Info-Tech's Infrastructure and Operations 2024 report
highlights the top areas of focus for infrastructure and operations
leaders this year, including embedding FinOps integration, cost
control, cloud resilience, data strategy, and zero trust security.
The insights provided in the report aim to equip leaders with the
strategies required for optimizing infrastructure, ensuring
security, and driving organizational success in the dynamic digital
economy.
TORONTO, March 28,
2024 /CNW/ - As organizations consider the emerging
digital and business opportunities of 2024, they face the task of
not only maintaining their current IT operations but also adopting
and integrating emerging technologies like generative AI (Gen AI).
The recently published Infrastructure & Operations
Priorities 2024 report from Info-Tech Research Group offers
research-backed guidance to I&O leaders working through this
dual challenge.
Info-Tech's annual report highlights five strategic priorities
essential for navigating the exponentially evolving digital
landscape, focusing on realism and responsibility in embracing
technological change. The report provides actionable insights to
help leaders align their I&O strategies with broader business
objectives, ensuring they remain competitive in an exponentially
digital economy.
"Infrastructure and operations leaders grapple with the
critical task of setting priorities for the year, a process that's
as much about the art of strategic foresight as it is about the
science of operational management," says Emily Sugerman, senior research analyst at
Info-Tech Research Group. "This delicate balance between
maintaining existing systems and showcasing IT's broader business
value is complicated by external factors and past decisions. Yet,
it's the essential groundwork, system maintenance alongside
innovative project work, that enables IT to deliver substantial
business value, even as the technological landscape
evolves."
The Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024
report delves into the significant shifts and challenges that
I&O leaders must negotiate. It highlights the critical impact
of Gen AI, economic pressures, cloud migration, and the imperative
of maintaining robust security measures. By identifying these areas
as focal points, the report aims to equip I&O professionals
with the insights needed to align their strategies with the
evolving demands of the digital landscape, ensuring operational
resilience and strategic growth in the face of change.
"As the landscape continues to evolve, I&O teams must
embrace adaptability, moving beyond traditional methods to
innovative solutions like no-code platforms while also navigating
financial constraints to fuel growth and innovation," explains
Sugerman. "This shift toward a more democratized IT landscape
not only mitigates risks but also carves out new pathways for
delivering enhanced services and achieving strategic business
outcomes."
Drawing on a wealth of data and insights, the new report is
based on a blend of data and insights, incorporating findings from
in-depth CIO interviews and expert analyses. It also uses data from
Info-Tech's CIO Business Vision diagnostics program and the Tech
Trends 2024 report. This comprehensive approach ensures the
report offers a well-rounded view of the industry's current state
and future.
The Infrastructure and Operations Priorities 2024 report
provides I&O leaders with five pivotal priorities for this
year. The following priorities will assist in fostering innovation,
aligning strategies with organizational objectives, and ensuring
readiness for future challenges and opportunities:
- Embed FinOps: Unearthing cloud's business
value.
This priority underscores the need to manage
cloud costs proactively, moving beyond simple usage to a strategic
approach that ensures every dollar spent on the cloud drives
business value. By implementing FinOps practices, organizations aim
to balance cost, speed, and quality, making cloud spending more
transparent and accountable. I&O leaders should champion a
collaborative FinOps culture, focusing on transparency and
accountability in cloud costs. The research recommends the
establishment of cross-functional FinOps teams and the utilization
of cost management tools.
- Control Costs in Operations: Respond to economic challenges
with efficient resource management.
In response to
economic pressures, this focus emphasizes the importance of
resource efficiency. According to the research, this means doing
more with less, streamlining operations, and cutting unnecessary
expenditures without compromising on service quality or business
continuity. IT and finance teams must work together to implement
cost-control measures, focusing on automation and efficient
resource management to navigate economic pressures.
- Establish Business Continuity Plans for Critical Systems in
the Cloud: Improve IT resilience.
Highlighting the
shift of critical systems to the cloud, this priority advocates for
robust continuity planning to ensure resilience. It involves
preparing for and quickly recovering from data breaches or system
failures to minimize downtime and maintain trust. According to the
report, I&O professionals should lead the development of robust
business continuity plans, ensuring systems remain resilient in the
face of disruptions.
- Support the Productization of Data: Proactively seek to
understand Infrastructure's role.
This initiative calls for
treating data as a strategic asset, emphasizing its role in
decision-making and business strategies. It involves enhancing data
management practices to improve accessibility, accuracy, and
security, thereby enabling better business outcomes. Data
architects and I&O leaders need to collaborate on enhancing
data management practices, focusing on security, accessibility, and
the strategic use of data to drive business outcomes.
- Continue to Pursue Zero Trust Security: Collaborate with
security teams to implement zero trust security.
With
cybersecurity threats evolving, adopting a zero-trust framework is
crucial. This approach assumes that threats could be internal or
external, and therefore, verifies every access request as if it
originates from an open network, minimizing the risk of data
breaches. The report recommends that security and I&O teams
implement zero-trust frameworks, with a focus on rigorous access
controls and continuous verification to mitigate cyber
threats.
With the digital era evolving at an exponential pace, the
Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024 report aims
to provide I&O leaders with a critical roadmap to align their
operations with both emerging and future demands. By embracing the
recommended priorities, leaders can position their teams at the
forefront of innovation and operational excellence. This strategic
approach empowers organizations to not only meet but exceed
business goals and ensures they remain agile and competitive in a
landscape marked by constant change and technological
advancement.
For exclusive media commentary from Emily Sugerman, an expert on IT infrastructure
and operations, or to access the complete Infrastructure
& Operations Priorities 2024 report, please contact
pr@infotech.com.
About Info-Tech Research
Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading
information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving
over 30,000 professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly
relevant research to help CIOs and leaders make strategic, timely,
and well-informed decisions. For more than 25 years, Info-Tech has
partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything
they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they
deliver measurable results for their organizations.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to
research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry
analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access,
contact pr@infotech.com.
For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to view the
latest research, visit infotech.com and connect
via LinkedIn and X.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group