Solving the puzzle

I can become completely absorbed when working on a spreadsheet, especially when it involves solving a complex puzzle. My current project has been a perfect example of that. The task sounds straightforward enough: determine which physical assets in our organisation match each mobile SIM card. In reality, it has been far more challenging because the data comes from multiple sources, many of which are incomplete or out of date.

The two sources I trust most are our mobile service provider’s records and Microsoft Intune. The provider gives me an accurate list of active mobile services, while Intune provides reliable information on enrolled devices. The complication is that Intune is still a relatively recent implementation, so not every device has been enrolled. This means there are gaps that must be filled by comparing older records, looking for patterns, and following clues from other systems.

What I enjoy most is the detective work. Each discrepancy presents a new challenge. A SIM card with no device, a device with no matching service, or conflicting records all require investigation. As frustrating as it can be, there is great satisfaction when another piece of the puzzle falls into place. After many hours of analysis, I am nearing completion, and the result will be a far more accurate asset register than before.