Few could argue that IT is undergoing massive change. More so, than perhaps any other sector or industry – and those that are changing, are being pushed to do so by game-changing technology.
New innovations, tools and platforms have disrupted the status quo, along with dynamic and fearless new players who have altered the way both businesses and consumers view IT. The change is daunting for some, and exciting for others, as pioneers break ground and latecomers struggle to remain relevant.
Many of the major transformations are being fuelled by powerful emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, mobility and virtualisation, while others are being driven by new consumer demands and expectations. In many instances, users are completely bypassing IT departments and CIOs to gain access to the services and tools that allow them to be more effective. Cloud technology, for one, is making this possible – and has forever changed the role of the traditional IT department and back-end. The Bring Your Own Device phenomenon has forced IT managers and CIOs to completely rethink their entire approach to enterprise IT, and find new ways around mobility, security, and connectivity.
In the ‘old’ setup, for example, the traditional exchange between the user and IT would have gone as follows:
* User logs a call with IT (department, vendor);
* Several days would pass before the request would be handled (investigated, sourced, actioned); and
* Feedback would be provided to the user.
As you can see, this process was long, laborious, and highly inefficient.
So, looking ahead, what are some of the key trends and changes that you should be aware of (and prepared for)?
We believe that shadow IT is becoming a very real and prominent practice that IT departments, policies and staff are not fully prepared for. Shadow IT describes IT systems and solutions that are used inside organisations without formal organisational approval. (It is also used, along with the term “Stealth IT,” to describe solutions specified and deployed by departments other than the authorised IT department. As a result, the trend poses a risk to businesses, as services might not adhere to or meet IT requirements.
Above all, the traditional role of IT departments and administrators are changing fast. Previously, IT administrators were responsible for building and maintaining IT systems – now we have systems that are far superior, more cost effective and readily available. While we don’t foresee IT administrators becoming obsolete, their role will change from a builder of systems, to a policy/ system enforcer, solution consultant, etc.
The increasing adoption of the Open Hybrid Cloud (a platform based on open technology that is able to communicate across systems in an onsite and offsite setup) is going to have major ramifications for IT departments and administrators. Businesses and enterprise IT users need to be educated around this, as there are many fears and misconceptions around security and access.
Finally, Linux and Open Source software is at the heart of the major transformations, working behind the scenes to enable disruption. Linux has steadily moved from a commodity enabler to a critical innovation tool, and has become so integrated into our lives that it impacts everything from hotels, airport control, navigation, to the most ubiquitous of all – our mobile devices….
While no one can predict precisely how all of these new technologies and trends will shape IT going forward, those who are willing to embrace the changes and pivot when necessary will be best positioned for success. First and foremost, you need to be nimble, and quick to change and adopt new solutions in order to remain relevant in today’s era of disruptive and dynamic technology.
