On the Asset Statuses, you can create a setup that defines if there is a possibility to change one status to another.
On the list, you see if allowed statuses exist (and open this list by selecting the related info), or you can add allowed statuses by using the Allowed Statuses button from the toolbar.
If you specify that (for example) status NEW can be only changed to INSTALLED you will be able to change this status only to this one option.
Setup is controlling changes done by the user not only manually but also: