Virtualization and Cloud executives share their predictions for 2017. Read them in this 9th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
Contributed by Michael Segal, Area VP, Strategic Marketing, NETSCOUT
Digital Transformations - The Only Way to Survive 2017?
Today's enterprises are constantly becoming more and more
technologically advanced...and this trend isn't going to disappear any time soon.
In order for the companies of today to survive long enough to become the
companies of tomorrow, they must constantly innovate - not only their products,
but their technology infrastructure as well. 2017 will prove once and for all
that digital transformation isn't just a fad, but rather a necessary process that
delivers benefits across the entire enterprise.
While many companies have already started to embrace
digital trends like big data, AI and cloud storage, 2017 will separate the
leaders from the laggards, as digital transformation trends increase their impact
on tomorrow's enterprises.
1. Business Assurance:
The Lifeblood of DX
Before the companies of 2017 can begin embracing digital transformation,
it is imperative that they adopt up-to-date business assurance practices, as it
is clear that IT infrastructure is what the digital economy depends on 24/7. In
order to guarantee that operations run smoothly, service performance is one of
the most important transformational metrics.
As we move into 2017, enterprises will begin to recognize
the increasing value of business assurance. Transforming your IT processes the wrong
way by relying on incoherent data and silo-specific tools will cost companies a
lot of money in the end when they are faced with service disruptions, sometimes
running into millions of dollars an hour.
On the flipside, businesses will also recognize how
accelerating digital transformation and assuring a consistent service delivery
relies on real-time information platforms that support comprehensive IT
visibility, capable of producing unique insights into operations.
2. Data: Cost vs. Value
Our workforce is finding more and more ways to utilize
big data. And while we might have a data stockpile of incredible size at our
fingertips, the question remains: what is the real, tangible business value of
this information? How much is a GB of data worth to an organization? How does
this value ramp up as we start to talk about data in the thousands, or tens of
thousands, of GBs?
If all systems are running smoothly, the intrinsic value of
this information is significant when it comes to customer insights for a
variety of business departments. The potential cost of lost data, corrupted
information or security breaches, however, is much higher. That information
could cost a company millions of dollars, not to mention the lasting impact it
would have on their reputation. And that being said, barely a week goes by
without reports of a hacking attempt, data leak or network breach.
As we move into 2017, the true value of data crossing the
network will become apparent. The reality of the modern network environment
highlights the vital importance of real-time visibility into global threat
vectors and anomalies in order to identify these threats before they cause any
damage. Businesses will increasingly start to recognize the risk vs. reward
ratio, and will place new emphasis on ensuring that their data is being
protected and properly utilized in order to support operations without negatively
impacting their bottom lines.
3. The Revised
Role of the CIO
In 2017, the role of the CIO will become more important
than it's ever been before. Digital transformation is touching all aspects of
business and, as a result, all enterprises need to be aware that every system
upgrade, connection or third-party application added to existing IT
infrastructure will increase service delivery complexity, scale and operational
risk.
This is a
situation that's not only going to create headaches for IT teams, but could
also have serious implications for the successful running of any business. In
this environment, it's up to the CIO to manage the transition, maintain a sense
of order and lay the foundations for the future. CIOs are uniquely placed to
supervise any enterprise digital transformation strategy, due to their unique
understanding of IT infrastructure and how it can evolve to better serve
business growth. As CIOs help usher in the next wave of digital transformation,
they will become information and innovation gatekeepers.
A successful digital transformation isn't just about
taking the first steps; it is about following through, staying current and following
proper digital protocol. 2017 will show that simply going through the motions
without understanding the next steps can have serious negative repercussions.
In order to benefit from digital transformations, IT teams must be prepared to
track their evolving business needs and outputs while also monitoring and
implementing the latest technological innovations.
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About the
Author
As area vice president
of strategic marketing at NETSCOUT, Michael Segal is responsible for market
research, enterprise solutions marketing, analyst relations, customer advocacy,
analyst relations, advertising, and social marketing. Michael's product
management experience spans across ten years at Cisco Systems, where he managed
all aspects of product line lifecycles for several successful product lines.
Michael's technical areas of expertise include SaaS/cloud, virtualization,
mobile IP, security, IP networking, Wi-Fi/wireless, VoIP, and remote access.
Michael holds patents in areas of networking and wireless mobility.
