The emergence of new technologies such as mobile and cloud computing, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), and big data has created a shift in how people work and how IT infrastructures should be designed and implemented. As such, IT teams now face new challenges that test their effectiveness and productivity.
Cybersecurity has also risen to the forefront of their concerns. Threats like data breaches, ransomware, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks can severely cripple businesses. These threats are also constantly evolving so IT teams have to keep pace with these developments and assume the task of mitigating these risks.
With plenty of bases needing to be covered, IT teams are under pressure more than ever. Here are three key areas where they are feeling the crunch and how businesses could help them become more capable and effective in performing their duties.
1. More Endpoints to Manage
At enterprise companies, the adoption of IoT and smart devices is on the rise. Those involved in manufacturing and the supply chain are seeing the benefits of automation and tracking that these devices enable. Businesses are also implementing bring-your-own-device (BYOD) schemes to help staff stay connected and productive beyond their premises.
However, from a security perspective, these trends have the potential to expose companies to significant danger. A large organization may now easily find itself with thousands of network endpoints to secure. All of these devices must be identified, managed, and monitored. Their software and firmware must also be kept updated to keep them free from exploits and vulnerabilities. For IT teams, taking care of all of this manually is a non-starter, which it is why tech solutions that anticipate these needs are so useful.
Software distribution and patching are among those time-consuming process that could be managed via Cloud Management Suit. Once this cloud-based platform maps out all hardware endpoints, IT managers receive alerts regarding important software patches, which can be executed immediately, or scheduled for execution overnight when there’s less strain on the network and its devices.
2. Evolving Infrastructure
Cloud computing offers several benefits to businesses. It is scalable. It allows companies to start out with a conservative amount of computing resources then easily ramp up if they need more. This gives companies a lot of financial flexibility since they only get charged for subscriptions instead of outright purchases.
The cloud now offers comprehensive solutions that cover most enterprise needs including storage, database, productivity, and even analytics. There are also a host of software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications that cater to various needs enabling businesses to shift virtually any of their workloads and processes online. SaaS such as KiSSFLOW and Zoho Creator even offer comprehensive workflow management for companies of all sizes.
By adopting cloud services, IT infrastructures can become hybrids. For IT teams, however, this mix of on-premises and cloud-based components introduces integration complexity and security issues. To prevent these from complicating matters, companies need to plan and identify which aspects of their businesses are destined for the cloud. This way, IT teams would be able to ensure interoperability, uptime, and security during the transition.
The choice of providers must also be weighed carefully. Aside from features and price, getting providers that give superior support can unload some of the burden from IT teams if ever issues do arise.
3. Rampant Cyberattacks
Cybersecurity risks can keep IT teams awake at night, literally. Last year, the number of small to medium-sized businesses that were victimized by cyberattacks rose from 55 percent in 2017 to 61 percent.
If before, IT teams only had to guarantee the uptime of on-premises infrastructure and devices, they now also have to actively monitor vulnerabilities and attack attempts across the entire infrastructure. Unfortunately, many IT teams claim to have a skills gap when it comes to cybersecurity.
Thus, it would serve companies well if they could provide them with security tools and training that would empower them to fend of these threats. Fortunately, cloud-based security services like those provided by Cato Networks and Incapsula are now available to secure hybrid infrastructures from malicious traffic, breach attempts, and DDoS attacks. These services help augment and fill gaps in the cybersecurity competencies of teams.
Companies should also take the time to provide all staff members across all departments with the training and education concerning the proper use of their IT resources. Internally caused incidences such as falling victim to phishing attacks, leaked access credentials, and misconfigured services continue to be the major cause of cybersecurity incidences. According to an IBM study, 2017 saw a 424 percent jump in human error-related incidences. Making everyone accountable to security would greatly help IT teams as this can lessen the threats from within.
Giving IT Teams a Boost
Businesses must recognize that the role of IT teams have evolved. Organizations must move beyond regarding IT teams as computer technicians and consider them as stewards of the company’s tech resources. Given the range of issues IT teams now face, businesses must give them the necessary means to perform their tasks well. Success of today’s companies rides on a well-managed IT infrastructure and top-performing IT teams are crucial for this to be realized.
