GENERATION OF AN ASSET EVALUATION REGARDING A SYSTEM ASPECT OF A SYSTEM

1 . A method comprises:

determining, by an analysis system that includes one or more computing entities, a system sector of a system for an asset evaluation;

determining, by the analysis system, at least one evaluation perspective for use in performing the asset evaluation on the system sector;

determining, by the analysis system, at least one evaluation viewpoint for use in performing the asset evaluation on the system sector;

obtaining, by the analysis system, asset data regarding the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective and the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

calculating, by the analysis system, an asset evaluation rating as a measure of asset maturity for the system sector based on the asset data, the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the system sector comprises:

determining at least one system element of the system;

determining at least one system criteria of the system; and

determining the system sector based on the at least one system element and the at least one system criteria.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprises:

a system element of the at least one system element includes one or more system assets;

a system asset of the one or more system assets includes one or more of a physical asset and a conceptual asset, wherein one or more of the system element and the system asset is identified by one of an organization identifier, a division identifier, a department identifier, a group identifier, a sub-group identifier, a device identifier, a software identifier, or an internet protocol address identifier; and

a system criteria of the at least one system criteria being system guidelines, system requirements, system design, system build, or resulting system.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:

an evaluation perspective of the at least one evaluation perspective being an understanding perspective, an implementation perspective, a performance perspective, or a self-analysis perspective.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:

an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint being a disclosed viewpoint, a discovered viewpoint, or a desired viewpoint.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:

an evaluation rating metric of the at least one evaluation rating metric being a process rating metric, a policy rating metric, a procedure rating metric, a certification rating, a documentation rating metric, or an automation rating metric.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the asset data comprises:

determining data gathering parameters regarding the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and the least one evaluation rating metric;

identifying at least one system element of the system sector based on the data gathering parameters;

obtaining asset information from one or more system assets of the at least one system element in accordance with the data gathering parameters; and

recording the asset information from the one or more system assets to produce the asset data.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining the data gathering parameters comprises:

for the system sector, ascertaining identity of a system element of the at least one system element; and

for the system element:

determining a first sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one system criteria;

determining a second sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation perspective;

determining a third sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

determining a fourth sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation rating metric.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining the data gathering parameters further comprises:

for the system sector, ascertaining identity of a system asset of the one or more system assets; and

for the system asset:

determining a first data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one system criteria;

determining a second data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation perspective;

determining a third data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

determining a fourth data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation rating metric.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying the at least one system element comprises:

activating at least one system element detection tool;

when the at least one system element detection tool identifies a potential system element of the system sector, determining whether the potential system element is already identified as being a part of the system sector;

when the potential system element is not identified as being a part of the system sector, determining whether the potential system element is cataloged as being a part of the system;

when the potential system element is cataloged as being a part of the system, adding the potential system element as a part of the system sector; and

obtaining information regarding the potential system element.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprises:

when the potential system element is not cataloged as being a part of the system:

obtaining data regarding the potential system element;

verifying the potential system element based on the data; and

when the potential system element is verified, adding the potential system element as a part of the system sector.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying the at least one system element comprises:

activating at least one asset detection tool;

when the at least one asset detection tool identifies a potential system asset of a system element of the system sector, determining whether the potential system asset is already identified as being a part of the system element;

when the potential system asset is not identified as being a part of the system element, determining whether the potential system asset is cataloged as being a part of the system;

when the potential system asset is cataloged as being a part of the system, adding the potential system asset as a part of the system element; and

obtaining information regarding the potential system asset.

13 . The method of claim 12 further comprises:

when the potential system asset is not cataloged as being a part of the system:

obtaining data regarding the potential system asset;

verifying the potential system asset based on the data; and

when the potential system asset is verified, adding the potential system asset as a part of the system element.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the obtaining the asset information from a system asset of the one or more system assets comprises:

probing the system asset in accordance with the data gathering parameters to obtain a system asset data response;

identifying vendor information from the system asset data response; and

tagging the system asset data response with the vendor information.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating the asset evaluation rating comprises:

selecting and performing at least two of:

based on the asset data and process analysis parameters, generating a process rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and policy analysis parameters, generating a policy rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and documentation analysis parameters, generating a documentation rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and automation analysis parameters, generating an automation rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and procedure analysis parameters, generating a procedure rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric; and

based on the asset data and certification analysis parameters, generating a certification rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric; and

generating the asset evaluation rating based on the selected and performed at least two of the process rating, the policy rating, the documentation rating, the automation rating, the procedure rating, and the certification rating.

16 . The method of claim 15 , where the generating the process rating comprises:

generating a first process rating based on a first combination of a system criteria of the system sector, of an evaluation perspective of the least one evaluation perspective, and of an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint;

generating a second process rating based on a second combination of a system criteria of the system aspect, of an evaluation perspective of the least one evaluation perspective, and of an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

generating the process rating based on the first and second process ratings.

17 . The method of claim 1 further comprises at least one of:

determining, by the analysis system, a system criteria deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, a system asset deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, an evaluation perspective deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data; and

determining, by the analysis system, an evaluation viewpoint deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data.

18 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:

determining, by the analysis system, a deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, whether the deficiency is auto-correctable; and

when the deficiency is auto-correctable, auto-correcting, by the analysis system, the deficiency.

19 . A computer readable memory comprises:

a first memory section for storing operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

determine a system sector of a system for an asset evaluation;

determine at least one evaluation perspective for use in performing the asset evaluation on the system sector;

determine at least one evaluation viewpoint for use in performing the asset evaluation on the system sector;

a second memory section for storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

obtain asset data regarding the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective and the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

a third memory section for storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

calculate an asset evaluation rating as a measure of asset maturity for the system sector based on the asset data, the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric.

