Device42 amps up IT asset management with generative AI

Device42 today announced new functionality in its IT inventory and asset management virtual appliance that enables IT managers to apply generative AI to query their configuration management database (CMDB) using natural language and more quickly get responses via a chat-like interface.

Device42’s InsightsAI, an addition to its CMDB virtual appliance, is designed to bolster the capabilities of the Device42 Object Query Language (DOQL) and enable IT managers to generate complex queries and business reports using natural language. According to Device42, this will reduce the need for specialized knowledge in query-building and speed time to problem resolution.

CMDBs are considered a best practice for IT managers who need to maintain an accurate inventory of enterprise environments. Defined in the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), CMDBs include data on the hardware, software, and infrastructure used by the applications and services provided by an IT organization. Device42 uses agentless discovery and automated updates to keep customer CMDBs current because it is difficult to do so with manual efforts. Now with InsightsAI, the process of querying the CMDB is also being simplified.

“InsightsAI eliminates the tedious process of building manual CMDB queries and reports while accelerating and streamlining various [IT service management] workflows,” says Raj Jalan, CEO and founder of Device42. “Rapid and instant answers dramatically improve the process of incident management, problem management, and change management, resulting in enhanced IT operations efficiency and business service uptime.”

Cross-functional enterprise IT teams will be able to generate precise reports without requiring a deep technical expertise in that technology domain. The natural language interactions with the CMDB will help to simplify IT management and enable IT organizations to make data-driven decisions more quickly and securely, according to Device42.

“InsightsAI will overcome the challenge of extracting information from the CMDB. Finding that needle in the haystack becomes as simple as asking for the needle,” Jalan explains. “For example, when it has been identified that a device with a specific IP address has a problem, the user can now ask what type of device this IP address is, what is connected to it, when was the last update, and anything else related to that device can be gained through simple conversational chat with InsightsAI.”

The new functionality includes:

• Natural language querying: Enables IT teams to interact with the CMDB using everyday language, bypassing the time-consuming process of manual query construction.
• Enhanced security: Uses publicly available Device42 field names and descriptions, ensuring no customer-specific, personally identifiable information (PII), or proprietary data is exposed during the query process. And reports are generated locally, which mitigates security and privacy concerns.
• Rapid incident response: Quickly queries impacted devices in critical situations to avert downtime and restore functionality with minimal disruption.
• Streamlined ITSM workflows: Accelerates ITSM workflows such as incident, problem, and change management workflows, to improve IT’s overall efficiency and maintain business services.

Device42’s product is delivered as a virtual appliance, and once installed, it uses agentless discovery to identify the network, application, and infrastructure components across on-premises and cloud environments. With the additional cloud capabilities, it shows IT managers all cloud asset communication, which provides an accurate picture of the interconnectivity of a hybrid environment. IT managers can generate reports from the Device42 dashboard. Device42 integrates with other applications used in managing IT Infrastructures such as ITSM and orchestration. In addition to an extensive API library, Device42 provides connectors that make integrations easy.

InsightsAI will be generally available October 1, and because it is a feature within the Device42 platform, current customers will automatically have access to it.

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