Dos and Don'ts of IT Infrastructure Modernization

Modernization is the process of introducing new technologies, tools, and working methods in an organization’s infrastructure. It is a vital component to keep your organization relevant in the world of rapid technological advancement. But the path towards modernization is not devoid of hazards. It is important to know the dos and the don’ts of your modernization to reap the complete benefits.?

The following are the dos of IT infrastructure modernization:?

1, Align your modernization process with your goals:?

The modernization initiatives have to be compliant with the business goals.??

This alignment ensures that the modernization drives and enables the organization to deliver on its strategic plan and fulfilment of its long-term objectives.?

2, Optimize with High-Performance & Cost-Efficient Solutions:?

Optimize the infrastructure that can support the need of present and future operations.??

This entails choosing HW and SW solutions that have improved performance and buy COTS products that have lower costs than building them in house and that are efficient in their usage.?

3, Continual Deployment:??

Adopt methods that will enhance the speed at which software updates are delivered and deployed.??

This ensures that new additions and enhancements get to the end users as soon as possible.?

4, Security Guidelines:?

Security should be a major focus during all the activities of modernization.??

It is important to follow the best practices as well as stay compliant with the laws to ensure that customer and stakeholders’ data is safe.?

5, Maintain scalability and fault tolerance:??

Develop systems that are ready and capable to grow and handle instabilities.??

The ability to expand infrastructure to manage high loads and to maintain the services’ availability in the event of abrupt failures is important.?

6, Organize Effective Monitoring:??

Leverage monitoring tools, such as Azure Monitor, to monitor the status and performance of the IT systems. instead of Utilize monitoring tools like Azure Monitor to monitor the wellness and performance of the IT systems.?

7, Documentation and ChatBot implementation:??

Create detailed documentation and add Chatbots on the sides of the sheet for better access to information.??

This helps improve the satisfaction of the users by giving solutions to their problems and reducing the time took by the users to understand the new systems.?

8, Plan for Operation Continuity:??

Establish measures to maintain the business’s functionality in the wake of disruptions.??

This includes disaster recovery plans, business continuity plans and incident plans to ensure recovery.?

Let us have a look at the don’ts of the modernization process.?

1. Modernization Initiatives that do not align with the business goals:??

Avoid starting projects that are likely to be associated with modernization but have no impact on the business goals of the organization.??

Projects that are not aligned well with an organization’s strategic direction will therefore prove to be costly in terms of time, effort, and resources.? ?

2. Overcomplication:??

Avoid overengineered solutions that can bring additional difficulties and hinder the successful introduction and establishment of new systems.? ?

3. Ignoring the user experience:??

It is essential not to overlook the issues of user experience.??

Inconvenient systems make the users angry, and this results in low performance and poor productivity.? ?

4. Not addressing change management:??

People can resist change if change management is not properly addressed.??

An effective communication and training strategy should be in place for different functions to address transition-related issues.?

5. Do not be dependent on one vendor:??

Refrain from making frequent orders to only one vendor.??

Vendor dependency and bargaining power can be addressed by expanding the number of vendors so that the organization is not dependent on one vendor.? ?

6. Implementing New Technologies at a Fast Pace:??

Implementing new technologies without proper testing can be problematic. When using the latest channels to get to customers, do not just quickly implement them without testing first. High usage rates are also vulnerable to instability and other problems due to the lack of trials before adoption.? ?

7. Avoiding Legacy systems:??

Do not take the precaution of ignoring legacy systems that are still active. Make sure they form part and parcel of the modernization plan or know their way to the shelf.? ?

8. Security is strength and cannot be underestimated:??

Security has been treated as an accessory rather than a key factor to be considered.??

The level of security risks may be underestimated, and thus results in failures, breaches, and numerous losses for the organization.?

Final Thoughts:?

Modernization helps you stay relevant and competitive in your industry. However, a major concern in the process of migration is the lack of compatibility between the new technology and legacy systems.?This is where Managed Service Provider (MSP) adds the most value during the process of modernization. MSPs like FourD CEI possess the expertise and experience to handle complex infrastructures and ensure smoother transitions. Your organization can navigate the challenges of modernization with the support of a reliable MSP and an understanding of the dos and don'ts of modernization.?

Author Lavanya Devakumar