Today’s companies have no problem having sufficient data; they drown in it. The real challenge? Finding the right information and knowing how to use it effectively.
That’s easier said than done, but the reward is worth it. I’ve seen firsthand how good data management can streamline operations, increase productivity, and strengthen security. On the other hand, I have also witnessed the frustration and missed opportunities when valuable insights remain untapped, hidden in fragmented systems.
I’ll put some numbers on the problem, provide actionable steps, and even explain why you should always train a laundry robot. (It will make sense.)
Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Ivanti.
The damage to data silos
Most enterprises now collect vast amounts of information, from the edge to the cloud. But without effective governance and accessibility, this data often becomes a hindrance rather than a help. According to our recent research, 72% of IT professionals report that security and IT data are stored in silos in their organizations. That leads to serious problems:
– 82% say data silos negatively impact productivity
– 63% report slower security response times
– 54% believe that silos weaken their overall security posture
As a CIO I am immersed in this world, but it is not just about IT. As the figures above indicate, data silos are at the root of widespread business problems. That means we all have to care about solutions.
Uncovering blind spots
You can’t manage what you can’t see, and lack of visibility is one of the most pressing barriers to IT. To effectively manage and secure an organization’s technology ecosystem, IT needs access to telemetry data across systems, applications, users and devices.
The rise of employee-owned devices seriously complicates this challenge. One in three IT professionals say their current asset management solution is not tracking Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) usage. The prevalence of BYOD (sanctioned or otherwise) creates significant blind spots that can increase security risks and hinder productivity.
From data overload to data-driven decisions
How can organizations turn the tide so that data shifts from an overwhelming flood to a strategic resource? The key lies in breaking down silos and creating a unified view of the data landscape. Here are the steps you can consider:
– Implement powerful data management Ensure clear data management policies and procedures across the organization. This ensures consistency and improves data quality.
– Invest in integration Implement tools and platforms that merge data from different sources into one accessible view. A well-implemented configuration management database (CMDB) can be invaluable in this regard.
– Prioritize discovery and visibility Deploy solutions that automatically discover and track all devices accessing your network, including employee-owned devices. This comprehensive visibility is essential for effective security and asset management.
– Leverage AI and automation Once data is centralized and standardized, artificial intelligence can unlock its true potential. AI-powered analytics can identify patterns, predict problems, and automate routine tasks, freeing up IT teams for more strategic work.
– Promote a data-driven culture Encourage teams across the organization to base decisions on data insights rather than gut feelings. This shift often requires a culture change and easy-to-use tools to access and analyze data.
The benefits of doing it right
When organizations successfully democratize their data, the positive impacts will be felt throughout the company:
– Improved operational efficiency With a holistic view of IT operations, teams can quickly identify and resolve issues – often before end users are even aware of them. This proactive approach significantly reduces downtime and increases productivity.
– Stronger safety posture With comprehensive visibility into all devices and network activity, security teams can identify threats faster and respond more effectively. This is especially critical in an era of widespread remote work and BYOD policies.
– Informed strategic planning Access to rich, cross-functional data enables IT leaders and executives to make more informed decisions about technology investments, resource allocation and long-term strategy.
– Improved employee experience When IT teams have quick access to relevant data, they can resolve issues faster and provide better support to end users. This leads to higher satisfaction and productivity throughout the organization.
– Innovation Breaking down data silos often reveals unexpected insights and opportunities for innovation that were previously hidden.
Don’t wait to get started
You know how laundry tends to pile up? (No? Just me?) Piling more laundry on top doesn’t solve the problem; it makes the situation more overwhelming. And as long as the people in your household continue to wear clothes, more laundry will pile up. You could keep chipping away at the pile day after day, but without a good system in place the pile will likely grow faster than you can care for it. Meanwhile, you spend your whole life looking for socks.
Why am I talking about laundry? Because the same thing happens with organizational data. The influx of data has increased to astronomical rates and will only continue to increase. Without a system, new data will pile up in the same silos on top of the old data, and none of it will clean itself out. Don’t wait for data inflow to slow down. That won’t happen. Create a system.
A note on AI: The rise of AI and machine learning holds enormous promise for data management, but these technologies are only as good as the data they are trained on. Organizations with a strong foundation of accessible, high-quality data will be best positioned to leverage these emerging technologies. To borrow from our laundry metaphor, a washing robot sounds great, until you find out it’s not trained to separate dark from light and washes everything extra hot. Start with the foundation. First train the robot.
The message is clear: IT leaders must prioritize breaking down data silos and creating a unified view of their technology landscape. By doing so, they solve immediate operational challenges and build a launch pad for future innovation and growth. In a world where data is increasingly the lifeblood of business, those who can harness its power will have a decisive competitive advantage.
We have offered the best IT infrastructure management service.
This article was produced as part of Ny BreakingPro’s Expert Insights channel, where we profile the best and brightest minds in today’s technology industry. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Ny BreakingPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing, you can read more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro