Need help to keep a continuous eye on our application inventorySolved

In cases like that, automating the Scan for Apps remote action can help.

Unlike a full device scan, this action only queries the device for installed applications. It is lightweight and runs in the background without affecting the user experience. Because it focuses only on the application inventory, it can be scheduled to run frequently without generating extra overhead on the device.

This becomes particularly useful when devices rely on required app policies. If an app is removed or the installation fails, the automated scan quickly updates the inventory in the console. The device can then be marked non compliant, and the required app policy can automatically reinstall the missing application.

That would solve part of the problem for us. If the app inventory is refreshed regularly, it would also make it easier to identify devices running outdated versions of apps or applications that should not be present on corporate devices.

It sounds like this could help with both compliance checks and security audits without needing a full device scan each time.

Exactly. It also helps validate enterprise app deployments and license usage. When applications are deployed in bulk, automated scans confirm whether they actually reached the devices, ensuring the console reflects the real state of the device fleet.

One thing to note is that on macOS, the action does not retrieve information for DMG applications, so that limitation needs to be considered when reviewing Mac app inventories.