A software inventory is a maintained record of the applications, services, integrations, and connections an organization uses. It may include software installed on computers, cloud-hosted tools, API links, plug-ins, and other ways a service is accessed.
In cybersecurity, an accurate inventory helps teams identify where data can flow, assess exposure to vulnerabilities or third-party risks, and enforce policy changes. For example, removing an AI service requires checking more than managed devices: teams may also need to find accounts, browser-based use, integrations, and local installations. Inventory records can guide those checks, while access logs and endpoint scans help verify that access has actually been disabled or software removed.