A Complete Guide to Global IT Asset Management for Managers

Before remote work became common, IT departments were able to focus on securing employee devices in a single location. They might stay late or work weekends to roll out updates to each bit of kit and keep all hardware and software protected and operational for employees during their working hours.

Now, the landscape has changed. Instead of the in-person approach, distributed and remote-first companies must support their employees and their devices across different countries and time zones. How can they do so when they’re not physically there to install hardware or fix a bug?

This guide details some challenges involved in global IT asset management and how Deel IT can help your organization address them.

The complexities of supporting employees' devices globally

Supporting a distributed workforce requires careful coordination and foresight, especially when it comes to providing employees with the essential devices they need to work from. Companies face unique logistical and regulatory challenges, including:

Difficulties in sourcing and delivering hardware globally

The starting point for a distributed IT strategy is taking stock of the equipment you'll cover, including desktops, laptops, printers, scanners, and mobile devices.

Some companies will choose to ship everything from head office, which requires IT professionals to consider customs, taxes, and import regulations when planning their scheduling and delivery times. This is particularly pertinent when onboarding new employees who need their devices from day one. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always go according to plan.

Imagine a new starter due to start their role on Monday, but it’s Thursday of the week before and they haven’t yet received the laptop they need to work on. The new employee is nervous, frustrated, and unsure of what to do. They contact HR who promises the device was shipped, but they don’t have a tracking number to confirm scheduling. The laptop arrives on Monday morning via FedEx, but they’re still unable to use the device until IT has sent them a temporary password to log in.

This all-too-common scenario perfectly illustrates the importance of effective IT asset management. Employees can’t do the job you’ve hired them to do unless you equip them.

An alternative to manually shipping your own devices is to arrange for international procurement—essentially, buying devices from local vendors who will send the kit directly to the employees. The challenge here is finding reliable suppliers in each region, vetting them, and ensuring their devices meet all necessary information security compliance requirements.

Adhering to international data protection and privacy laws

While data protection is a universal concept, each country has its own set of laws and regulations for IT teams to consider. For example, the European Union's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) carries strict fines of up to 20 million Euros for non-compliance, and companies of all sizes and locations must adhere to it when handling data from EU citizens.

Similarly, countries like China have strict laws around data lifecycle management. Its Personal Information Protection Law includes regulations around the data companies can hold on Chinese citizens, while the Data Security Law puts restrictions on cross-border information transfers.

IT teams must be aware of the complexities of asset management in each region where their employees work and exchange data.

Providing timely support to a dispersed workforce

The benefits of flexible work arrangements are well-documented. Yet, being based in a geographically different location, the IT helpdesk is challenging for both the employee in need and the IT professional trying to offer virtual support.

Over half of IT workers claim the volume of helpdesk tickets has increased, and 78% blame flexible and remote working for this trend. Software deployments, network reliability, and security incidents are some of the main factors driving the surge in service requests.

Follow-the-sun is one strategy companies can use to provide 24/7 support so employees never have to wait for IT teams to clock into work in their time zone. Wherever the sun is shining, an IT pro will be ready to offer virtual support to distributed team members.

Companies may also use specialist ticketing systems to cater to multiple time zones or leverage AI chatbots to offer quickfire support when agents are busy. QCIC is one example of a global company using follow-the-sun—their teams pass over unresolved support tickets from one timezone to another until the issue is resolved.

Of course, one problem not addressed by follow-the-sun is language barriers. There are at least 7,164 recognized languages in the world. English alone is spoken by 1.5 billion people worldwide, and there are 160+ different English dialects ranging from regional accents in the UK and US to the wide array present in Asia, Africa, Australasia, and beyond.

IT teams must ensure they have the skills and resources to support a multilingual workforce and offer strong communication with employees who don't share the same primary language.

Protecting company data on devices used in different regions

Distributed team members use their devices outside of the physical office environment, and in some cases, they'll operate them in public. The problem here is that different countries have varying security risks. The World Cybercrime Index ranks countries according to their threat level—here are the top 20, including the WCI score:

• Russia (58.39)
• Ukraine (36.44)
• China (27.86)
• United States (25.01)
• Nigeria (21.28)
• Romania (14.83)
• North Korea (10.61)
• United Kingdom (9.01)
• Brazil (8.93)
• India (6.13)
• Iran (4.78)
• Belarus (3.87)
• Ghana (3.58)
• South Africa (2.58)
• Moldova (2.57)
• Israel (2.51)
• Poland (2.22)
• Germany (2.17)
• Netherlands (1.92)
• Latvia (1.68)

Whatever region your employees are located in, they could engage in some of the following types of risky behavior, as reported by respondents to an Ivanti survey:

• Using a personal mobile phone for work purposes (47%)
• Using a personal computer for work (36%)
• Using a personal phone as a hotspot (29%)
• Using the public WiFi (20%
• Using a public charging dock or cable (16%)

While IT teams can't be physically present to prevent these activities, they can implement consistent security protocols globally, such as using VPNs, requiring strong passwords, and regularly updating security patches and antivirus software on all company devices.