20 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 , wherein the first memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to determine the system sector by:

determining at least one system element of the system;

determining at least one system criteria of the system; and

determining the system sector based on the at least one system element and the at least one system criteria.

21 . The computer readable memory of claim 20 further comprises:

a system element of the at least one system element includes one or more system assets;

a system asset of the one or more system assets includes one or more of a physical asset and a conceptual asset, wherein one or more of the system element and the system asset is identified by one of an organization identifier, a division identifier, a department identifier, a group identifier, a sub-group identifier, a device identifier, a software identifier, or an internet protocol address identifier; and

a system criteria of the at least one system criteria being system guidelines, system requirements, system design, system build, or resulting system.

22 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 further comprises:

an evaluation perspective of the at least one evaluation perspective being an understanding perspective, an implementation perspective, a performance perspective, or a self-analysis perspective.

23 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 further comprises:

an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint being a disclosed viewpoint, a discovered viewpoint, or a desired viewpoint.

24 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 further comprises:

an evaluation rating metric of the at least one evaluation rating metric being a process rating metric, a policy rating metric, a procedure rating metric, a certification rating, a documentation rating metric, or an automation rating metric.

25 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to obtain the asset data by:

determining data gathering parameters regarding the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and the least one evaluation rating metric;

identifying at least one system element of the system sector based on the data gathering parameters;

obtaining asset information from one or more system assets of the at least one system element in accordance with the data gathering parameters; and

recording the asset information from the one or more system assets to produce the asset data.

26 . The computer readable memory of claim 25 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to determine the data gathering parameters by:

for the system sector, ascertaining identity of a system element of the at least one system element; and

for the system element:

determining a first sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one system criteria;

determining a second sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation perspective;

determining a third sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

determining a fourth sub-data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation rating metric.

27 . The computer readable memory of claim 26 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to determine the data gathering parameters by:

for the system sector, ascertaining identity of a system asset of the one or more system assets; and

for the system asset:

determining a first data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one system criteria;

determining a second data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation perspective;

determining a third data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

determining a fourth data gathering parameter of the data gather parameters based on the at least one evaluation rating metric.

28 . The computer readable memory of claim 25 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to identify the at least one system element by:

activating at least one system element detection tool;

when the at least one system element detection tool identifies a potential system element of the system sector, determining whether the potential system element is already identified as being a part of the system sector;

when the potential system element is not identified as being a part of the system sector, determining whether the potential system element is cataloged as being a part of the system;

when the potential system element is cataloged as being a part of the system, adding the potential system element as a part of the system sector; and

obtaining information regarding the potential system element.

29 . The computer readable memory of claim 28 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

when the potential system element is not cataloged as being a part of the system:

obtaining data regarding the potential system element;

verifying the potential system element based on the data; and

when the potential system element is verified, adding the potential system element as a part of the system sector.

30 . The computer readable memory of claim 25 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to identify the at least one system element by:

activating at least one asset detection tool;

when the at least one asset detection tool identifies a potential system asset of the system element, determining whether the potential system asset is already identified as being a part of the system element;

when the potential system asset is not identified as being a part of the system element, determining whether the potential system asset is cataloged as being a part of the system;

when the potential system asset is cataloged as being a part of the system, adding the potential system asset as a part of the system element; and

obtaining information regarding the potential system asset.

31 . The computer readable memory of claim 30 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

when the potential system asset is not cataloged as being a part of the system:

obtaining data regarding the potential system asset;

verifying the potential system asset based on the data; and

when the potential system asset is verified, adding the potential system asset as a part of the system element.

32 . The computer readable memory of claim 25 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to obtain the asset information from a system asset of the one or more system assets by:

probing the system asset in accordance with the data gathering parameters to obtain a system asset data response;

identifying vendor information from the system asset data response; and

tagging the system asset data response with the vendor information.

33 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 , wherein the third memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to calculate the asset evaluation rating by:

selecting and performing at least two of:

based on the asset data and process analysis parameters, generating a process rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and policy analysis parameters, generating a policy rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and documentation analysis parameters, generating a documentation rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and automation analysis parameters, generating an automation rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric;

based on the asset data and procedure analysis parameters, generating a procedure rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric; and

based on the asset data and certification analysis parameters, generating a certification rating for the system sector in accordance with the at least one evaluation perspective, the at least one evaluation viewpoint, and at least one evaluation rating metric; and

generating the asset evaluation rating based on the selected and performed at least two of the process rating, the policy rating, the documentation rating, the automation rating, the procedure rating, and the certification rating.

34 . The computer readable memory of claim 33 , wherein the second memory section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to generate the process rating:

generating a first process rating based on a first combination of a system criteria of the system sector, of an evaluation perspective of the least one evaluation perspective, and of an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint;

generating a second process rating based on a second combination of a system criteria of the system aspect, of an evaluation perspective of the least one evaluation perspective, and of an evaluation viewpoint of the at least one evaluation viewpoint; and

generating the process rating based on the first and second process ratings.

35 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 , wherein a fourth memory section stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to perform at least one of:

determining, by the analysis system, a system criteria deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, a system asset deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, an evaluation perspective deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data; and

determining, by the analysis system, an evaluation viewpoint deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data.

36 . The computer readable memory of claim 19 , wherein a fourth memory section stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing entity to:

determining, by the analysis system, a deficiency of the system sector based on the asset evaluation rating and the asset data;

determining, by the analysis system, whether the deficiency is auto-correctable; and

when the deficiency is auto-correctable, auto-correcting, by the analysis system, the deficiency.