environments
Although Lansweeper supports agentless scanning, some IT environments require agents for full visibility, particularly for tracking remote or off-network devices.
❌ No Automated IT Process Workflows
Unlike some ITAM platforms that provide workflow automation for asset requests and approvals, Lansweeper primarily focuses on discovery and tracking.
Final Thoughts
Lansweeper is a highly effective IT Asset Management tool that provides detailed visibility into IT infrastructure. With automated asset discovery, software tracking, and security insights, it is a valuable solution for IT teams looking to optimize asset usage, reduce costs, and improve network security.
Its ability to integrate with ITSM platforms and cybersecurity tools makes it a flexible choice for IT departments aiming for better asset governance.
However, its lack of built-in patch management limited SAM compliance features. The need for customization may make it less suitable for organizations requiring deep software asset tracking, automated remediation, or IT process automation.
For businesses looking for a scalable, customizable ITAM solution with strong asset discovery capabilities, Lansweeper remains a strong choice. Organizations that need compliance-driven license tracking or automated IT workflows may need to supplement Lansweeper with other specialized tools.
FAQs
What is Lansweeper used for?
Lansweeper is an IT Asset Management tool that helps businesses track, monitor, and manage hardware, software, and network devices.
How does Lansweeper discover IT assets?
It uses agentless and agent-based scanning to automatically detect devices and software on a network.
Can Lansweeper track software licenses?
Yes, it monitors installed software and helps track licensing but it lacks advanced compliance enforcement features.
Does Lansweeper help with cybersecurity?
Yes, it identifies outdated software and unpatched systems that may pose security risks.
What industries benefit most from Lansweeper?
Any organization managing IT assets, especially in finance, healthcare, government, and large enterprises.
Does Lansweeper integrate with other IT tools?
Yes, it integrates with ITSM, SAM, and security tools like ServiceNow and cybersecurity solutions.
Can Lansweeper manage cloud-based IT assets?
It offers some cloud asset tracking but is primarily designed for on-premise environments.
How does Lansweeper help reduce IT costs?
By identifying unused software and hardware and helping IT teams optimize asset utilization.
Does Lansweeper have automated patch management?
No, it detects vulnerabilities but does not include automated patch deployment.
Is Lansweeper easy to use for non-technical teams?
It has a learning curve, especially for advanced reporting and customization.
What makes Lansweeper different from other ITAM tools?
Its strong automated discovery capabilities and agentless scanning set it apart from competitors.
Does Lansweeper support remote IT management?
Yes, it allows remote device access and control for troubleshooting and updates.
What are the key downsides of Lansweeper?
No built-in patching, limited cloud functionality, and requires customization for full optimization.
Is Lansweeper suitable for small businesses?
Yes, but smaller organizations may not need its full range of features.
How often should Lansweeper data be reviewed?
Regular audits, at least quarterly, are recommended to maintain accurate asset tracking and security.