Introducing Deel IT, the simple way to support employee devices from anywhere

Deel IT is a streamlined, all-in-one platform that allows companies to manage IT assets for a distributed workforce across 130+ countries.

With Deel IT, companies can automate IT processes like onboarding and offboarding, deploy devices in record time, and maintain visibility over every asset worldwide. This tool ensures all employees, no matter their location, have the equipment they need from day one, all while adhering to local compliance standards and security protocols.

Here are the specific features of Deel IT you can use to support your employees and their devices in every global location:

Global device deployment

Rapid delivery to any country or timezone ensures your employees receive their necessary hardware within days, so they’ll never be late to onboard or left device-less during a key project. Deel IT uses a centralized system to handle every aspect of procurement and delivery, including customs and logistics. We also have a network of vetted local suppliers to ensure hardware availability even in diverse locations.

Onboarding and offboarding support

Deel IT automates device setup with role-specific configuration settings so your employees can start using them from day one. At the other end of the employee lifecycle, offboarding is made easy with secure device retrieval and redeployment, including options to wipe remote data and protect company information.

See also: Certified Data Erasure For Secure & Compliant Device Offboarding

Centralized IT asset management

Manage your global inventory from a single dashboard, with features like automated tracking, reporting, and alerts for easy, real-time oversight of all your kit.

Localized support and compliance

When you encounter a roadblock, Deel IT provides 24/7 support across time zones, so help is always available for issues large or small. All our devices meet regional data protection regulations, so you can be assured compliance is built into the system.

Built-in security protocols

Deel IT devices are pre-equipped with security tools to safeguard all assets from potential threats. Our teams can oversee global assets in real time, using automated alerts to monitor device health and status and provide proactive maintenance accordingly.

Integrations with Deel's global platform

Deel IT is just one component of our all-in-one global people platform. It connects seamlessly with Deel's payroll, hiring, HR, and compliance functions to produce an integrated solution. Uniting all your core internal processes in this way strengthens the overall support structure of any distributed workforce.

Why Deel IT is a must for procurement managers

IT procurement is a highly strategic process, made complex if you try to use multiple vendors and support teams to distribute and manage assets across all global locations. Here’s how Deel IT can make an impact:

Cost optimization

Deel IT maximizes procurement budgets by consolidating numerous orders for bulk purchasing and international shipping opportunities. Our single-platform approach reduces administrative and logistical overheads, enabling organizations to cut costs while improving efficiencies.

See also: How Deel IT Saves Time & Money at Every Stage of the Device Lifecycle

Operational efficiency

With Deel IT’s automated workflows, procurement managers can reduce the manual workload involved in ordering, tracking, and deploying devices. IT teams can use these time and money savings to focus on higher-value tasks and strategic initiatives rather than repetitive administrative duties.

Learn more about how Voiceflow saved 3 days per new hire and $10k+ in equipment delivery processes after switching to Deel IT.

Improved compliance

Navigating the regulatory landscape is a critical part of IT asset management, especially when operating globally. Deel IT provides in-built guidance on regional data protection laws, ensuring compliance and reducing legal risks. Standardized protocols across all devices enable procurement managers to maintain a consistent, compliant approach, protecting sensitive data and aligning operations with international standards.

Enhanced employee experience

A smooth onboarding experience is key to employee satisfaction and retention. The Qualtrics 2025 Experience Trends report finds that employees least likely to envisage a future with an organization are those who have just started. 44% of employees with less than 6 months' tenure could imagine staying with their employer for 3+ years, compared to 65% of employees with more than 6 months' tenure.

Deel IT creates that strong first impression by providing pre-configured, ready-to-use devices so employees can hit the ground running with the apps and settings they need. With 24/7 global support, employees receive prompt assistance whenever they need it, boosting productivity and confidence.

Experience seamless global IT asset management with Deel IT

Deel IT redefines what’s possible for global IT asset management, giving companies new possibilities in the way they manage devices across borders.

By integrating procurement, security, compliance, and support into a single platform, Deel IT enables organizations to:

• Onboard talent
• Maintain compliance with local laws
• Enhance the employee experience

Our centralized approach reduces costs and operational complexity while empowering teams to work confidently, knowing they have the tools to succeed.

Ready to elevate your IT asset management strategy and support a truly global workforce? Book a 30-minute product demo with Deel IT, including an expert Q&A session, to discover how to simplify device management and unlock productivity anywhere in the world.