1️⃣ IT Asset Management Has Always Been Here

In recent years, solutions like NinjaOne and Atera have grown rapidly in the global market, giving the impression that a “new IT solution category” has emerged. But in fact, IT Asset Management (ITAM) has existed for decades.

• 1990s–Early 2000s
  Global IT giants such as IBM, HP, and CA offered ITSM (IT Service Management) and CMDB (Configuration Management Database) solutions for large enterprises.
  These solutions were on-premise, complex to deploy, and extremely costly, requiring millions of dollars in investment and months to implement.
• 2010s
  Players like ServiceNow, Ivanti, and ManageEngine took the lead. But their solutions remained enterprise-focused, expensive, and complex, with little appeal to SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses) or MSPs (Managed Service Providers).
  As a result, in many markets—including Korea—most organizations relied on Excel spreadsheets, PC management tools, or security software to handle assets.

👉 In other words, ITAM has always been around, but a lightweight, SaaS-based, subscription-friendly solution simply didn’t exist.

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2️⃣ Why Did NinjaOne and Atera Suddenly Take Off?

So why have NinjaOne and Atera risen so quickly in recent years?
The answer lies in the convergence of environmental change + market gap + SaaS model expansion.

🔹 (1) Growth of SMB and MSP Markets

• Startups and SMBs now manage hundreds of devices and SaaS applications.
• Organizations without IT teams struggled with asset visibility, and MSPs needed a scalable way to manage client environments remotely.
  👉 NinjaOne and Atera seized this SMB/MSP market opportunity and grew explosively.

🔹 (2) Cloud-Native, Subscription-Based Model

Unlike legacy ITAM, which required months of setup, modern platforms are delivered as SaaS subscription services.

• No installation required, instantly accessible
• Monthly subscription instead of heavy upfront costs
• Automatic patches and updates from the cloud

👉 The ability to “get started immediately” was a powerful driver of adoption.

🔹 (3) The Remote & Hybrid Work Era

The pandemic accelerated remote and hybrid work globally.
IT teams now needed to manage hundreds of laptops and SaaS accounts outside office walls.
👉 RMM (Remote Monitoring & Management)-based ITAM became the perfect fit.

🔹 (4) Pressure From Security & Cost Optimization

• Rising ransomware and insider threats → greater need for patch and security tracking
• Exploding SaaS costs → eliminate duplicate subscriptions and inactive accounts

👉 NinjaOne and Atera positioned themselves as platforms that solved both security and cost optimization together.

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3️⃣ Why ITAM Is “Essential” Today

These factors combined have redefined ITAM as core operational infrastructure, not just a record-keeping tool.

1. Market shift: from enterprise-only to SMB/MSP-focused
2. Cloud SaaS delivery reduced adoption barriers
3. Remote work made ITAM indispensable
4. Cost reduction and security risk management elevated ITAM to a strategic need

👉 Globally, ITAM is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a must-have system for businesses of all sizes.

4️⃣ Where Should Korean Companies Start?

The rapid rise of NinjaOne and Atera proves one thing:
👉 Businesses realized that Excel and security software are no longer enough.

Korean companies share the same challenges, with some unique background factors:

• Legacy of On-Premise PC Management
  Many Korean firms have long used PC control tools (antivirus, DLP, MDM) focused on security and restriction. But these tools don’t cover asset lifecycle or cost efficiency.
• ERP Modules for Asset Management
  Large enterprises often use ERP asset modules, but these mainly serve accounting needs (acquisition cost, depreciation), not operational visibility or security risk management.
• Excel as the Default
  SMBs and mid-sized firms still rely heavily on Excel. Asset audits are done once or twice a year, but this approach suffers from errors, omissions, and lack of real-time visibility.

Why ITAM Demand Is Rising in Korea

In recent years, Korea’s IT landscape has shifted dramatically:

1. Cloud Transition Accelerates
   • From on-premise to public cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)
2. SaaS Adoption Grows Rapidly
   • Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Jira, Notion, and more
   • Department-level SaaS adoption has led to duplication and wasted costs
3. Remote & Hybrid Work Becomes Normalized
   • Growing need to monitor device and SaaS usage outside office walls

👉 This transformation means security-focused or accounting-focused tools are no longer sufficient.
The demand for real-time, usage-driven ITAM solutions is now rising fast in Korea.

🎯 Conclusion: This Is the Turning Point for ITAM

The rise of NinjaOne and Atera is not a passing trend.
ITAM has long existed, but remote work, SaaS sprawl, security risks, and cost pressures have pushed it back into the spotlight.

And the same wave is hitting Korea.
Acknowledging that Excel and basic security programs are no longer enough, companies must take the first step toward a comprehensive ITAM approach.

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👉 Discover how SELLEASE can help your organization start the journey toward smarter IT Asset Management.

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