The IT Manager’s Survival Guide in the Age of “Smart Everything”

Every minute, the world becomes "smarter." We live in smart homes, work in smart offices, drive smart cars, and use smartphones, to name a few examples. With smart apps, even a non-programmer can now create a complete website. At work, the average employee can set up and manage his or her own devices.

In both our personal and professional lives, the way we interact with technology has changed fundamentally. It was unthinkable just five years ago to run a business without an in-house IT department. Today's SaaS and PaaS technologies have made it possible for businesses to set up and run their operations without the need for expert assistance. The dependable "IT guy" of the past is suddenly in jeopardy of extinction.

Is he or is he not?

Smart CIOs and tech leaders can use these "survival tips" from Power Consulting Managed IT Services to retrain, re-engage, and refocus their teams on nourishing and improving business operations as technology evolves.

Accept the Cloud.

Cloud computing has rapidly replaced on-premise software and infrastructure applications since its inception more than a decade ago. By the end of 2018, the cloud computing market will be worth $186 billion, and by 2021, it is expected to be worth more than $300 billion. The migration of software, development platforms, and IT infrastructure from on-premise to cloud is unavoidable, and IT teams must embrace it sooner rather than later.

Spend time researching the top cloud service providers' most important features. Recognize how well they will perform.

• Integrate with the technologies you already have.
• Meet all of your end-users' requirements for efficient workflow management.
• Ensure the security of your data and processes, and actively defend against malicious attacks.
• As your company grows, you can scale and expand their scope.

There are three types of cloud solutions that work on a subscription basis:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the delivery of preconfigured hardware and software via a virtual interface. Web hosting, for example, with Amazon EC2.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a user interface that includes an operating system or system libraries as well as infrastructure. For instance, consider Google App Engine for application development.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a term used to describe fully functional web-based applications with features that can be accessed on demand. Salesforce, for example, can be used to manage customer relationships.

The last option, SaaS, is unquestionably the most widely used today. It has made it possible to automate the most time and resource-intensive tasks, which previously required multiple instances of software to be installed across multiple desktop and laptop computers.

Consider ISM. IT Consulting Company NYC manages each hour each month installing or updating software, scanning for viruses or rogue devices, and managing users and permissions. Cloud Management Suite provides rapid scalability and remote access for tracking and managing network devices. CMS updates and deploys software without servers or agents. This reduces downtime, manual intervention, and real-time security threats.

BYOD and IoT strategies that are crystal clear

Today's corporate network includes company-issued and employee-owned devices. BYOD includes laptops, smartphones, and wearables. BYOD policies allow employees to use their own devices for work.

Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) helps businesses reduce costs and boost productivity. Smart lights, thermostats, security devices, and others keep modern offices running smoothly by closely monitoring users and their activities. Some use sensitive user data like fingerprints, putting the organization's data security at risk.

Dual-purpose personal devices pose greater security risks. It can be difficult to track and control the apps and software a user initials on their device, which could jeopardise your workflows and sensitive data. Despite these dangers, remember that your employees are partners in the company's success. Treat IT risk policies with respect when creating them. IT teams must balance device security, workflow efficiency, and employee privacy in such environments.

While requiring non-hackable passwords, two-factor authentication, VPN tokens, and secure networks on BYOD devices is acceptable, giving them device management may be too much. Users should be required to install lost device management software and standard security apps. Employees must be trained on how BYOD devices can be hacked and how to avoid security breaches.

From "Gatekeeper" to "Facilitator" to "Partner," you've come a long way.

In the past, IT Consulting Companies in Chicago managed all employee software and hardware needs. No device or software was approved without their permission. Any IT policy violation was met with swift and decisive action – revoked user privileges, restricted access, etc.

As technology has become more accessible, employees have embraced its role. They've changed their view of IT from "controlling" to supportive. Because newer technologies are so easy to use, adventurous users often install tools that IT is unaware of.

Add automation to unsupervised experimentation. The list of tools that manage automated workflows grows every day, from data modelling and business intelligence tools for your analytics team to product recommendation engines, product information management, and order processing systems for your e-commerce team.

Inform your team and stay informed. Keep up with company-important technologies and trends. Share team-specific information regularly. Contact teams regularly to learn where they stand technologically, how well-equipped they are, and what gaps exist. When employees see you as a tech resource, they'll come to you for help.

Change is Beneficial

Change is the only constant in the tech world. Your job as the custodian of the company's technology stack is to always be one step ahead of these changes. Remember, you're not only your company's sailor as it navigates the treacherous waters of the evolving tech landscape; you're also their defender against unforeseen security and privacy threats. Even regulatory changes such as the EU's GDPR, which may appear difficult to comply with at first, are a positive step forward in gathering accurate data and analytics with your customers' full permission and trust.

It's time to put your best foot forward, buckle down, and lead your team into a brave new world of technology. Captain, keep going!