By Rajesh Thadhani, Vice President – Digital Transformation & Services, Crayon Software Experts India
The definition of IT Infrastructure or IT Estate has remained the same throughout the years, even post-pandemic – it refers to managing an organization’s IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, networks, and data centers. IT infrastructure management involves ensuring that these components are secure, reliable, and available to support the organization’s operations. But, the dimensions of IT infrastructure have definitely transformed. Organizations are now no longer limited to office space. It is now wherever the employees sit and work from. Understanding the tools of IT infrastructure management will help organizations in making the right choices.
There are several technology tools available for managing IT estates. Some of the most common include:
- Asset Management Tools: These tools help organizations track their IT assets, including hardware and software, throughout their lifecycle. They provide real-time information on the location, status, and performance of assets, helping organizations optimize their IT resources.
- Network Monitoring Tools: These tools help organizations monitor their network infrastructure, including servers, routers, switches, and other devices. They provide real-time alerts and analytics, allowing businesses to proactively identify and resolve network issues.
- Security Management Tools: These tools help organizations manage their cybersecurity posture by providing real-time threat detection and response capabilities. They also help businesses comply with industry standards and regulations, such as PCI DSS and HIPAA.
- Performance Management Tools: These tools help organizations monitor and optimize the performance of their IT infrastructure, including servers, applications, and databases. They provide real-time analytics and reporting, allowing businesses to identify and resolve performance issues quickly.
“While many businesses rely strategically on technology not every business is set up to manage hardware and software, as if it really were a financial asset. Managing IT estate can help reduce the workload for IT staff and free them up to focus on more complex tasks and strategic planning. In this case, Software Asset Management (SAM), Assessment and Migration Services by Crayon has played a crucial role in helping its customers and their businesses in managing their IT infrastructure effectively through cloud,” said Rajesh Thadhani, Vice President – Digital Transformation & Services at Crayon Software Experts India. “With their assessments built around industry frameworks and based on best practice methodologies, they can help map critical cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Crayon’s services are backed by IoT and AI. This will allow taking data-driven and cost-saving decisions towards the digital transformation journey.”
The fundamental requirement of managing IT infrastructure has not changed and the reasons are:
- Cost optimization: Effective IT estate management helps organizations to optimize their technology investments by identifying and retiring redundant or underutilized assets. This can help reduce costs and free up resources for more strategic initiatives.
- Risk mitigation: IT estate management can help organizations identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in their technology infrastructure, such as outdated software or hardware, and take proactive measures to mitigate those risks before they become a problem.
- Performance optimization: By managing and optimizing IT assets, organizations can improve performance and productivity, which can ultimately lead to improved customer satisfaction and competitive advantage.
- Compliance: With the increasing number of regulations and compliance requirements, effective IT estate management can help organizations maintain compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Optimizing IT infrastructure technologically and economically can be puzzling. It’s important to reduce the risk of unknowns. Only 7% of businesses work with partners on a long-term basis with 73% engaging with external help on a project-by-project basis when it comes to managing their IT estates. Whether they adopt the discipline of Software Asset Management internally or with a little external help, what’s crucial is that businesses take a long-term, holistic view of their technology spend.