One of the themes we keep hitting in the CIS IG1 series is simple: you can’t protect what you don’t know you have. That’s true for hardware—and it’s just as true for software.

A detailed software inventory doesn’t just tighten your security posture. It drives better operational outcomes, reduces waste, and keeps teams aligned.

Here’s why it matters:

Visibility First

Just like Control 1.1 teaches us about asset inventories, real security starts with knowing what’s in your environment. If the organization can’t see all installed software, it can’t secure, support, or update it.

Eliminate Shadow IT

From Control 1.2, we know unauthorized assets—including unapproved or undocumented software—create blind spots attackers love to exploit. A software inventory stops “rogue apps” from quietly slipping into your environment.

Cut Licensing Waste

Most organizations overspend on software simply because they’re not tracking what they already pay for. Having clarity on titles, publishers, usage, versions, and purpose helps eliminate redundant tools and unnecessary renewals. Your finance team often holds the clues—you just need the process to connect them.

Operational Consistency > Chaos

A consistent software catalog gives IT clear guardrails:

• What’s approved
• What’s not
• What versions are supported
• When a tool should be retired

This reduces confusion, onboarding time, and the friction caused by misaligned tools—something your process‑focused documents emphasize heavily.

Review Regularly

Just like asset inventories, software inventories work best when reviewed on a set cadence—quarterly or bi‑annually—to keep things accurate and actionable.

At the end of the day, maintaining a software inventory isn’t just cyber hygiene—it’s operational hygiene. The organizations that take this seriously spend less, work more efficiently, and stay more secure.

If you’re following along with the CIS IG1 series, this control is one of the easiest wins with some of the biggest long‑term payoffs.