IMACD (Install, Move, Add, Change, and Disposal) is the framework IT teams use to handle every request that sets up, relocates, modifies or retires a piece of their IT infrastructure. IT managers and service desk teams look up IMACD to understand what each step covers and how to run those requests as part of the lifecycle management of IT resources.
This article defines IMACD and its variants, explains each component with a real request, and follows an IMACD request from the moment someone asks for it until the asset record is updated. It also covers the benefits, the three ways to implement it, and how InvGate Asset Management keeps each change on record as part of IT Asset Management.
What is IMACD?
IMACD stands for Install, Move, Add, Change, and Disposal: the five types of requests that cover an IT asset from the day it is set up to the day it is retired. The term is used in IT Asset Management and IT Service Management to group these requests under one process with clear owners.
It also appears as IMAC (without the disposal step) or IMAC/D, and the D can stand for Disposal, Decommission or Deletion depending on the contract or the organization, as the Law Insider definitions show. Whichever word the D takes, it names the step where an asset leaves active use.
Key components of IMACD
Each letter in IMACD names a type of request with its own steps and risks. Here is what each one covers, with an example of the request that usually starts it.
- Install: Setting up and configuring new hardware or software in the IT environment. Example: a new hire needs a laptop with the standard software image and access to the company VPN.
- Move: Relocating existing IT assets, physical or digital, to a new place or user. Example: an employee changes departments, and their laptop and docking station move to another floor.
- Add: Incorporating new components or software into an existing asset or Configuration Item (CI). Example: a designer needs more RAM and a design suite license on the workstation they already use.
- Change: Modifying an existing configuration, assignment or status to meet a new business need or fix an issue. Example: a shared printer gets a new IP address and is reassigned to a different team.
- Disposal: Retiring hardware and software that is no longer needed or has become obsolete, with secure and environmentally responsible disposal. Example: a batch of five-year-old laptops is wiped, removed from the inventory and sent to a certified recycler.
How an IMACD request works, step by step
The components above define what each request is, and this section follows one from start to finish. Whatever the letter, an IMACD request goes through the same four steps, and the last one is the easiest to forget.
- Request: An employee, a manager or HR submits the request through the service desk, with what is needed, for whom and by when. A Move request, for example, names the user, the asset and the new location.
- Approval: The request owner (a manager, the IT lead or the Change Advisory Board (CAB) for higher-risk changes) approves it, rejects it or asks for more information. Standard requests, such as a new hire's laptop, can be preapproved so they move faster.
- Execution: IT carries out the work, whether that means installing, moving, adding, changing or retiring the asset, and confirms with the user that everything works. Disposals also need a data wipe and proof of data destruction.
- Record update: The asset record is updated with its new location, assigned user and status, and the request is closed. If the record stays as it was, the next audit, renewal or security review starts from wrong data.
With InvGate Service Management, each IMACD request enters as a service request linked to the asset it affects. The change then lands on that asset in InvGate Asset Management, which keeps its location, assigned user and status current and records every change in the asset's history.
Benefits of IMACD
IMACD gives IT a structured way to manage resources across their lifecycle, from installation to retirement, which supports efficient IT operations and steadier productivity. These are the main benefits of running every request through the same process:
- Efficient operations: Requests follow the same steps every time, which reduces disruptions and downtime.
- Higher productivity: Employees get working, up-to-date equipment faster and spend less time waiting on IT.
- Lower costs: A managed lifecycle avoids unnecessary repairs, premature replacements and duplicate purchases.
- Better security: Proper disposal of outdated equipment reduces the risk of data breaches.
- Regulatory compliance: Documented disposals help meet privacy, data security and environmental regulations.
- Environmental responsibility: Responsible disposal practices reduce the organization's environmental footprint.
Without IMACD, the same benefits turn into risks: delayed deployments, untracked changes, avoidable spending and exposed data when devices leave the company. Each missed record update also weakens the IT Asset Management strategy that budgets, audits and renewals depend on.
Implementing IMACD: strategies and options
There are three common ways to put IMACD into practice, and many teams combine them. The right mix depends on the size of the IT team and how many requests it handles each month.
- Specialized software: A service desk connected to IT Asset Management software handles each request and keeps the asset record current through automated asset tracking, as the step-by-step section above shows.
- A Managed Service Provider (MSP): An external provider runs IMACD for companies that lack the in-house staff or expertise to do it.
- An in-house team with a structured framework: The internal IT team runs IMACD with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each request type, regular training and periodic audits. This approach works best combined with software that keeps the records.
Conclusion
IMACD gives every install, move, add, change and disposal the same path, from the request to the updated asset record. To see how InvGate Asset Management keeps that record current, start a free trial or talk to Sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions that come up most often about IMACD and its variants. Each answer is short, so you can find the one you need at a glance.
What does IMAC stand for in asset management?
IMAC stands for Install, Move, Add, and Change. It covers the same requests as IMACD without the disposal step.
What is the difference between IMAC and IMACD?
IMACD adds a D for Disposal (or Decommission, or Deletion) to IMAC. That step covers retiring assets securely, so IMACD follows an asset through its whole lifecycle.
Is IMACD part of ITIL?
IMACD is an industry term that ITIL does not define. In ITIL practices, IMACD requests are handled through Service Request Management and Change Management, depending on their risk.
Who needs IMACD services?
Any company that relies on IT equipment, changes its IT environment often or needs to dispose of devices securely. Technology companies, financial institutions and service companies are typical examples.
