The current transformation in the IT infrastructure management (IIM) space revolves around the changes and new urgencies brought about by COVID-19. The pandemic changed the way organizations functioned and delivered their offerings. To enable continuous and seamless operations, businesses had to make some crucial decisions regarding their IT landscapes and infrastructure setups.
Owing to the ease, speed and efficiency that new and emerging technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and edge computing can offer, they have been growing in popularity. Such technologies have been simplifying operations in the new normal.
These top seven IIM trends driven by technological advances have been making it possible for enterprises to keep up with the rapid pace of change.
1. Increased adoption of the hybrid cloud
Businesses are embracing the hybrid cloud model as their go-to IT infrastructure model. Clearly, it isn’t about the public versus private cloud debate anymore. Cloud computing has matured over the years, and in 2022, organizations will increasingly want to scale up their IT architecture, making necessary alterations to suit business needs. Considering the constantly changing nature of businesses in the digital and pandemic era, they wouldn’t want to restrict their capabilities by holding onto a single cloud type, provider, or solution. Hybrid multi-cloud will see increased popularity.
As per International Data Corporation (IDC), by 2022, over 90% of businesses across the globe will opt for an on-premise, multi-cloud and legacy platform mix to meet their infrastructure requirements. Market research from Mordor Intelligence highlights that the hybrid cloud market with a 2020 valuation of $52 billion will grow to $145 billion by 2026.
2. Enabling seamless, anytime-anywhere operations
Before the pandemic struck the world, organizations did focus on providing anytime-anywhere access to relevant IT enterprise resources to customers. Suddenly, there was a necessity to ensure such access to employees as well. The workforce needed smooth access to critical technology assets while working out of their homes, and organizations had to adopt a “digital-first, remote-first” mindset to enable this. As quite a few organizations will continue to operate remotely in the post-pandemic era, IT personnel will need to ensure flexibility and resilience in operations.
Enterprises are leveraging cloud and edge infrastructure and automating processes to enable the workforce to collaborate and work effectively. Organizations have been challenging traditional processes and adapting their IT infrastructure, management practices, cybersecurity strategies and governance policies to facilitate a truly digital experience that allows operations from anywhere.
3. Securing scattered IT infrastructure
Today, at most organizations, infrastructure is not hosted at a central location. Both infrastructure and data are everywhere — on-premise, in the cloud, etc. Every time information is transmitted, it poses security challenges. IT infrastructure management teams are investing in security solutions to effectively manage and safeguard scattered backend infrastructure and data assets.
Considering the alarming number of cyberattacks, enterprises are looking at securing their servers, databases, end-user devices and other assets to mitigate attacks related to backup storage media exposure, malware installation, weak database exploitations, etc.
4. The advent of 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technology
Wireless technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are adding more power to other innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, edge computing and the Internet of things (IoT). Advanced wireless technologies will be the key elements linking people and machines. 86% of network executives who participated in a Deloitte study agree that such technologies will result in significant organizational and industrial transformation within the next three years.
5G and Wi-Fi 6 will bring in better speed, greater network capacity, reduced latency and flexibility like never before in wireless services. Overall, the most successful enterprises in this regard will be those with the competence to deploy varied technologies while also being able to make varied networks interoperate seamlessly.
5. An uptick in automation, AI and robotics deployments
Hyperscale data centers are already leveraging robotic technology for specific tasks such as automated inspection, evaluation and error detection. AI-powered robots deployed at data centers work with minimal or zero human intervention. Over the last two years, there has been a surge in such deployments to augment data center capabilities and make operations less reliant on human beings.
Over 40% of the respondents to a recent study by AFCOM said that they would be leveraging robotics and automation for data center activities such as scheduling, monitoring and maintenance within the next three years. By investing in hyperautomation — a combination of ground-breaking technologies such as AI, machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA) — data centers will be able to free analysts from routine, mundane activities so they can deliver business or operational value elsewhere.
6. Modern device management for virtually connected enterprises
Desktop virtualization and cloud-hosted desktops have enabled organizations to adapt to the constantly evolving IT landscape during the challenging times driven by COVID-19. The work-from-home model introduced various challenges, including the management of end-user devices and end-user support services. Enterprises have been struggling to gain complete visibility into endpoint management.
As the demand for devices such as cloud-based desktops outside the corporate firewall surges, IT infrastructure teams will move away from traditional ways of managing assets. Telecommuting and distance working is here to stay. Hence, enterprises must invest in modern tools and technologies that will support the remote work environment — for diagnosis, fixing issues, updating operating systems, patch management and ensuring device health.
7. AI-powered service management
Quite a few enterprises that were new to the remote work model took time to familiarize themselves with the situation. There was an unprecedented increase in IT service management (ITSM) ticket volumes. Ticket handling time and costs also increased significantly leading to a decline in user satisfaction. Hence, enterprises started looking at AI-powered solutions to address the situation and manage the high workload.
According to Gartner, by 2025, the 10% of organizations that set up AI-engineering best practices will derive more than three times more value from their AI efforts than the remaining 90% that do not. Enterprises must leverage AI-powered tools and platforms that utilize natural language processing (NLP), knowledge management, automated incident response and more to address traditional ITSM challenges.
Adapting to change
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely transformed IT infrastructure management over the last two years and organizations are catching up quickly. The eight IIM trends reiterate how business and IT leaders are focusing on resilience, security and adaptability, ready to face new challenges. By assessing and adopting modern methodologies for infrastructure management, enterprises will be able to respond to the changing landscape and requirements with ease and efficiency.
